# List of Illumination productions

This is a list of productions produced by Illumination (formerly known as Illumination Entertainment), an American film and animation studio based in Santa Monica, California, United States. This includes feature films, television specials, shorts, and digital series. As of 2025, Illumination has released 15 feature films, which were all distributed by Universal Pictures, with their first being Despicable Me on July 9, 2010, and their latest being Despicable Me 4 on July 3, 2024.
Their upcoming slate of films includes an untitled follow-up film to The Super Mario Bros. Movie on April 3, 2026, and Minions 3 on July 1, 2026. In addition, an untitled film is scheduled to be released on June 30, 2027.

## Feature films

All films are co-produced and distributed by Universal Pictures, with the exceptions of Hop (co-produced with Relativity Media) and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (co-produced with Nintendo).

### Released

| Film | Release date | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Executive Producer(s) | Composer(s) | Animation service(s) |
| Film | Release date | Director(s) | Story | Screenplay | Producer(s) | Executive Producer(s) | Composer(s) | Animation service(s) |
| Despicable Me | July 9, 2010 | Chris Renaud Pierre Coffin | Sergio Pablos | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy John Cohen | Sergio Pablos Nina Rowan | Heitor Pereira (score)Pharrell Williams (songs and themes) | Mac Guff |
| Hop | April 1, 2011 | Tim Hill | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio Brian Lynch | Chris Meledandri Michele Imperato Stabile | John Cohen | Christopher Lennertz | Rhythm & Hues |
| The Lorax | March 2, 2012 | Chris RenaudCo-director: Kyle Balda | Based on the book by Dr. Seuss | Based on the book by Dr. Seuss | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | Audrey Geisel Ken Daurio Cinco Paul | John Powell (score)John Powell Cinco Paul (songs) | Illumination Mac Guff Mac Guff |
| Illumination Mac Guff Mac Guff ||
| Despicable Me 2 | July 3, 2013 | Chris Renaud Pierre Coffin | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | — | Heitor Pereira (score)Pharrell Williams (songs and themes) | Illumination Mac Guff |
| Minions | July 10, 2015 | Pierre Coffin Kyle Balda | Brian Lynch | Brian Lynch | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | Chris Renaud | Heitor Pereira | Illumination Mac Guff |
| The Secret Life of Pets | July 8, 2016 | Chris RenaudCo-director: Yarrow Cheney | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio Brian Lynch | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio Brian Lynch | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | — | Alexandre Desplat | Illumination Mac Guff |
| Sing | December 21, 2016 | Garth JenningsCo-director: Christophe Lourdelet | Garth Jennings | Garth Jennings | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | — | Joby Talbot | Illumination Mac Guff |
| Despicable Me 3 | June 30, 2017 | Pierre Coffin Kyle BaldaCo-director: Eric Guillon | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | Chris Renaud | Heitor Pereira (score)Pharrell Williams (songs and themes) | Illumination Mac Guff |
| The Grinch | November 9, 2018 | Scott Mosier Yarrow Cheney | Based on the book by Dr. Seuss | Based on the book by Dr. Seuss | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | Latifa Ouaou Audrey Geisel Chris Renaud | Danny Elfman | Illumination Mac Guff |
| Illumination Mac Guff ||
| The Secret Life of Pets 2 | June 7, 2019 | Chris RenaudCo-director: Jonathan del Val | Brian Lynch | Brian Lynch | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | Brett Hoffman | Alexandre Desplat | Illumination Mac Guff |
| Sing 2 | December 22, 2021 | Garth JenningsCo-director: Christophe Lourdelet | Garth Jennings | Garth Jennings | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | Dana Krupinski | Joby Talbot | Illumination Studios Paris |
| Minions: The Rise of Gru | July 1, 2022 | Kyle BaldaCo-directors: Brad Ableson Jonathan del Val | Brian Lynch Matthew Fogel | Matthew Fogel | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy Chris Renaud | Brett Hoffman | Heitor Pereira | Illumination Studios Paris |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | April 5, 2023 | Aaron Horvath Michael JelenicCo-directors: Pierre Leduc Fabien Polack | Based on the video game franchise by Nintendo | Based on the video game franchise by Nintendo | Chris Meledandri Shigeru Miyamoto | Brett Hoffman Bill Ryan Yusuke Beppu | Brian Tyler (score)Koji Kondo (themes) | Illumination Studios Paris |
| Illumination Studios Paris ||
| Migration | December 22, 2023 | Benjamin RennerCo-director: Guylo Homsy | Mike White Benjamin Renner | Mike White | Chris Meledandri | Joy Poirel | John Powell | Illumination Studios Paris |
| Despicable Me 4 | July 3, 2024 | Chris RenaudCo-director: Patrick Delage | Mike White Ken Daurio | Mike White Ken Daurio | Chris Meledandri Brett Hoffman | — | Heitor Pereira (score)Pharrell Williams (songs and themes) | Illumination Studios Paris |

### Upcoming

| Film | Release date | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Composer(s) | Animation service(s) | Production Status | Ref. |
| Film | Release date | Director(s) | Story | Screenplay | Producer(s) | Composer(s) | Animation service(s) | Production Status | Ref. |
| Untitled The Super Mario Bros. Movie follow-up film | April 3, 2026 | Aaron Horvath Michael Jelenic | Based on the video game franchise by Nintendo | Based on the video game franchise by Nintendo | Chris Meledandri Shigeru Miyamoto | TBA | Illumination Studios Paris | Pre-production | |
| Minions 3 | July 1, 2026 | Pierre Coffin | Brian Lynch | Brian Lynch | Chris Meledandri Bill Ryan | TBA | Illumination Studios Paris | Pre-production | |
Additionally, an unannounced film is scheduled to be released on June 30, 2027.

### In development

* Title
* Big Tree
* The Secret Life of Pets 3
* Sing 3
* Untitled Pharrell Williams film

## Short films

| Title | Release date | Distribution/co-production with | Animation service(s) | Released with | Note(s) |
| Home Makeover | December 14, 2010 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Mac Guff | Despicable Me | Home video release |
| Orientation Day | December 14, 2010 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Mac Guff | Despicable Me | Home video release |
| Banana | December 14, 2010 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Mac Guff | Despicable Me | Home video release |
| Brad & Gary | July 1, 2011 | Universal Pictures | Mac Guff | — | Theatrical release |
| Phil's Dance Party | March 23, 2012 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Rhythm & Hues | Hop | Home video release |
| Wagon Ho! | August 7, 2012 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment Dr. Seuss Enterprises | Illumination Mac Guff | The Lorax | Home video release |
| Forces of Nature | August 7, 2012 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment Dr. Seuss Enterprises | Illumination Mac Guff | The Lorax | Home video release |
| Serenade | August 7, 2012 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment Dr. Seuss Enterprises | Illumination Mac Guff | The Lorax | Home video release |
| Puppy | December 10, 2013 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Despicable Me 2 | Home video release |
| Panic in the Mailroom | December 10, 2013 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Despicable Me 2 | Home video release |
| Training Wheels | December 10, 2013 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Despicable Me 2 | Home video release |
| Cro Minion | December 8, 2015 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Minions | Home video release |
| Competition | December 8, 2015 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Minions | Home video release |
| Binky Nelson Unpacified | December 8, 2015 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Minions | Home video release |
| Mower Minions | July 8, 2016 | Universal Pictures | Illumination Mac Guff | The Secret Life of Pets | Theatrical release/Home video release |
| Norman Television | December 6, 2016 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | The Secret Life of Pets | Home video release |
| Weenie | December 6, 2016 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | The Secret Life of Pets | Home video release |
| Gunter Babysits | March 21, 2017 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Sing | Home video release |
| Love at First Sight | March 21, 2017 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Sing | Home video release |
| Eddie's Life Coach | March 21, 2017 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Sing | Home video release |
| The Secret Life of Kyle | December 5, 2017 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | Despicable Me 3 | Home video release |
| Yellow is the New Black | November 9, 2018 | Universal Pictures | Illumination Mac Guff | The Grinch | Theatrical release/Home video release |
| The Dog Days of Winter | November 23, 2018 | NBCUniversal Television Distribution Dr. Seuss Enterprises | Illumination Mac Guff | Trolls Holiday | Television release |
| The Dog Days of Winter | November 23, 2018 | NBCUniversal Television Distribution Dr. Seuss Enterprises | Illumination Mac Guff | The Grinch | Home video release |
| Santa's Little Helpers | February 5, 2019 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | The Grinch | Home video release |
| Super Gidget | August 27, 2019 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | The Secret Life of Pets 2 | Home video release |
| Minion Scouts | August 27, 2019 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Mac Guff | The Secret Life of Pets 2 | Home video release |
| Minions & Monsters | June 11, 2021 | NBCUniversal Syndication Studios | Illumination Mac Guff | Minions: The Rise of Gru | Television release/Home video release |
| For Gunter's Eyes Only | March 29, 2022 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Studios Paris | Sing 2 | Home video release |
| Animal Attraction | March 29, 2022 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Studios Paris | Sing 2 | Home video release |
| Post Modern Minion | September 6, 2022 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Studios Paris | Minions: The Rise of Gru | Home video release |
| Penglai | September 16, 2022 | Universal Pictures | One and All Animation Studio | — | Limited theatrical release |
| Mooned | December 22, 2023 | Universal Pictures | Illumination Studios Paris | Migration | Theatrical release/Home video release |
| Fly Hard | February 27, 2024 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Studios Paris | Migration | Home video release |
| Midnight Mission | February 27, 2024 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Studios Paris | Migration | Home video release |
| Benny's Birthday | August 6, 2024 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Studios Paris | Despicable Me 4 | Home video release |
| Game Over and Over | August 6, 2024 | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | Illumination Studios Paris | Despicable Me 4 | Home video release |
| Sing: Thriller | October 16, 2024 | Netflix | Illumination Studios Paris | — | Streaming release |

### Compilations

| Title | Release date | Distribution/co-production with | Animation service(s) | Streaming service(s) | Shorts included |
| Minions & More 1 | September 20, 2022 | Universal Pictures | Illumination Studios Paris | Netflix | Puppy, The Dog Days of Winter, Minion Scouts, Norman Television, Training Wheels, Love at First Sight, The Secret Life of Kyle, Weenie, Forces of Nature, and Santa's Little Helpers |
| Minions & More 2 | November 8, 2022 | Universal Pictures | Illumination Studios Paris | Netflix | Mower Minions, Super Gidget, Yellow is the New Black, Eddie's Life Coach, Competition, Serenade, Cro Minion, Wagon Ho!, Binky Nelson Unpacified, Panic in the Mailroom, and Gunter Babysits |

## Television specials

| Title | Release date | Distribution/co-production with | Animation service(s) | Network(s) | Shorts included |
| Minions Holiday Special | November 27, 2020 | NBCUniversal Television Distribution | Illumination Mac Guff | NBC | Santa's Little Helpers, Training Wheels, Puppy, and Minion Scouts |

## Series
### Web series

| Title | Premiere date | End date | Network(s) |
| Saturday Morning Minions | June 5, 2021 | March 5, 2022 | Facebook Instagram |
| Who's Who? | July 13, 2023 | August 3, 2023 | TikTok YouTube |
| Bones Story | TBA | TBA | | TikTok YouTube |

## Unproduced films

| Title | Description |
| Emily the Strange | Since 2000, Rob Reger has been trying to make a feature film adaptation of Emily. In 2005, Fox Animation went to make a live action/animated feature film, with Chris Meledandri and John Cohen producing it. Mike Richardson, of Dark Horse Entertainment, came on board as a producer in 2008. The same year it was unofficially reported that the film moved to Universal Studios' owned Illumination Entertainment, along with the studio's founders, Meledandri and Cohen. In September 2010, Universal Studios acquired the rights to the comic, and the actress Chloë Grace Moretz was cast in the role of Emily. Melisa Wallack, who wrote the script for Mirror Mirror, was hired to write the adaptation in the following year in August. Two months later it was confirmed that the film was indeed in the works at Illumination Entertainment. Kealan O'Rourke was brought to rewrite the film's script. By December 2016, Universal abandoned the project, and Dark Horse Entertainment and Amazon Studios were in negotiations to make an animated film. In October 2024, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Bad Robot announced their collaboration on a full-length animated feature based on Emily the Strange. The film’s screenplay is being developed by Pamela Ribon, as Bad Robot will produce the film, with Reger serving as executive producer alongside Trevor Duke-Moretz. |
| Flanimals | An animated feature film based on the Flanimals book series was in production at Illumination by April 2009. Series creator Ricky Gervais was set to be the executive producer and also lend his voice to the lead character, while Matt Selman (The Simpsons) wrote the script, but the project was later removed from the development schedule. |
| Where's Waldo? | In June 2009, Universal and Illumination acquired the rights to turn Where's Waldo? into a live-action film, was to be produced by Chris Meledandri with Classic Media's (now DreamWorks Classics) executive producer Eric Ellenbogen, but the project was later cancelled, after DreamWorks Animation bought Classic Media in 2012. |
| Untitled cryptozoology film | In December 2009, Illumination was producing an animated film based on a pitch by actor-comedian Jack Black and Jason Micallef on cryptozoology, which is the study of legendary creatures whose existence has never been confirmed (i.e. the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot). Black intended to produce the film alongside Ben Cooley and Chris Meledandri through his production company Electric Dynamite. Additionally, Black did not intend to provide a voice for the characters as he did with DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda. |
| Curious George | By July 2010, Illumination was developing a live-action animated film based on Curious George, with Larry Stuckey writing the script, but in November 2015 the film project was cancelled. |
| Pluto | In October 2010, Illumination Entertainment and Tezuka Productions jointly announced to develop a live-action/animated film of the Japanese manga series Pluto. |
| The Addams Family | In 2010, Universal and Illumination acquired the underlying rights to the Addams Family drawings. The film was planned to be a stop-motion animated film based on Charles Addams's original drawings. Tim Burton was set to co-write and co-produce the film, with a possibility to direct. By July 2013, the film was cancelled; had been made, this would have been Illumination's first stop-motion animated film. Eventually, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picked up rights to the film and an animated film was released in 2019, with Sausage Party directors Greg Tiernan and former DreamWorks Animation staff member Conrad Vernon to direct. Universal handled the international distribution rights for the film, as well as physical home media worldwide distribution rights. |
| UglyDolls | In May 2011, Illumination acquired the rights to Uglydolls to make an animated feature film, but the project never came to fruition. An animated film based on Uglydolls became the first family and animation project produced by STXfilms and was released in May 2019. |
| Woody Woodpecker | By November 2011, Universal and Illumination planned a Woody Woodpecker feature film. John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky (King of the Hill) were in talks to develop a story, but in July 2013, Illumination canceled the project. The film was eventually released as a live-action/CGI hybrid film in 2017. |
| The Cat in the Hat | In March 2012, following the financial success of The Lorax, the animated film adaptation of the book of the same name, Universal and Illumination announced plans to produce an animated adaptation of the book The Cat in the Hat. Rob Lieber was set to write the script, with Chris Meledandri as producer, and Audrey Geisel as the executive producer, but the project never came into fruition. By January 2018, Warner Animation Group was in development of an animated Cat in the Hat film as part of a creative partnership with Seuss Enterprises, which is set to be released in 2026. |
| Clifford the Big Red Dog | In May 2012, Universal and Illumination began to develop a live-action/animated feature film based on the Clifford the Big Red Dog book series. Matt Lopez was hired to write the script, while Chris Meledandri and Deborah Forte were attached to produce the film. In July 2013, Illumination dropped the project. Paramount Pictures later acquired the rights to develop the film, which was eventually released on November 10, 2021, following a number of delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Johnny Express | In 2015, Universal and Illumination planned to adapt the South Korean CGI animated short Johnny Express into a feature-length animated film. |

## Reception
### Box office performance

| Film | Budget | North America | North America | Overseas gross (unadjusted) | Worldwide gross (unadjusted) | Ref. |
| Film | Budget | Opening | Gross (unadjusted) | Overseas gross (unadjusted) | Worldwide gross (unadjusted) | Ref. |
| Despicable Me | $69 million | $56.3 million | $251.6 million | $291.6 million | $543.2 million | |
| Hop | $63 million | $37.5 million | $108.5 million | $75.8 million | $184.4 million | |
| The Lorax | $70 million | $70.2 million | $214.4 million | $134.8 million | $349.2 million | |
| Despicable Me 2 | $76 million | $83.5 million | $368.1 million | $602.7 million | $970.8 million | |
| Minions | $74 million | $115.7 million | $336.0 million | $823.4 million | $1.159 billion | |
| The Secret Life of Pets | $75 million | $104.4 million | $368.4 million | $525.9 million | $894.3 million | |
| Sing | $75 million | $35.2 million | $270.4 million | $363.8 million | $634.2 million | |
| Despicable Me 3 | $80 million | $72.4 million | $264.6 million | $770.2 million | $1.034 billion | |
| The Grinch | $75 million | $67.6 million | $271.5 million | $255.4 million | $527.8 million | |
| The Secret Life of Pets 2 | $80 million | $46.7 million | $159.2 million | $287.2 million | $446.4 million | |
| Sing 2 | $85 million | $22.3 million | $162.8 million | $245.6 million | $408.4 million | |
| Minions: The Rise of Gru | $80–100 million | $107.0 million | $370.3 million | $570.4 million | $940.7 million | |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | $100 million | $146.4 million | $574.9 million | $788.4 million | $1.363 billion | |
| Migration | $72 million | $12.5 million | $127.3 million | $171.4 million | $298.7 million | |
| Despicable Me 4 | $100 million | $122.6 million | $360.5 million | $588.2 million | $948.7 million | |

### Critical and public response

| Film | Critical | Critical | Public |
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
| Despicable Me | 80% (201 reviews) | 72 (35 reviews) | A |
| Hop | 24% (140 reviews) | 41 (23 reviews) | A− |
| The Lorax | 54% (156 reviews) | 46 (30 reviews) | A |
| Despicable Me 2 | 75% (185 reviews) | 62 (39 reviews) | A |
| Minions | 56% (224 reviews) | 56 (35 reviews) | A |
| The Secret Life of Pets | 70% (240 reviews) | 61 (39 reviews) | A− |
| Sing | 71% (187 reviews) | 59 (37 reviews) | A |
| Despicable Me 3 | 58% (195 reviews) | 49 (37 reviews) | A– |
| The Grinch | 59% (197 reviews) | 51 (32 reviews) | A− |
| The Secret Life of Pets 2 | 60% (164 reviews) | 55 (26 reviews) | A− |
| Sing 2 | 72% (137 reviews) | 49 (28 reviews) | A+ |
| Minions: The Rise of Gru | 70% (185 reviews) | 56 (41 reviews) | A |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 59% (287 reviews) | 46 (53 reviews) | A |
| Migration | 73% (103 reviews) | 56 (25 reviews) | A |
| Despicable Me 4 | 56% (164 reviews) | 52 (36 reviews) | A |