Despicable Me

Despicable Me is an American media franchise created by Sergio Pablos, Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It centers on a former supervillain turned secret agent named Gru, his adoptive daughters, Margo, Edith, and Agnes, and his yellow-colored Minions. The franchise is produced by Illumination and distributed by its parent company Universal Pictures.
The franchise began with the 2010 film of the same name, which was followed by three sequels, Despicable Me 2 (2013), Despicable Me 3 (2017), and Despicable Me 4 (2024) and two spin-off prequels, Minions (2015) and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). The franchise also includes many short films, a television special, several video games, and a theme park attraction.
Longtime supervillain Gru formulates a plan to steal the moon after his rival Vector steals the Great Pyramid of Giza. Meanwhile, he starts a family by adopting three orphan girls, and must decide where his commitments lie.
Despicable Me debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 9, 2010, and was released in the United States on July 9.
Secret agent Lucy Wilde recruits Gru to investigate the theft of a powerful mutagen by El Macho, a supervillain who pursues world domination.
Despicable Me 2 debuted in Australia on June 5, 2013, and was released in the United States on July 3.
Gru teams up with his long-lost twin brother Dru to stop Balthazar Bratt, a former child actor of the 1980s, from destroying Hollywood, Los Angeles, after his show was canceled years ago.
Despicable Me 3 debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 14, 2017, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 30.
Gru, who is now raising a baby, faces Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, two villains who seek revenge on Gru and his family, forcing the family to go on the run.
Despicable Me 4 debuted in New York City on June 9, 2024, and was released in the United States on July 3.
The Minions search for their replaceable evil master after, one-by-one, accidentally killing all their past leaders throughout history.
Minions debuted in London on June 11, 2015, and was released in the United States on July 10.
An eleven-year-old Gru plans to become a supervillain with the help of his Minions, which leads to a showdown with a malevolent team, the Vicious 6.
Minions: The Rise of Gru debuted at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 13, 2022, and was released in the United States on July 1.
A sequel, tentatively under the title Minions 3, is scheduled to be released on July 1, 2026.
A total of 20 short films have been released in the franchise. Three short films based on Despicable Me were released in December 2010 on the film's DVD and Blu-ray. The Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray, released in December 2013, included another three short films. Three short films were released in 2015 on the Blu-ray and DVD of Minions, while one short film was released in the Blu-ray and DVD of Despicable Me 3.
A short film titled Mower Minions was released in 2016 with The Secret Life of Pets, being the first short film to be released theatrically. A second theatrical short film was released in 2018 with The Grinch, while another one was released in The Grinch's DVD and Blu-ray. A third theatrical short film was released in 2023 with Migration. Two new shorts were released in Despicable Me 4 on digital HD release.
Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray.
After the events of Despicable Me, the Minions help Margo, Edith, and Agnes renovate Gru's house, so the social worker does not take the girls back to Miss Hattie's Home for Girls.
Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray.
Three minions now have jobs as bomb transporters, but things go wrong when the trio has an argument with two other minions who carry a bomb bigger than theirs.
Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray.
Three Minions fight over a banana. In the process, they wreak havoc in the Minions' workplace.
Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray.
A Minion watches neighbors walking their dogs on the street, which leads him to search for a puppy of his own. After several failed attempts, he comes across a UFO that takes the role of a puppy for him.
Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray.
Two Minions work sending parcels through the lab. When a package containing expired PX-41 (the serum that El Macho used to transform the Minions and himself in Despicable Me 2), gets jammed in the pneumatic delivery system, it transforms one of them into an evil Minion.
Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray.
Agnes is unsatisfied with her toy bike after falling off it while attempting to catch up to an ice cream truck with Margo, Edith, and their friends. Three Minions then volunteer to modify the bike and help Agnes improve her skills.
Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray.
Two Minions look after a cave baby while their caveman boss goes to find a bull to eat for lunch. But it is harder than the Minions think.
Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray.
Two Minions challenge themselves to numerous attacks, ending up on the lab's conveyor belt in the process.
Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray.
The Nelsons' youngest son Binky, having lost his pacifier after a successful robbery at a museum, sets out on a mission to retrieve it.
Released theatrically with The Secret Life of Pets (2016).
A group of Minions try to earn some money by mowing a lawn at a local old people's home. But their work results turn out to be chaotic.
Released on the Despicable Me 3 DVD and Blu-ray.
After the events of Despicable Me 3, we follow Kyle and his secret life when Gru and his family are gone.
Released theatrically with The Grinch (2018).
Before they all make their big escape from prison in Despicable Me 3, a couple of lucky Minions get a taste of freedom as they break free with the help of one of their fellow human inmates.
Released on The Grinch DVD and Blu-ray.
Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, having been accidentally dropped off at the North Pole, make the most of the situation by trying to become elves.
Released on The Secret Life of Pets 2 DVD and Blu-ray.
When Margo, Agnes and Edith return from a Scout camp, a group of Minions are entranced by the girls' merit badges and become scouts in an attempt to earn badges for themselves.
Aired on NBC on June 11, 2021 and included in the Minions: The Rise of Gru DVD and Blu-ray.
A rookie Minion joins other Minions in a tabletop role-playing game.
Released on the Minions: The Rise of Gru DVD and Blu-ray.
When a Minion crashes into an art gallery, an art critic praises his creation and he becomes an overnight celebrity.
Released theatrically with Migration (2023).
Taking place right after the ending of the first film, Vector Perkins, still stuck on the Moon, attempts to escape and return to Earth.
Released on the Migration 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, DVD and Blu-ray.
The Trio of Minions will try anything to help Agnes overcome her fear of the dark, even if it involves going into outer space.
Released on the Despicable Me 4 digital platforms.
When Stuart accidentally destroys his controller in rage, he finds another controller in Gru's Lab to replay his game. But instead he controlled Kevin, so Stuart decides to play him as his game and try to beat his high score.
Released on the Despicable Me 4 digital platforms.
It's Benny's birthday, and the Minions take him to his cake. Benny has a time loop of being injured and hurt on his Birthday from getting blown by TNT to being hit by a bat.
Minions Holiday Special is a half-hour compilation of Minions mini-movies, containing Santa's Little Helpers, Training Wheels, Puppy, and Minion Scouts. Additionally, the special includes holiday-themed interstitials featuring characters from Illumination's The Secret Life of Pets and Sing franchises. The special aired on NBC on November 27, 2020.
Miranda Cosgrove, who voices Margo in the films, provides narration between the short segments.
Saturday Morning Minions debuted in the United States on Instagram and Facebook pages of Illumination on June 9, 2021, releasing weekly on Saturdays, and consists of 40 episodes. The series features a 2D animation style. Who's Who was released on TikTok and subsequently on YouTube.
The video game, titled Despicable Me: The Game, was released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii. A Nintendo DS version was released under the name Despicable Me: The Game – Minion Mayhem. Namco also released on July 6, 2010, a version for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch platform entitled Despicable Me: Minion Mania, developed by Anino Games. The game was removed from the App Store on January 1, 2013.
The action video game, titled Despicable Me: Minion Rush, was released on June 13, 2013. The game, developed by Gameloft, was adapted for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android, and Windows Phone devices. Played as one of the Minions, it allows customization of the character, who must perform various tasks, including defeating Vector and a new villain created for the game, to earn the title of Minion of the Year. The game was downloaded more than 100 million times in the first three months after its release. The game won a British Academy Children's Award in the category BAFTA's Kids' Vote and a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite App. By June 2021, the game hit 1 billion downloads worldwide across iOS, Android, and other devices.
The free-to-play mobile game developed by Electronic Arts (otherwise known as EA), titled Minions Paradise, was released in the summer of 2015. Playing as Phil, players will help Minions design and build their own utopia set in a tropical environment. The game was removed from the App Store on May 22, 2017.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a simulator ride that opened on July 2, 2012, at Universal Studios Florida and on April 12, 2014, at Universal Studios Hollywood, starring Steve Carell as Gru, Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, Dana Gaier as Edith, Elsie Fisher as Agnes, and Pierre Coffin as the Minions. The same attraction (featuring Japanese and Chinese voice casts) opened on April 21, 2017, at Universal Studios Japan and September 20, 2021, at Universal Studios Beijing. Another version of the attraction, built as part of Minion Land, opened on February 14, 2025, at Universal Studios Singapore.
In addition to the Minion Mayhem attraction, Universal Studios Florida features an entire Minion Land with a moving-walkway shooter attraction titled Villain-Con: Minion Blast.
In 2026, Universal Kids Resort will include a themed land based on the Despicable Me franchise.
The Despicable Me franchise has grossed a total of more than $5 billion, making it the highest-grossing animated film franchise, and the 15th highest-grossing film franchise of all time.
Despicable Me 2 was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Alongside the second film, Despicable Me and Minions were also nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film. The first three Despicable Me films each received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature. Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.