Illumination's Minions Franchise Boosted by Despicable Me 4 Box Office and Upcoming Minions & Monsters

Universal Pictures’ Illumination Entertainment released *Despicable Me 4* on July 3 2024. The film earned more than $900 million worldwide and closed with a post‑credits scene in which the Minions performed a rendition of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” underscoring their status as the franchise’s primary commercial engine.

The studio’s next animated sequel, *Minions & Monsters*, is slated for a U.S. theatrical debut on Wednesday, June 1 2026. Early market betting predicts a 72 % Rotten Tomatoes critics score, higher than recent entries in the series. The film’s cast includes returning director‑co‑writer Pierre Coffin, voice talent Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Jesse Eisenberg and an undisclosed role for George Lucas. Positive early reviews from Empire, the South China Morning Post, TheWrap and Variety have been cited, and a full rating is expected after the required ten reviews accrue.