There are Minions movies, and then there's Minions & Monsters—a wild, meta, and surprisingly dark entry that finally gives the yellow troublemakers the chaotic playground they deserve. This seventh installment in the Despicable Me franchise is a breath of fresh air, proving that Illumination's little gibberish-speakers can still surprise us.
Set during the silent film era, the film follows Minions James and Henry, two creative dreamers who just want to tell stories. After a mishap on the set of a director named Max (voiced by Christoph Waltz), their slapstick antics accidentally impress twin studio heads (both voiced by Jeff Bridges). Suddenly, the Minions become Hollywood's biggest stars—until the arrival of talking pictures makes their voices a hilarious liability. The montage of their failed sound-era attempts is one of the funniest sequences Illumination has ever produced.
Cast out, James and Henry decide to shoot a monster movie, summoning an adorable Cthulhu-like creature named Goomi (voiced by Trey Parker). Meanwhile, a B-plot follows Dick leading another Minion crew to a loser in a robot suit named Dort (Jesse Eisenberg), who falls for a young suffragette (Zoey Deutch). The Minions accidentally become women's rights activists along the way. It's ridiculous, but it works because the film fully commits to its absurdity.
What sets Minions & Monsters apart is its willingness to go dark. The humor is shockingly adult at times, more akin to Shrek than a typical kids' movie. Older viewers will catch layers of satire about Hollywood's golden age and the fickle nature of fame. The film is a love letter to the weirdos who make movies, and it wears its heart on its sleeve.
The movie also gets delightfully meta. Writer-director Pierre Coffin and co-writer Bryan Lynch seem to acknowledge the franchise's own oversaturation. The Minions take over Hollywood overnight, then wear out their welcome—mirroring their real-world trajectory. It's a clever way to poke fun at themselves while delivering a genuinely entertaining story.
For fans of slapstick and classic animation, this is the Minions movie you've been waiting for. It channels the spirit of Looney Tunes with its fast-paced gags and physical comedy. If you've ever felt apathetic toward the franchise, Minions & Monsters might just win you over. It's the best, darkest, and most hilarious the Minions have ever been.
For more on animated adventures, check out our ranking of the saddest Toy Story movies. And if you love epic storytelling, don't miss the greatest epic movies of the 1990s.
