The little yellow mischief-makers are back, and they're proving once again that they're box office gold—even when the domestic numbers tell a slightly different story. Minions & Monsters, the latest installment in the Despicable Me spin-off franchise, has stormed theaters worldwide, pulling in an estimated $165 million in its opening weekend. That's a monster haul by any standard, and it cements the Minions as one of Hollywood's most reliable franchises.
Directed by franchise veteran Pierre Coffin—who also voices every single Minion—the film has earned a 91% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, the best in the franchise's history. Critics have praised it as an affectionate and charming sendup of moviemaking magic, with the consensus calling it "the franchise's most roundly enjoyable entry yet." That's high praise, especially considering the film's tribute-to-cinema narrative was designed to appeal to older audiences beyond the usual kid crowd.
But here's the twist: despite those stellar reviews and genuine online buzz among cinephiles, Minions & Monsters posted a franchise-low domestic debut of around $40 million over the three-day weekend. That figure is expected to climb to about $61 million across the five-day holiday window. Still, it's a far cry from the openings of previous entries like Minions or Despicable Me 3, which both crossed the $100 million mark domestically in their first weekends.
So what gives? The answer lies overseas. The Minions are bigger than ever internationally, with the film already grossing around $100 million from more than 70 territories. That global muscle pushed the worldwide total to an estimated $165 million by Sunday—a number that would make any studio executive smile. As we've seen with other recent hits, international audiences are increasingly driving box office success, and the Minions are no exception.
This isn't just a one-off success story. The Despicable Me and Minions franchises have proven to be unusually resilient over the years. Two installments—Despicable Me 3 and Minions—have each grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. Three others—Despicable Me 2, Despicable Me 4, and Minions: The Rise of Gru—all crossed $940 million. That's a track record few franchises can match.
Much of that success comes down to Illumination's cost-effective strategy. Like most of the studio's output, Minions & Monsters was made for less than $100 million—a fraction of what many animated blockbusters cost. That approach has paid huge dividends, especially after recent hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. It's a formula that keeps the studio profitable even when a film doesn't break domestic records.
For fans who want to dive deeper into the making of the movie, director Pierre Coffin recently shared some behind-the-scenes insights, including the Lego joke that splits audiences. And if you're wondering whether the film lives up to the hype, our review calls it the darkest, funniest entry in the Despicable Me franchise.
Meanwhile, the competition is feeling the heat. Pixar's Toy Story 5, which debuted a couple of weeks ago to similar critical acclaim, is poised to slip to the number two spot this weekend. It's a reminder that even the biggest franchises can't always hold off the Minion wave.
So, is the Minions franchise bulletproof? The numbers say yes. With a global haul of $165 million and a proven ability to draw crowds overseas, these yellow creatures are showing no signs of slowing down. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more box office updates and analysis.
