Despicable Me Main Film Series in Release Order
The Despicable Me franchise consists of four main theatrical films produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. The series follows the transformation of supervillain Gru into a father and leader of the Minions. The first film introduced the iconic yellow characters and the iconic freeze-ray weapons. The franchise has grown into one of the highest-grossing animated series globally, with the films ranked by worldwide box office performance. The latest main installment, Despicable Me 4, continues the story of Gru, his wife Lucy, and their adopted daughters Margo, Edith, and Agnes. The films are produced by Illumination Entertainment, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and feature the voices of Steve Carell as Gru and the Minions. Each film expands the universe while maintaining the core comedic heist structure that defined the original. The series has been a consistent performer at the global box office, with each sequel outperforming its predecessor in total gross. The production company has confirmed ongoing development of future installments in the franchise.
The first film, Despicable Me, premiered in 2010 and grossed over $543 million worldwide. The second film, Despicable Me 2, released in 2013, earned more than $970 million globally. Despicable Me 3, released in 2017, surpassed $1 billion in worldwide box office revenue. Despicable Me 4, the most recent main entry, was released in 2024 and has accumulated over $969 million worldwide as of the latest public data. The films are distributed by Universal Pictures, a division of NBCUniversal, which is itself a subsidiary of Comcast. The production budget for each film has increased over the series, with the first film costing $69 million and the fourth film reportedly exceeding $100 million. The franchise has generated significant ancillary revenue through merchandise, theme park attractions, and short-form content. Illumination's CEO Chris Meledandri has overseen the development of the series from its inception. The films are rated PG and are designed for family audiences, with humor that appeals to both children and adults. The Minions, introduced as supporting characters, became the breakout stars of the franchise and spawned their own spin-off films.
Despicable Me Minions Spin-Off Films
Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru
The Minions spin-off series consists of two films that explore the origins of the yellow creatures and their relationship with Gru. The first film, Minions, released in 2015, follows the Minions through history as they search for a new evil master to serve. The film grossed over $1.159 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing animated films of its time. The second film, Minions: The Rise of Gru, released in 2022, is a prequel that details how a young Gru recruited the Minions and became a supervillain. The film earned over $939 million globally and features the voice of Steve Carell as a younger Gru. Both films are produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. The Minions films are set in the 1960s and 1970s, featuring period-specific music, fashion, and villain archetypes. The films expand the lore of the Despicable Me universe by introducing characters such as Wild Knuckles and the Vicious 6. The production team drew inspiration from classic spy films and the aesthetics of the era. The films have been praised for their visual style and comedic timing, even as they received mixed critical reception compared to the main series.
The Minions films are integral to the Despicable Me franchise timeline, filling in the gaps between the main Despicable Me installments. Minions: The Rise of Gru is set