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This August, Netflix is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the highly anticipated next chapter of the worldwide hit series Wednesday to the much-awaited murder mystery film The Thursday Murder Club. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Netflix next month and have an 80% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the eight best films that are coming to Netflix in August 2025 with an 80% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Dazed and Confused (August 1) Rt Score: 94% Credit – Gramercy Pictures

Dazed and Confused is a coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Richard Linklater. The 1993 film is set in the 1970s in Austin, Texas, and it revolves around a group of teenagers on their last day of high school as they try to attend a party at the local pool.

Who would have thought that Netflix’s biggest hit of 2025 would be a bunch of yellow troublemakers? While many subscribers have been groaning about a lack of standout originals, The Old Guard 2, Madea’s Destination Wedding, and The Electric State didn’t exactly break the internet, Despicable Me 4 has swooped in to save the day for the streaming giant. According to Nielsen, the animated sequel racked up a massive 6.274 billion minutes viewed, making it the most-watched movie on Netflix this year so far. Not bad for a film that first hit theaters back in 2024. The numbers are even more impressive when you see what it’s up against. Moana 2 dominated Disney+ with a whopping 7.227 billion minutes, while Netflix’s own Back in Action trailed behind at 5.264 billion. Even big releases like The Electric State, Kraven the Hunter, and Gladiator II couldn’t compete with Gru’s bald head...

Netflix viewers have chosen their favorite movie of 2025, and it’s not a new original film or a serious drama.

According to Nielsen, the most-watched movie this year is Despicable Me 4. This family-friendly animated film has beaten everything else on the platform so far.

Even though 2025 has had some popular releases like Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and people are waiting for Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2, neither of those took the top spot. Instead, people kept coming back to Gru and his Minions.

Nielsen

Despicable Me 4 came out in 2024 and was made by Universal Pictures and Illumination. Chris Renaud directed the film, with Patrick Delage as co-director. The writers were Mike White and Ken Daurio.

Steve Carell once again voices Gru, alongside Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, Joey King, Stephen Colbert, Sofía Vergara, and Will Ferrell. In this movie, Gru has to move his...

The most-watched movie on Netflix in 2025 has been revealed, and it’s probably not what many people expected. According to the latest numbers from Nielsen, the film that grabbed the attention of Netflix viewers this year wasn’t a new original movie or a serious drama. Instead, it was a family-friendly animated sequel: Despicable Me 4.

Despite the many popular films released this year, including the return of Wallace & Gromit in Vengeance Most Fowl and the upcoming Happy Gilmore 2, it’s the fourth film in the Despicable Me series that topped the streaming charts. Released in 2024, Despicable Me 4 continues the adventures of Gru and his chaotic Minions.

Despicable Me 4 comes from Universal Pictures and Illumination and is directed by Chris Renaud, with Patrick Delage working as co-director.

The film was written by Mike White and Ken Daurio, and produced by Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman. Steve Carell...

So Close, Yet Not Quite: 5 Movies That Nearly Made Box Office History With $1 Billion Grosses ( Photo Credit – Jio Hotstar; Facebook )

Crossing $1 billion at the global box office is one of cinema’s most elite milestones, symbolic of both critical acclaim and widespread audience appeal. For many studios, it’s a crown jewel target. Yet a handful of films have fallen just short of that mark, missing it by mere millions despite strong runs, glowing reviews, and cultural relevance.

These films did nearly everything right, massive worldwide appeal, strong legs at the box office, even awards recognition, but still ended up a few seats shy of the billion-dollar summit. Some were cut short by release timing, others by currency fluctuations or studio decisions to pull them from theatres too soon. Here are five movies that almost made it to the $1B club, ranked by their final global gross, as per Box office mojo.

Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament has returned, and as you’ll see from the most profitable films of 2024 that we’re about to disclose, a movie’s game doesn’t end at the box office. Rather, its downstream revenues and subsequent home windows must be taken into account. Streaming continues to be a wildcard: While traditional motion picture studios such as Disney, Warner Bros, Sony, Paramount and Universal rely on lucrative pay two and pay three streamer deals to catapult their slates into the black, those streamers who’ve embraced theatrical (specifically Amazon MGM Studios and Apple Original Films) have a clandestine metric as to how they evaluate a movie’s post-cinema success. By traditional studio P&l standards, some of those releases would be considered flops. Given that, Apple and Amazon are excluded from this year’s survey. The Most Valuable Blockbuster series runs later rather than sooner as...

Minions: The Rise of Gru performed exceptionally well at the box office, indicating that, under the care of the Minions, the Despicable Me film franchise is alive and well. This franchise got its start in 2010 with Despicable Me and continually succeeded with its brand of energetic, family-friendly humor through 2022's The Rise of Gru, the fifth film in the beloved series. One of the most entertaining aspects of the film series is the colorful cast of villains who try to thwart the franchise's antihero, Felonious Gru, or his Minions.

The villains each have a unique gimmick that sets them apart and an ample supply of zany weapons at their disposal. They also have some of the best villain names in the history of villains. Although all the Despicable Me/Minions villains are funny and diabolical in their own right, a few of them stand out from the pack.

This article...

Stars: Steve Carrell, Joey King, Will Ferrell, Miranda Cosgrove | Written by Mike White, Ken Daurio | Directed by Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage

In the fourth instalment of the Despicable Me franchise, Gru (Steve Carrell) is officially a dad thanks to Gru Jr., who’s intent on tormenting him. However, peaceful family bliss soon comes grinding to a halt when criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) — and yet another archnemesis — escapes from prison and vows revenge against Gru.

It’s potentially the challenge of a lifetime to write a compelling, nay in any way descriptive, review of Despicable Me 4. If you are reading this and haven’t yet seen the movie, or even a single second of its latest trailer, you already know exactly what you’re about to read. The film is already one we’ve seen before, countless times over. This time, it’s that little bit worse. The light has faded,...

The Secret Life of Pet 2, an American animated movie, is a sequel to the famous film The Secret Life of Pets (2016). It was released in 2019 under the co-direction of Chris Renaud and Jonathan del Val with Universal Pictures and Illumination being the producers.

One can enjoy the voices of the same stars belonging to its prequel, like Kevin Hart and Jenny Slate, along with an introduction of a new character, “Rooster,” voiced by the all-famous Harrison Ford.

Although The Secret Life of Pets 2 was released theatrically many years ago, it is thrilling to notice how astoundingly well it has been received by Netflix viewers recently. This shows that The Secret Life of Pets 2 is a movie that is definitely packed with entertainment for both those who have seen it before and those who plan to watch it.

If we compare it to The Secret Life of Pets (2016), then...

Universal Pictures and Illumination are moving up the release date on the hotly-anticipated Minions 3.

Per Deadline, Universal Pictures has officially changed the premieres of numerous upcoming titles, with Minions 3 being moved up from its original release date of June 30, 2027 all the way up to July 1, 2026. That same spot was previously intended as the release date for Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation's Shrek 5, which has been moved to a release date of December 23, 2026, instead.

Related Wicked Breaks Yet Another Record for Universal With Digital Release

Jon M. Chu's Wicked is breaking more records for Universal following its release on digital platforms last week.

Spun out of the Despicable Me franchise, the first Minions film was directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda from a script written by Bryan Lynch. The Minions prequel series not only gave fans their first true insight into the origins of Despicable Me's diminutive yellow mascots,...

Moana 2 Worldwide Box Office: Set To Surpass Despicable Me 4(Photo Credit – Instagram)

Moana 2 is catching up with the global haul of Despicable Me 4 and will soon be the #3 biggest film of 2024. It has surpassed a huge milestone at the worldwide box office. It has also beaten Wicked at the domestic box office chart. Scroll below for the deets.

Despicable Me 4 is part of the Despicable Me franchise, which began in 2010 and is the highest-grossing animated franchise. The franchise crossed the $5 billion mark after the release of the 4th film last year. It was directed by Chris Renaud and is the third highest-grossing film of 2024. Steve Carell returned as the voice of Gru. The cast featured Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Sofía Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, and Will Ferrell.

Despicable Me 4 collected $361 million at the US box office and $608.1 million overseas.

Despicable Me Films Ranked At The Worldwide Box Office( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Despicable Me 4 kept the theatres busy in 2024, and although it was predicted to cross the $1 billion mark, it fell short of that. However, it was still a huge success and one of the top 5 highest-grossing films of last year. However, is it the biggest film in the main franchise? Let’s find out!

About the Franchise –

The franchise was created by Sergio Pablos, Cinco Paul, and Ken Daurio. The films are produced by Illumination and distributed by its parent company, Universal Pictures. The first film came out in 2010, and it was directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin. Meanwhile, the fourth film has only been directed by Chris Renaud. There are four films in the Despicable Me film series and two prequel series, Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru. However, we will only rank the Despicable Me films.

Secuelas, secuelas… y más secuelas.

© mundoCine | Warner Bros | Disney | Universal Pictures

Queda muy poco para cerrar el 2024, pero en mundoCine no podemos decir adiós sin antes hacer un repaso de las que han sido las películas más taquilleras del año, con datos, por supuesto, recopilados de fuentes especializadas como lo es Box Office Mojo y The Numbers. Además, como siempre, os proporcionamos información muy útil sobre dónde podéis disfrutarlas en este mismo momento, por si os habéis perdido alguna de estas grandes superproducciones.

Y digo superproducciones porque el 2024 ha sido el año de las sagas. Secuelas, secuelas y más secuelas ocupan, como podréis ver, los primeros puestos de la taquilla. Y es que, de entre las diez primeras posiciones –y podríamos ampliarlo más allá del número diez y el panorama seguiría igual–, encontramos únicamente una excepción dentro del podio: Wicked. Aunque, siendo sinceros, tampoco se libra del todo, dado su...

Moana 2 Box Office (North America): Set To Beat Despicable Me 4 (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Moana 2 recently crossed the $350 million mark at the US box office and is now set to achieve another remarkable feat. It inches closer to the domestic haul of this year’s blockbuster movie Despicable Me 4, which was also an animated sequel. The Disney sequel is expected to cross the mark soon before this weekend. Scroll below for the deets.

Despicable Me 4 was released in July this year and was directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage. The voice cast featured Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Sofía Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, and Will Ferrell. It collected $361 million in the US and $608.18 million internationally; thus, the film’s global total is $969.18 million. The movie was predicted to cross the $1 billion mark, but it failed to do so.

Wicked Box Office (North America): Beats Despicable Me 4 (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Wicked is enjoying the most at the domestic box office and has a strong leg there. The film starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo has now beaten the US total of the animated feature Despicable Me 4. The musical fantasy keeps outperforming other pre-Thanksgiving weekend live-action releases. Scroll below for the deets.

Despicable Me 4 was released in July during the 4th of July week. It was directed by Chris Renaud and co-directed by Patrick Delage. Steve Carell returned as Gru in this Illumination creation. It is the third highest-grossing film of the year and has collected $361.00 million in the US and $969.25 million worldwide.

According to Luiz Fernando’s latest box office data, Wicked has surpassed the domestic total of Despicable Me 4 after grossing amazing numbers on its fourth Monday. The film only dipped 25.4% from last...

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2024 has been a great year so far, with brilliant animated films released this year. While the year started out slow, but after Inside Out 2 came out in theaters and broke every conceivable record, it was off to the races. We compiled a list of the best animated films we could find that came out this year. So, rest up gather your family for most of these films, and enjoy these best-animated films of 2024.

Transformers One (Paramount+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Paramount Pictures

Transformers One is an animated sci-fi action film directed by Josh Cooley from a screenplay co-written by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari. Based on the Transformers action figures by Hasbro, the 2024 film follows the origin stories of Optimus Prime and Megatron who were once friends before turning into each others’ arch nemesis.

Netflix is well known for its original content, and many of those titles are geared toward families. In November 2024, the streamer has a massive list of new releases, including several family favorites, including a new fantasy Spellbound, The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, Pokémon Horizons: The Series part 4, and more.

Check out some of the best family movies to watch on Netflix this month as the holiday season nears, beginning below with the new animated fantasy film Spellbound.

Spellbound

Spellbound is a new Netflix original family adventure fantasy film with the voice talents of Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman.

The movie comes from the creators of Toy Story, the co-director of Shrek, Vicky Jenson, and The Little Mermaid Egot-winning composer Alan Menken. Set in the magic world of Lumbria, where a magical spell has been cast over a kingdom, Princess...

Taron Egerton has made an impressive career with films like Kingsman: The Secret Service and the upcoming Netflix film Carry-On, which arrives on the platform at the end of this year. In one of his most iconic roles, Egerton played famed singer Elton John in the Oscar-winning biopic Rocketman. Three years before that, viewers could witness Egerton demonstrate his musical talents in the 2016 animated movie Sing.

Sing was created by Illumination, the animation studio that found success with films including Despicable Me, The Lorax, and The Secret Life of Pets. Just like Rocketman, Sing falls into the category of a jukebox musical, which means it's composed of new renditions of previously-made songs performed by the actors. Even alongside other vocal talents such as Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton's performance was a highlight of the film, demonstrating how he became the perfect choice to play Elton John three years later.

Despicable Me 4 had a wonderful performance at the worldwide box office over the course of the summer, but it's time for the animated sequel to come home. Peacock has announced that the movie directed by Chris Renaud will be making its way to the platform on October 31. Just in time for Halloween, audiences will be able to experience Gru's (Steve Carell) latest adventure once again. After earning $965 million through ticket sales earlier this year, the Minions and their boss will entertain families from the comfort of their homes. And the villain of this story was nothing like the ones Gru had faced before.

In the 23 years since the Best Animated Feature category was introduced at the Oscars, Pixar has dominated, racking up an impressive 11 wins from 18 nominations; its last victory was in 2021 for “Soul.” Walt Disney Studios has four trophies to show for its lucky 13 nominations while DreamWorks has gone 2 for 14, including the first-ever Oscar awarded for Best Animated Feature, which went to “Shrek.” Studio Ghibli also has a pair of prizes, and is the reigning champ with “The Boy and the Heron.” (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2025 Oscar predictions for Best Animated Feature.)

That marked the second win for Japanese auteur Hayao Miyazaki, who had prevailed for “Spirited Away” 22 years earlier. Miyazaki crafted the only two hand-drawn movies to win this race. Two stop-motion flicks — “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” and “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” — have prevailed. The other 19 winners were all done with CGI.

Updated: October 10, 2024

Leading...

The hit sequel Despicable Me 4 is set to start streaming on Peacock just in time for the Halloween holiday. The movie's streaming arrival comes after having tremendous success in theaters.

Peacock has officially announced that Despicable Me 4 will start streaming on Oct. 31, 2024. During its run in theaters, Despicable Me 4 helped push the franchise over the $5 billion mark at the global box office. This marked the first time any animated franchise had reached that goal. The previous installments of the movie series, Despicable Me 1, 2 & 3, will also be streaming exclusively on Peacock.

Related 20 Best Gru Quotes In The Minions Movies, Ranked

While Despicable Me is most notable for its odd yellow creatures, the franchise's most memorable quotes all belong to Steve Carell's Felonious Gru.

The official description for Despicable Me 4 reads, "The worlds favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League-agent, Gru, returns for a bold new era of Minions mayhem in Illuminations Despicable Me 4. Gru,...

It’s going to be a very despicable Halloween this year. Get your yellow face paint and overalls ready, because Universal and Illumination’s “Despicable Me 4” is streaming on Peacock on October 31.

After releasing in theaters over the summer on July 3, the four-quel made $360.8 million domestically and $593.3 million internationally for a worldwide total of $954.1 million. The entire “Despicable Me” series became the first animated franchise to cross $5 billion at the global box office. All four movies, plus the “Minions” spinoffs, are available to stream on Peacock.

The cast includes Steve Carell as the lovable supervillain Gru, Kristen Wiig as Gru’s wife Lucy Wilde, Pierre Coffin as the voice of Gru’s hyperactive minions, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Stephen Colbert, Sofía Vergara, Dana Gaier, Will Ferrell and more.

The logline for the fourth animated feature explains, “The world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League-agent, Gru, returns for a bold new era of...

Despicable Me 4 now has a streaming release date after dominating in theaters this summer. Directed by Chris Renaud, the fourth installment in the popular Despicable Me franchise follows Gru (Steve Carell) as he faces off against new rival Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) while also dealing with the arrival of the baby Gru Jr. Reviews for Despicable Me 4 were mixed from critics, but the film, which also features voice acting from Kristen Wiig, Sofa Vergara, and Joey King, was a box office success, grossing over $953 million worldwide.

ComicBook.com now reveals that Despicable Me 4 will start streaming on Peacock on October 31, meaning audiences still have about a month to wait. This streaming release date comes nearly two months after the film first became available on VOD. The film will be joining both Despicable Me (2010) and Despicable Me 2 (2013) on Peacock, with Despicable Me 3 (2017) streaming instead on Fubo.

A new commercial for Lavazza coffee featured the reunion of two alumni from The Office. Steve Carell and John Krasinski, known for their roles as Michael Scott and Jim Halpert on the 2005 TV series, filmed a new commercial for the coffee company recently, according to People. The commercial, starring Luigi, the brands robot, has 8.4 million views on YouTube so far. It is part of Lavazzas ad campaign titled Pleasure Makes Us Human.

In a behind-the-scenes clip, the actors are seen goofing off while drinking from their Lavazza-branded coffee cups. At one point, Carell tells Krasinski, Youre so chicken, after he declines to go along with his joke. Another outtake shows Carell attempting to dunk an Oscar statue into a cup of coffee.

Related Peacock's The Office Sequel Series Gets 3 New Cast Members

New cast members have been revealed for the upcoming sequel series for The Office at Peacock.

The commercial...

As Gru and his Minions continue to dominate global box office charts, we are celebrating Despicable Me 4‘s digital release from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment by giving away an awesome iTunes download code and merch bundle including framed concept art signed by Steve Carell, voice of the franchise’s villainous Gru!

The world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League-agent returns for a bold new era of Minions mayhem in Illumination’s Despicable Me 4, now with 2 mini-movies. Gru, Lucy and their girls welcome a new member to the family – Gru Jr. – who is intent on tormenting his dad, as a new nemesis shows up and forces the family to go on the run. This latest blockbuster chapter in the biggest global animated franchise in history is packed with nonstop action and filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor.

Directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage, Despicable Me 4 stars Steve Carell alongside Kristen Wiig.

Despite receiving some mixed reviews, Despicable Me 4 was a box office hit. The franchise's continued success is largely due to the popularity of the Minions, whose iconic language has been entertaining fans since the first film debuted in 2010.

Speaking to ComicBookMovie, director Chris Renaud revealed what goes into creating the words and phrases that make up Minionese. "You know, what's fun about it [is] it's not just gibberish," he explained. "There's an element of it, of recognizing the word, you know, and so we'll go back to [Pierre Coffin] and say, 'Can you come up with something better for like, I'll give you an example, when Mega Dave jumps off the roof.' I can't even remember - Oh, he had a yell. It's just a generic yell, which is pretty funny. And then, we went back to Pierre looking for more laughs, and as we're always trying to pump it up.

Despicable Me 4 is now available on Digital HD and to mark the occasion, we were able to catch up with director Chris Renaud to talk about the latest blockbuster entry in Illumination's fan-favorite animated franchise.

The fourth installment sees Gru square off against a new nemesis named Maxime Le Mal, and in our extensive conversation, we talk about the reunion of former Anchorman co-stars Steve Carell and Will Ferrell, as well as a number of other things including the introduction of the Mega Minions, the franchise's lasting power, the possibility of aging up characters, and a whole lot more.

Renaud's past credits include Despicable Me, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, Despicable Me 2, The Secret Life of Pets, and The Secret Life of Pets 2. He also served as a producer on Minions, Despicable Me 3, The Grinch, and Minions: The Rise of Gru.

The film's full cast featured Steve Carell,...

Because of its current dominance in the world of kiddie entertainment, it may take a moment's reflection to recall that Chris Renaud's and Pierre Coffin's 2010 animated film "Despicable Me" once felt the slightest bit subversive. The main character of "Despicable Me" was the Eastern European supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) who aimed to commit visible acts of spiteful villainy. His latest plan was to steal the moon out of the sky, merely for the infamy it would garner him. 

"Despicable Me" takes place in a world that's overrun by villains, thieves, and superpowered monster people, but is seemingly absent of heroes. It won't be until later sequels that a crime-fighting Mi-6-type organization would come into play. Later still, Gru would renounce his villainy and become a dippy suburban dad to a trio of precocious girls. In "Despicable Me 4," Gru also has a wife and an infant son.

The final scene in Despicable Me 4 felt like the end of an era as every bad guy from the franchise danced to Gru's rendition of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" alongside the Minions. Director Chris Renaud recently addressed the finality of the scene, saying that it was intentional but probably not the end.

"Look, I can only speak for myself, and I was a big part of pushing that scene and how it came together and, for me, yes," Renaud told ComicBook when asked if the moment served as swansong to the franchise. "I know that Despicable Me 4 in the theater is doing so well. They've already got Minions 3. But I thought it was an interesting opportunity, given the 15 heck, 16 or 17 years for me personally working on it, to bring some of the characters across the universe together for this great moment."

Related How to...

A live-action Minions movie is a terrible idea after the middling-to-low success of the original film due to the lack of humor and appeal for adults. Live-action adaptations like The Lion King and The Jungle Book show that animated movies fall short of conveying the emotions and expressions of the original. The stylistic animation of the Despicable Me franchise, which includes disproportionate characters and unique designs, is part of what makes the movies charming.

Many animated movies could translate well into live-action, but I cant understand why anyone would think a live-action Minions movie is a good idea. With the trend of turning Disney movies into live-action, it seemed inevitable that other production companies would start considering live-action versions of popular animated films. One of the first announced adaptations outside of Disney is Universal/Dreamworks upcoming live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. Im somewhat skeptical of this adaptation,...

(from left) Gru Jr., Gru (Steve Carell), Poppy Prescott (Joey King) and Minions (Pierre Coffin) in Despicable Me 4, directed by Chris Renaud. Photo Credit: Illumination & Universal Pictures It’s been a whirlwind year for Joey King. From the charming Netflix rom-com A Family Affair to the poignant Hulu series We Were the Lucky Ones, she’s been showcasing her impressive range. Now, she’s adding another feather to her cap by having joined one of the biggest animated franchises of all time: Despicable Me. A longtime fan of the series, King is thrilled to lend her voice to the latest installment. She’s captivated by the elements that make the franchise so enduring – the clever writing, the heartwarming humor that resonates with both children and adults, and the lovable characters that have become household names. (Click on the media bar below to hear Joey King) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com...

Even if you've never seen the Despicable Me movies, you know who the Minions are. They're yellow, they wear denim, they speak a silly gibberish language, they get into madcap slapstick hijinks. They were originally introduced as the henchmen for the villain Gru in the first Despicable Me movie in 2010, but have indisputably become the stars of the franchise; their first solo movie, 2015's Minions, made over a billion dollars at the box office. They're in commercials, on cereal boxes and in your home watching you right now. They are legion.

I'd never thought of the prospect of live-action Minions before, but director Chris Renaud — who's helmed three out of the four Despicable Me movies, including the new one that came out earlier this summer — was asked about that prospect during a chat with Film Hounds. Will we ever see the wacky yellow comedy machines in live-action? “God, I hope not,...

“Despicable Me 4” is an animation movie directed by Patrick Delage and Chris Renaud. With the voices of Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Joey King and Sofia Vergara.

“Despicable Me 4” carries the essence of its predecessors: minimal script, maximum fun. And it’s not just us who are smitten; the Illumination Entertainment team has once again struck gold with their formula. They craft family movies that captivate the young audience while simultaneously charming parents with catchy tunes, nostalgic jokes, and plenty of nods to the past. This timeless humor, reminiscent of silent film characters, is universally appealing and brilliantly untranslatable—much like the minions themselves.

This film deliberately sidesteps a complex script, instead relying entirely on being consistently funny. Within the first five minutes, viewers are enveloped in its absurdity, relaxing and allowing themselves to be enchanted by these delightful characters. On a technical front, the film shines brightly with its spectacularly colorful animations,...

Chris Renaud, the director of Despicable Me 4, has expressed his reluctance towards the idea of adapting the beloved animated franchise into a live-action format. Having directed the first two installments in the Despicable Me franchise and returned for the fourth, Renaud has been a crucial figure in shaping the series. He also served as a producer for 2015s Minions and 2022s Minions: The Rise of Gru.

In a recent interview with Film Hounds magazine, Renaud was asked about the possibility of a live-action adaptation of the Minions. His response was immediate and unequivocal.

God, I hope not. Thats my answer.

Renaud elaborated on his stance, explaining that certain stories and scenes are best told through a singular medium, and it is often better to maintain that medium to preserve the essence of the narrative.

I mean if there were conversations [about live-action remakes], I havent been privy to them. But for me,...

A director behind the Despicable Me franchise opened up about creating live-action adaptations of the animated movies.

Chris Renaud directed the first two movies in the series and returned for the recently released Despicable Me 4.

In a new interview, Chris was asked if there were any conversations about following in the footsteps of Disney and turning the franchise into live-action movies. Doing so would entail creating “real” Minions.

Is that a possibility?

Keep reading to find out more…

“God, I hope not. That’s my answer,” Chris told Film Hounds.

He continued, saying, “I mean if there were conversations like that, I haven’t been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated and it allows us to get away with what we get away with. Like locking a minion in the vending machine, or you know, blowing up Gru when he attacks Vector.

Despicable Me director Chris Renaud opens up about the future he hopes to avoid for the franchise.

Per Deadline, Renaud was asked about the possibility of a live-action feature film featuring the Despicable Me franchise's instantly iconic Minions. "God, I hope not. That's my answer," Renaud responded quite simply. Renaud went on to note that he had no knowledge of such a concept being taken seriously by either Illumination or Universal Pictures, saying, "I mean if there were conversations, I haven't been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated, and it allows us to get away with what we get away with."

Related Everything You Need To Know About Despicable Me 4

Despicable Me 4 is set to continue the famous Minions franchise, but what can audiences expect from this latest installment of villainous chaos?

Renaud has been with the franchise from the very beginning,...

If the idea of a live-action Minions movie makes you shudder, you’re not the only one.

Chris Renaud, who directed the first two and fourth films in the Despicable Me franchise, shot down the potential of a live-action treatment of the mischievous banana-loving helpers.

“God, I hope not,” Renaud said bluntly when asked by Film Hounds if there was a possibility of Illumination and Universal exploring live-action movies within the franchise. “That’s my answer.”

Studios like Disney have found box-office success in remaking animated classics, such as 2019’s The Lion King and Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Alice in Wonderland (2010), all of which have crossed the $1 billion box office threshold. Upcoming films like Mufasa: The Lion King and a live-action Moana hope to recreate that profitability.

“I mean if there were conversations [about live-action remakes], I haven’t been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated,...

Chris Renaud, director of the hit animated franchise “Despicable Me,” does not want to see the films adapted into live-action. In a recent interview, Renaud firmly rejected the idea of a live-action version. He believes animation is key to the films’ spirit.

Renaud helmed the first two “Despicable Me” movies and most recently directed “Despicable Me 4.” He stated that the animated style allows fantastical elements like “locking a minion in a vending machine” or “blowing up Gru.” These cartoon scenes would be difficult to recreate in a live-action film.

The director isn’t alone in his reservations. Pixar’s creative officer Pete Docter shared similar views in a separate interview. Docter said live-action remakes of animated works “bother” him because they lack originality.

The “Despicable Me” films have found unprecedented success in animation. As a franchise, they have earned over $5 billion globally—a first for any animated series. “Despicable Me 4...

'Despicable Me' director Chris Renaud has ruled out a live-action Minions movie.The 57-year-old filmmaker and voice actor - who also voiced the Minions in the blockbuster Illumination franchise - insists the films should stay in the animated world.Asked if it's something he'd want to do, he told Film Hounds magazine: “God, I hope not. That’s my answer.“I mean if there were conversations like that, I haven’t been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated, and it allows us to get away with what we get away with. Like locking a minion in the vending machine, or you know, blowing up Gru (Steve Carell) when he attacks Vector (Jason Segel). These are really cartoon ideas, like what would have been in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.”Insisting it's his personal view, he added: “I think it just...

Despicable Me director Chris Renaud has zero plans for a live-action Minions movie, and he hopes to keep it that way.

The filmmaker was recently asked in an interview with Film Hounds magazine if he was ever interested in seeing the Minions make the jump from animation to live-action, given Disney’s success with it.

“God, I hope not. That’s my answer,” Renaud said in response. “I mean if there were conversations like that, I haven’t been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated and it allows us to get away with what we get away with. Like locking a minion in the vending machine, or you know, blowing up Gru (Steve Carell) when he attacks Vector (Jason Segel). These are really cartoon ideas, like what would have been in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.”

He continued, “I think it just...

If we're looking to throw around blame—and we always are—for the cultural ubiquity of the banana-loving hell Twinkies known as the Minions, Chris Renaud is a pretty good person to blame. As director or co-director of three of the four extant Despicable Me movies, as well as the...

The slapstick-loving Minions from “Despicable Me” have helped power the franchise to $5.4 billion and counting at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing animated series in history. Chris Renaud, who directed the first two “Despicable Me” films and returned this year for the fourth sequel, recently spoke to Film Hounds magazine and was asked about Disney’s trend of turning its animated classics into live-action movies. Would he ever want to see the Minions jump to that format?

“God, I hope not. That’s my answer,” Renaud answered bluntly.

“If there were conversations like that, I haven’t been privy to them,” Renaud said. “But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated and it allows us to get away with what we get away with. Like locking a minion in the vending machine, or you know, blowing up Gru when he attacks Vector. These are really cartoon ideas,...

Despicable Me 4 director Chris Renaud doesnt have any interest in seeing Gru (Steve Carell), his family and their bright-yellow Minions brought to life in a live-action world. Renaud, who also sat in the directors chair for the original Despicable Me and its first sequel, Despicable Me 2, was asked about Illumination possibly following in Disneys footsteps.

After all, the Mouse House has succeeded in adapting some of its most-beloved animated titles, like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, into live-action. But dont look for Illumination and Universal Pictures' Despicable Me to go down that same creative path, if Renaud has anything to say about it. The filmmaker explained in an interview with Filmhounds:

God, I hope not. That's my answer. I mean if there were conversations like that, I haven't been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated,...

Chris Renaud hopes a live-action Minions movie doesn't happen. The director pointed out the ways in which Despicable Me works uniquely well in live-action. There is a huge trend right now of adapting animated films into live-action.

Despicable Me 4 director Chris Renaud discusses the possibility of making a live-action Minions movie. Released in early July, Despicable Me 4 has been another success for Illumination during its theatrical run so far. It opened to an impressive $75 million, and at the time of writing, has amassed a worldwide gross of over $809 million. It is the third-highest grossing film of 2024 so far, coming in behind only Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2.

Speaking with Film Hounds, Renaud addresses whether he would consider making a live-action version of Minions. Renaud's first response about the possibility was a blunt "God, I hope not." In a more detailed response, the director offered up the fact...

Gru and his family face new threats in Despicable Me 4, including a heist and Mega Minions from the Anti-Villain League. Director Chris Renaud voices the antagonist in the film and worked on developing the relatable characters in the franchise. The Mega Minions were inspired by iconic powers and the Fantastic Four, adding a new dynamic to the Minions' story.

Despicable Me 4 follows Gru and his family, including his new son Gru Jr., after they are forced to leave the home they know and love when his nemesis Maxime Le Mal and Maxime's girlfriend Valentina come after him. When Poppy, the neighbor girl, recognizes him, she instantly blackmails him to help her become a villain and pull a heist. Meanwhile, some of the minions become Mega Minions while staying at the Anti-Villian League.

Chris Renaud has been a part of the Despicable Me franchise from the very beginning,...

Despicable Me 4 is still a box office hit even after its digital release.

The newest entry in the Despicable Me franchise continues to pass box office milestones. While the film's success could have been predicted, the animated movie continues to surpass expectations. With so many hit films this summer, Collider describes Despicable Me 4 as a sleeper hit. Collider additionally reports that Despicable Me 4 garnered $330 million domestically and $477 million globally, and its overall earnings are a whopping $807 million. Despite its digital release, Despicable Me 4 is still going strong and is set to overtake Minions: The Rise of Gru in earnings.

Related Despicable Me 4 Comes to PVOD With Two New Mini-Movies, Watch a Sneak Peek Clip

Exclusive: It's game over for the Minions in Cbr's clip of a new Despicable Me 4 Mini-Movie, soon coming to PVOD.

Despicable Me has proven itself to be a powerhouse animation franchise.

The ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ series' have left an incredible mark with six movies in the books, let’s see how each movie performed and what the franchise has in store for the future! The ‘Despicable me’ franchise has become a renowned name all around the world since its start in 2010. From its smaller beginnings to the release of the franchise's 4th film earlier this month. The series has become a phenomenon with 6 total movies. Four movies follow the ‘Despicable me’ series and 2 follow the Minions series which is set to be the prequel to all ‘Despicable me’ movies. Produced by Illumination Productions and distributed by Universal pictures, the movies all center around Gru, his three daughters and the very loved minions. The concept of the series originated from animator Sergio Pablos, who founded his animation company Spa Studios, with the aid of other ideas before becoming a global blockbuster franchise under Illumination Productions.

Universal City, California, August 5, 2024 – As Gru and his Minions continue to dominate global box office charts, Despicable Me 4 will be available exclusively on digital platforms to own or rent tomorrow, August 6, 2024, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed as “The funniest movie of the summer”, this latest installment now includes two never-before-seen Minion Mini-Movies, “Benny’s Birthday” and “Game Over and Over,” only when you purchase from participating retailers nationwide including Amazon, Apple, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Verizon.

The world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League agent returns for a bold new era of Minions mayhem in Illumination’s Despicable Me 4, now with 2 mini-movies. Gru, Lucy, and their girls welcome a new member to the family – Gru Jr. – who is intent on tormenting his dad, as a new nemesis shows up and forces the family to go on the run. This latest blockbuster chapter in the biggest...

Universal City, California, August 5, 2024 – As Gru and his Minions continue to dominate global box office charts, Despicable Me 4 will be available exclusively on digital platforms to own or rent tomorrow, August 6, 2024, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed as “The funniest movie of the summer”, this latest installment now includes two never-before-seen Minion Mini-Movies, “Benny’s Birthday” and “Game Over and Over,” only when you purchase from participating retailers nationwide including Amazon, Apple, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Verizon.

The world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League agent returns for a bold new era of Minions mayhem in Illumination’s Despicable Me 4, now with 2 mini-movies. Gru, Lucy, and their girls welcome a new member to the family – Gru Jr. – who is intent on tormenting his dad, as a new nemesis shows up and forces the family to go on the run. This latest blockbuster chapter in the biggest...

Fan favorite minion movie Despicable Me 4 is having a dream run at the box office breaking one milestone after another. Directed by Chris Renaud the movie adds another entertaining installment in the franchise and brings back many familiar characters and some new ones. For fans who would love to see the feature again at their own leisure, the animated movie is soon coming to PVOD, Cbr has reported. Furthermore, fans will also get a chance to see two never-seen-before Mini-Movies featuring the Minions.