Despicable Me

Last updated

Despicable Me
Despicable Me logo 2.svg
Created by Sergio Pablos [1]
Original work Despicable Me (2010)
Owner Universal Pictures (via Illumination)
Years2010–present
Films and television
Film(s)Main series:Prequel series:
Short film(s) Despicable Me short films
Web series Despicable Me digital series
Television special(s) Minions Holiday Special (2020)
Games
Video game(s) Despicable Me video games
Miscellaneous
Theme park attraction(s) Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (2012–present)

Despicable Me is an American media franchise created by Sergio Pablos and Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It centers on a former supervillain turned secret agent named Gru and his yellow-colored Minions. The franchise is produced by Illumination and distributed by its parent company Universal Pictures.

Contents

The franchise began with the 2010 film of the same name, which was followed by two sequels, Despicable Me 2 (2013) and Despicable Me 3 (2017), with a sequel, Despicable Me 4 , coming on July 3, 2024; and by two spin-off prequels, Minions (2015) and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). The franchise also includes many short films, a television special, several video games, and a theme park attraction. It is the highest-grossing animated film franchise, the 15th highest-grossing film franchise of all time and also one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

Feature films

FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Producer(s)
Main series
Despicable Me July 9, 2010 Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, and Sergio Pablos Chris Meledandri, John Cohen, and Janet Healy
Despicable Me 2 July 3, 2013Cinco Paul and Ken DaurioChris Meledandri and Janet Healy
Despicable Me 3 June 30, 2017Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda
Co-director:
Eric Guillon
Despicable Me 4 July 3, 2024Chris Renaud
Co-director:
Patrick Delage
Mike White and Ken DaurioChris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman
Prequel series
Minions July 10, 2015Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda Brian Lynch Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy
Minions: The Rise of Gru July 1, 2022Kyle Balda
Co-directors:
Brad Ableson and Jonathan del Val
Brian Lynch and Matthew FogelChris Meledandri, Janet Healy, and Chris Renaud

Main series

Despicable Me (2010)

Longtime supervillain Gru formulates a plan to steal the Moon. Meanwhile, he starts a family by adopting three orphan girls, and must decide where his commitments lie. [2] [3]

Despicable Me debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 9, 2010, [4] and was released in the United States on July 9. [5]

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Gru is recruited by agent Lucy Wilde, who is investigating a theft of the mutagen called PX-41, stolen from the Arctic Circle. During their investigations, [6] [7] [8] they extract Eduardo Pérez / El Macho, [9] [10] a supervillain with the goal of causing world domination after faking his death. [6] [10]

Despicable Me 2 debuted in Australia on June 5, 2013, [11] and was released in the United States on July 3. [12]

Despicable Me 3 (2017)

Gru teams up with his long-lost twin brother Dru to stop Balthazar Bratt, a former child actor of the 1980s, from destroying Hollywood, Los Angeles, after his show is canceled. [13] [14]

Despicable Me 3 debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 14, 2017, [15] and was theatrically released in the United States on June 30. [16]

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

Gru, who is now raising a baby, faces Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, two villains who seek revenge on Gru and his family, forcing the family to go on the run. [17]

Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri revealed in an interview in September 2017 that a fourth Despicable Me film is in development. [18] On February 18, 2022, Universal scheduled the film for a July 3, 2024 release. [19]

Prequel series

Minions (2015)

Logo of the first Minions film Minions (film) yellow logo.svg
Logo of the first Minions film

The Minions search for their replaceable evil master after accidentally killing all of those in history. [20]

Minions debuted in London on June 11, 2015, [21] and was released in the United States on July 10. [22]

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

Logo of Minions: The Rise of Gru. Minions - The Rise of Gru logo.svg
Logo of Minions: The Rise of Gru.

An eleven-year-old Gru plans to become a supervillain with the help of his Minions, which leads to a showdown with a malevolent team, the Vicious 6. [23]

Minions: The Rise of Gru debuted at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 13, 2022, [24] and was released in the United States on July 1. [25]

Short films

A total of 18 short films have been released in the franchise. Three short films based on Despicable Me were released in December 2010 on the film's DVD and Blu-ray. [26] [27] The Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray, released in December 2013, included another three short films. [28] Three short films were released in 2015 on the Blu-ray and DVD of Minions, [29] while one short film was released in the Blu-ray and DVD of Despicable Me 3. [30]

A short film titled Mower Minions was released in 2016 with The Secret Life of Pets , being the first short film to be released theatrically. [31] A second theatrical short film was released in 2018 with The Grinch , while another one was released in The Grinch's DVD and Blu-ray. [32]

Home Makeover (2010)

Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray. [26] [27]

After the events of Despicable Me, the Minions help Margo, Edith, and Agnes renovate Gru's house, so the social worker does not take the girls back to Miss Hattie's Home for Girls.

Orientation Day (2010)

Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray. [26] [27]

Three new Minions go for bomb-carrying duty, which was harder than they thought when they suddenly have an argument with two others carrying a giant bomb.

Banana (2010)

Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray. [26] [27]

Three Minions fight over a banana. In the process, they wreak havoc in the Minions' workplace.

Puppy (2013)

Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray. [28]

A Minion watches neighbors walking their dogs on the street, which leads him to search for a puppy of his own. After several failed attempts, he comes across a UFO that takes the role of a puppy for him.

Panic in the Mailroom (2013)

Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray. [28]

Two Minions work sending parcels through the lab. When a package containing expired PX-41 (the serum that El Macho used to transform the Minions and himself in Despicable Me 2), gets jammed in the pneumatic delivery system, it transforms one of them into an evil Minion.

Training Wheels (2013)

Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray. [28]

Agnes is unsatisfied with her toy bike after falling off it while attempting to catch up to an ice cream truck with Margo, Edith, and their friends. Three Minions then volunteer to modify the bike and help Agnes improve her skills.

Binky Nelson Unpacified (2015)

Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray. [29]

The Nelsons' youngest son Binky, having lost his pacifier after a successful robbery at a museum, sets out on a mission to retrieve it.

Competition (2015)

Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray. [29]

Two Minions challenge themselves to numerous attacks, ending up on the lab's conveyor belt in the process.

Cro Minion (2015)

Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray. [29]

Two Minions look after a cave baby while their caveman boss goes to find a bull to eat for lunch. But it is harder than the Minions think.

Mower Minions (2016)

Released theatrically with The Secret Life of Pets (2016). [31]

A group of Minions try to earn some money by mowing a lawn at a local old people's home. But their work results turn out to be chaotic.

The Secret Life of Kyle (2017)

Released on the Despicable Me 3 DVD and Blu-ray. [30]

After the events of Despicable Me 3, we follow Kyle and his secret life when Gru and his family are gone.

Yellow is the New Black (2018)

Released theatrically with The Grinch (2018). [32]

Before they all make their big escape from prison in Despicable Me 3, a couple of lucky Minions get a taste of freedom as they break free with the help of one of their fellow human inmates.

Santa's Little Helpers (2019)

Released on The Grinch DVD and Blu-ray. [32]

Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, having been accidentally dropped off at the North Pole, make the most of the situation by trying to become elves.

Minion Scouts (2019)

Released on The Secret Life of Pets 2 DVD and Blu-ray. [33]

After being dazzled by the girls, a group of Minions become scouts in an attempt to earn badges.

Minions & Monsters (2021)

Aired on NBC on June 11, 2021[ citation needed ] and included in the Minions: The Rise of Gru DVD and Blu-ray. [34]

A rookie Minion joins other Minions in a tabletop role-playing game.

Post Modern Minion (2022)

Released on the Minions: The Rise of Gru DVD and Blu-ray. [34]

When a Minion crashes into an art gallery, an art critic praises his creation and he becomes an overnight celebrity.

Mooned (2023)

Released theatrically with Migration (2023). [35]

Taking place sometime after the events of the first film, Vector Perkins, still stuck on the Moon, attempts to escape.

Midnight Mission (2024)

Released on the Migration 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, DVD and Blu-ray. [36]

Other media

Television special

Minions Holiday Special is a half-hour compilation of Minions mini-movies, containing Santa's Little Helpers, Training Wheels, Puppy, and Minion Scouts. Additionally, the special includes holiday-themed interstitials featuring characters from Illumination's The Secret Life of Pets and Sing franchises. The special aired on NBC on November 27, 2020. [37]

Miranda Cosgrove, who voices Margo in the films, provides narration between the short segments.

Digital series

Saturday Morning Minions debuted in the United States on Instagram and Facebook pages of Illumination on June 9, 2021, releasing weekly on Saturdays, and consists of 40 episodes. The series features a 2D animation style. [38] Who's Who will be released on TikTok and subsequently on YouTube. [39]

Outside media

Video games

The video game, titled Despicable Me: The Game , was released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii. [40] A Nintendo DS version was released under the name Despicable Me: The Game - Minion Mayhem. [41] Namco also released on July 6, 2010 a version for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch platform entitled Despicable Me: Minion Mania, developed by Anino Games. The game was removed from the App Store on January 1, 2013. [42]

The action video game, titled Despicable Me: Minion Rush, was released on June 13, 2013. The game, developed by Gameloft, was adapted for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, [43] Android, and Windows Phone devices. Played as one of the Minions, it allows customization of the character, who must perform various tasks, including defeating Vector and a new villain created for the game, to earn the title of Minion of the Year. [44] [45] The game was downloaded more than 100 million times in the first three months after its release. [46] The game won a British Academy Children's Award in the category BAFTA's Kids' Vote and a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite App. [47] [48] [49] By June 2021, the game hit 1 billion downloads worldwide across iOS, Android, and other devices. [50]

The free-to-play mobile game developed by Electronic Arts (otherwise known as EA), titled Minions Paradise , was released in the summer of 2015. [51] Playing as Phil, players will help Minions design and build their own utopia set in a tropical environment. The game was removed from the App Store on May 22, 2017. [51]

Theme park attractions

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a simulator ride that opened on July 2, 2012, at Universal Studios Florida and on April 12, 2014, at Universal Studios Hollywood, starring Steve Carell as Gru, Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, Dana Gaier as Edith, Elsie Fisher as Agnes, and Pierre Coffin as the Minions. A similar attraction (featuring a Japanese voice cast) opened on April 21, 2017, at Universal Studios Japan.

In addition to the Minion Mayhem attraction, Universal Studios Florida features an entire Minions Land with a moving-walkway shooter attraction titled Villain-Con: Minion Blast.[ citation needed ]

Characters

Main characters

Antagonists

Voice cast

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in the feature films.

Character201020132015201720222024
Despicable Me Despicable Me 2 Minions Despicable Me 3 Minions:
The Rise of Gru
Despicable Me 4

Introduced in Despicable Me

Gru Steve Carell [62] [63] [64]
Vector Jason Segel [65]
Dr. Nefario Russell Brand [66] Russell Brand [67]
Miss Hattie Kristen Wiig [66]
Margo Miranda Cosgrove [66] Miranda Cosgrove [68] Miranda Cosgrove [62]
Mr. Perkins Will Arnett [69] Will Arnett [70]
Marlena Julie Andrews [71] Julie Andrews [71]
Edith Dana Gaier [72] Dana Gaier [72] Dana Gaier [73]
Agnes Elsie Fisher [74] Nev Scharrel [75] Madison Polan [73]
Minions Pierre Coffin [76]
Chris Renaud [77]
Jemaine Clement [78]
Pierre Coffin [76]
Chris Renaud [79]
Pierre Coffin [76]

Introduced in Despicable Me 2

Lucy WildeKristen Wiig [10] Kristen Wiig [68] Kristen Wiig [62]
Eduardo Perez
El Macho
Benjamin Bratt [80]
Silas Ramsbottom Steve Coogan [80] Steve Coogan [70] [81] [73]
Floyd Eagle-san Ken Jeong [80]
Antonio Moises Arias [82]

Introduced in Minions

Scarlett Overkill Sandra Bullock [83]
Herb Overkill Jon Hamm [84]
Walter Nelson Michael Keaton [85]
Madge Nelson Allison Janney [86]
Elizabeth II Jennifer Saunders [87]

Introduced in Despicable Me 3

DruSteve Carell [88]
Balthazar Bratt Trey Parker [88]
FritzSteve Coogan [89]
Valerie Da Vinci Jenny Slate [68]
Clive Andy Nyman [89]

Introduced in Minions: The Rise of Gru

Belle Bottom Taraji P. Henson [67]
Master Chow Michelle Yeoh [67]
Biker RZA [67]
Jean-Clawed Jean-Claude Van Damme [67]
Nun-Chuck Lucy Lawless [67]
Svengeance Dolph Lundgren [67]
Stronghold Danny Trejo [67]
Wild Knuckles Alan Arkin [90]

Introduced in Despicable Me 4

Maxime Le Mal Will Ferrell [73]
Poppy Joey King [73]
Valentina Sofia Vergara [73]

Reception

Box office performance

The Despicable Me franchise has grossed a total of more than $4.4 billion, [91] making it the highest-grossing animated film franchise, [92] and the 15th highest-grossing film franchise of all time. [93] Each film was one of the highest-grossing films of the year. [lower-alpha 1]

FilmU.S. release dateBox office grossAll-time rankingBudgetRef.
U.S. and CanadaOther territoriesWorldwideU.S. and CanadaWorldwide
Despicable Me July 9, 2010$251,557,985$291,600,000$543,157,985142203$69 million [99]
Despicable Me 2 July 3, 2013$368,065,385$602,700,620$970,766,0056056$76 million [100]
Despicable Me 3 June 30, 2017$264,624,300$770,175,831$1,034,800,13112945$80 million [101]
Main series$884,247,670$1,664,476,451$2,548,724,121$225 million
Minions July 10, 2015$336,045,770$823,352,627$1,159,398,3977426$74 million [102]
Minions: The Rise of Gru July 1, 2022$369,695,210$569,933,000$939,628,2105766$80–100 million [103] [104] [105]
Prequel series$705,740,980$1,393,285,627$2,099,026,607$154 million
Total$1,589,988,650$3,057,762,078$4,647,750,7281813$379 million [91] [106]

Critical and public response

FilmCriticalPublic
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore
Despicable Me 81% (202 reviews) [107] 72 (35 reviews) [108] A [109]
Despicable Me 2 75% (186 reviews) [110] 62 (39 reviews) [111] A [109]
Minions 55% (226 reviews) [112] 56 (35 reviews) [113] A [109]
Despicable Me 3 59% (198 reviews) [114] 49 (37 reviews) [115] A– [109]
Minions: The Rise of Gru 70% (177 reviews) [116] 56 (41 reviews) [117] A [118]

Accolades

Despicable Me 2 was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to Frozen (2013). [119] The first two films and Minions were nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film. [120] [121] [122] Three Despicable Me films each received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature. [123] [124] [125] The first and second film were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film. [126] [127]

Notes

  1. Attributed to multiple references: [94] [95] [96] [97] [98]

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Christopher Meledandri is an American film producer and founder and CEO of Illumination. He previously served as President of 20th Century Fox Animation, and has worked as the producer for the film series of Ice Age, Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets and Sing. In 2021, he joined Nintendo's board of directors after working with the video game company on The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

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<i>Despicable Me 2</i> 2013 Illumination film

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Despicable Me Minion Mayhem</span> Attraction at Universal Studios parks

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is an animated simulator ride attraction located at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing, as well as upcoming to Universal Studios Singapore. The attraction is based on Universal Pictures and Illumination's animated film Despicable Me (2010) and its franchise. While it is an opening day attraction in Beijing, it replaced Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast in Florida, T2-3D: Battle Across Time in Hollywood, Back to the Future: The Ride in Japan and Madagascar: A Crate Adventure in Singapore.

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<i>Minions</i> (film) 2015 Illumination film

Minions is a 2015 American animated comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film is a prequel to Despicable Me (2010) and the third installment overall in the film series of the same name. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and written by Brian Lynch, Minions stars the voices of Coffin as the Minions, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, and Geoffrey Rush as the narrator. In the film, the Minions search for their replaceable evil master after accidentally killing all of those in history.

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Minions (<i>Despicable Me</i>) Fictional cartoon characters

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illumination Studios Paris</span> French animation company

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Balda</span> American animator and film director

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gru</span> Fictional character

Felonious Gru, alternatively spelled as Felonius Gru and typically referred to simply as Gru, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Despicable Me film series. Voiced by American actor Steve Carell, he has appeared in all five films in the series. Gru is a grouchy, quick-witted and cynical former supervillain, who serves as a secret agent in order to fight other supervillains.

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Lego Minions: The Rise of Gru was a Lego theme based on the film of the same name. It is licensed from Universal Pictures and Illumination. The theme was first introduced in March 2020. It was eventually discontinued by the end of December 2022.

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