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Some weeks are all about new releases while others send old favorites back into heavy rotation. This week in the United States brings a mix of franchise action, animated hits, and a few fresh thrillers that people could not stop playing.

We kept your exact lineup and counted down from ten to one. Each entry includes a quick plot snapshot plus the key cast, director, and writer details so you can jump straight to what interests you.

10. ‘The Fast and the Furious’ (2001) Universal Pictures

An undercover LAPD officer named Brian O’Conner infiltrates the Los Angeles street racing scene to investigate a string of highway hijackings. His growing connection to Dominic...

Every week brings a different mix of crowd-pleasers and surprises, and this one is no exception. The United States Top 10 blends animated hits, action blockbusters, sports comedy, and a buzzy new German thriller, which makes for a lineup that covers a lot of moods and genres. You will see long-running franchises sitting alongside brand new titles, each with details that help you decide what to watch next.

Below you will find a quick guided tour of each title. For every entry, we included clear plot points plus who made the movie, from directors and writers to the lead cast and the characters they play. The countdown starts at number ten and builds to number one,...

It is a wild week on Netflix in the United States, with a lineup that mixes brand new originals and long time crowd pleasers. Families are revisiting animated hits, action fans are digging into globe trotting espionage, and a buzzy new animated phenomenon is pulling in massive attention.

Below is a quick tour through the ten titles people are pressing play on right now. Each entry gives you the story setup along with the key cast and the filmmakers behind the scenes so you can pick exactly what to watch next.

10. ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation’ (2018) Columbia Pictures

Count Dracula takes a break from running his monster hotel and joins Mavis, Johnny, and the whole gang on a luxury cruise, where he falls for Ericka, the ship’s mysterious captain who hides a surprising family connection to monster hunter Abraham Van Helsing. Voices include Adam Sandler as Dracula, Selena Gomez as Mavis,...

This week in the United States mixes family animation, globe trotting action, and a few fresh curiosities that people keep pressing play on. To help you jump in fast, here is a simple rundown with story notes and the key people behind each title.

We are counting down from 10 to 1 to match how weekly Top 10 lists are usually shared. Each entry includes straightforward details on plot, cast, and creative leads so you can pick the right movie for tonight.

10. ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation’ (2018) Columbia Pictures

Dracula takes the family on a monster cruise and meets ship captain Ericka who hides a link to the Van Helsing legacy while Mavis, Johnny, and the gang try to keep the vacation on track. The trip leads to a showdown involving the Kraken and a plan to wipe out monsters using a musical trigger.

The film is directed by Genndy Tartakovsky with a...

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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.

Ken Daurio, the writer behind such animation franchises as Despicable Me and The Secret Life of Pets, is set to pen the script for a new feature adaptation.

Sycamore Studios has tapped Daurio to write its animated movie Zita the Spacegirl, based on Ben Hatke’s best-selling graphic novel series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Production is expected to begin in early 2026 on the project that counts Marvel Studios alum Jeremy Latcham (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, The Avengers) as executive producer.

Zita the Spacegirl centers on a girl who finds a strange device that sends her to an alien world, where she must save her friend and possibly the entire galaxy. The film marks the second feature project in the works for Sycamore Studios, a new entertainment company from co-founders Christian McGuigan and Tim Reckart.

“Ken’s writing proves that there doesn’t have to be a tradeoff between emotion and comedy,...

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...

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...

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,...

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.

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Apple TV+ has quickly become the place where you find peak TV, and to achieve that status, they have to leave some shows behind and support the shows with potential. 2024 has been a pretty good year for Apple TV+ as it saw the premieres of some great new shows like The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin and Sugar, but we also have some shows that didn’t make it out of the chopping block. So, let’s find out if your favorite Apple TV+ original series makes the cut or not.

Canceled Schmigadoon! (Cancelled After Season 2) Credit – Apple TV+

Schmigadoon! is a musical comedy series created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. The Apple TV+ series was beloved by both the critics and the audiences for its great songs and unique way of storytelling. Schmigadoon! came out...

Though it was founded less than 20 years ago, Illumination has managed to produce some of the biggest animated films of the 21st century. From Despicable Me to Sing, these franchises have released a wealth of spin-off content and merchandise, exemplifying the lucrative nature of this production company. But the company's success doesn't stop there. Illumination is gearing up to release several elusive sequels in the next two years, all of which are expected to be box-office hits.

Alongside these box-office statistics, Illumination has managed to secure an army of avid fans. Though the company mostly aims its films toward children, adults can also appreciate its ability to captivate audiences. As such, it seems that Illumination is set to defeat its surrounding competition as it extends its growing catalog of colorful films.

The Third Installment Was the Weakest of Them All Despicable Me 3

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

53%

After the roaring success of Despicable Me...

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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.

Despicable Me 4 is now streaming, and there are a variety of reasons that it is worth watching. The 2024 movie premiered in theaters on July 3. Its debut was followed by a VOD premiere on August 6, which was less than halfway through its landmark run that has led it to become the third highest-grossing movie of the year so far behind Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2 (which is the highest-grossing animated movie of all time). However, the sequel has not been available on any free or subscription streaming platforms until now.

Everything kicked off in 2010 with the original Despicable Me, which introduced Gru (Steve Carell), his adopted daughters, and the Minions to the world. It became the ninth highest-grossing movie of that year, spawning a sprawling franchise that now includes four installments in the flagship series, two installments in the Minions spinoff franchise, the upcoming Minions 3, a multitude of short films,...

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.

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,...

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...

Despicable Me 4's VOD release date has now been revealed. Directed by Chris Renaud, the latest installment in the Despicable Me franchise sees Steve Carell return to the role of Gru once more, this time working with his family including the mischievious Gru Jr. to take on the villainous Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend, Valentina. The Despicable Me 4 reviews may have been somewhat mixed, but the film has been a major box office hit.

Now, Universal reveals that Despicable Me 4 will release on VOD on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. When purchased from participating retailers, the digital release will include two Minion mini-movies, including Benny's Birthday and Game Over and Over. Benny's Birthday will follow Benny as he becomes stuck in a time loop while celebrating a birthday Minions-style, while Game Over and Over depicts the mayhem that ensues after Minions discover a game controller that gives them...

Is the Despicable Me franchise a Darwinist project in which the Minions started their evolution back at the beginning of life on Earth, or did intelligent design deliver Gru his wacky yellow Tic-Tac workers? More importantly, are the films’ writers finally ready to answer the Hitler question?

When Despicable Me premiered in the summer of 2010, the star of the smash-hit kid’s comedy wasn’t Steve Carell playing the lead villain Gru, or Jason Segel’s alternate antagonist Vector, or even the thankfully-since-fired Russell Brand as the brilliant scientist Dr. Nefario. No, regardless of the billing order, the undeniable headliner of the massively successful movie that launched a seven-film franchise was the collective order of the Minions, Gru’s colorful cronies whose slapstick antics and love of bananas captivated children and adults alike to the tune of a half-billion-dollar return at the box office.

Like all Despicable Me characters, the...

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

In the fourth installment 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,...

Despicable Me 4 repeats as the No. 1 movie at the box office with an estimated domestic take of $44.7 million. Nicolas Cages new horror film, Longlegs, impresses over its opening weekend and makes a record-setting killing for Neon, but it still has to settle for second place behind Gru and his mouthy Minions. Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatums new romantic comedy, Fly Me to the Moon, debuts at No. 5 with $10 million.

Longlegs arguably had a better shot at stealing the moon, like Steve Carells former super-villain character once did, than winning the top spot over its opening weekend against Despicable Me 4. And, in the end, families did opt for Gru and his adorable yellow Minions over Nicolas Cages serial killer at the box office. The latest installment in the Despicable film franchise made an estimated $44.7 million (per The Numbers) en route to No. 1, while Longlegs settled for the No.2 slot with $22.6 million.

Despicable Me 4 has pushed the franchise's worldwide gross to $5.025 billion. This makes Despicable Me the first animated movie franchise to ever pass the $5 billion milestone. Despicable Me could be followed across that milestone by upcoming installments in the Shrek and Toy Story franchises.

Despicable Me 4 has pushed the animated franchise past a huge global milestone. The movie is the fourth installment in the flagship Illumination franchise, which follows the adventures of reformed supervillain Gru and his family, in addition to being the sixth installment overall including the two movies in the Minions spinoff subfranchise. The Despicable Me 4 release had an auspicious debut over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, grossing a whopping $122.6 million at the domestic box office during its first five days after opening midweek.

Per Deadline, the Despicable Me 4 box office is projected to add another $136 million to its worldwide total by the end...

Chris Renaud hints that Despicable Me 5 is "possible" if a fresh story can be crafted for the franchise's future. Renaud directed Despicable Me 4, and has previously directed Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. The success of Despicable Me 4 at the box office makes the likelihood of Despicable Me 5 even more promising.

Chris Renaud addresses the chances of Despicable Me 5 after the release of the fourth installment. Renaud helmed the most recent franchise release, Despicable Me 4, and previously directed Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. The director is a mainstay in the world of animation, having previously worked on other projects, including The Lorax and The Secret Life of Pets. Despicable Me 4 was released to mixed reviews in theaters last week, on July 3, but had a relatively successful opening weekend overall.

Speaking with Variety, Renaud responds to the chances of Despicable Me 5. The director was responding to...

It’s not just Maxime Le Mal, the “Despicable Me 4” villain with the broad accent, that has a distinctly French flavor.

In fact, Universal and Illumination’s animated franchise boasts Gallic DNA throughout all of the hit movies. And even though Chris Renaud, the Oscar-nominated director of the latest “Despicable Me” and two of its predecessors, owes his French-sounding name to his Canadian origins, the helmer says “essentially everybody” working on the films is French. The only exceptions to this geographic over-representation are the writers (Mike White and Ken Daurio) and some of the storyboarder artists who are U.S.-based.

“Everything from what we call the layout, up through the animation, lighting and compositing — almost the entire team is French! The picture that you see is all compiled and created here in France,” says Renaud, who moved to Paris in 2010 to work on the first “Despicable Me” production...

Despicable Me 4 lands the top spot at the box office with an estimated $122.6 million domestically during its opening weekend, setting the franchise record for best opening weekend of the entire film series. The Steve Carell-led sequel also fares well overseas to the tune of $106.9 million for a worldwide total of $229.5 million. Inside Out 2, A Quiet Place: Day One, MaXXXine and Bad Boys: Ride or Die round out the Top 5.

Gru (Steve Carell) might not consider Despicable Me 4 landing the top spot at the box office as impressive as say one of his light bulb ideas, la the time the former super-villain shrunk and absconded with the moon. However, the sequels estimated $122.6 million take domestically (per The Numbers) was still quite the feat. And Despicable Me 4s dominance was clearly a foregone conclusion because there was no doubt Grus big-screen showdown with Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell...

The “Despicable Me” franchise began in 2010 with the first animated film from creators/writers Sergio Pablos, Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. The story focuses on a former supervillain turned secret agent named Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), and his adorable yellow sidekicks, the Minions. The original movie raked in $251.7 million in the United States alone, and $543 million total worldwide. Because of that breakout success, Universal Pictures and Illumination wanted more, more, more. Hence, there have been three “Despicable Me” direct sequels plus two spin-offs, “Minions” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

In addition to the six feature films, the ever-growing franchise includes several short films, a TV special, video games, and a Universal Studios ride. “Despicable Me” is the highest-grossing animated film franchise of all time, earning more than $4.6 billion (and counting), with “Shrek” in second place and “Toy Story” in third place.

See Watch our lively chats with hundreds...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film reviews for “‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” with Eddie Murphy & “Despicable Me 4 with the voice of Steve Carell, both in the fourth film in their respective series. “Cop” is streaming on Netflix since July 3rd, and “Me” is in theaters since the same date.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

”Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” has Eddie Murphy back as Detroit-based Axel Foley. After destroying several city blocks with a snow plow car chase, he is taken to task by his superior Friedman (Paul Reiser). At the same time, Foley’s west coast daughter Jane (Taylour Paige) is a Defense Attorney trying to get an innocent man out of jail. But the man is marked, and suddenly her life is in danger from a cartel. Quicker than you can say Rodeo Drive, Axel is back in Beverly Hills, to experience the same fish out of water...

Illumination and Universal’s Minions franchise isn’t getting any worse for the wear as Despicable Me 4 rules the Fourth of July box office with an estimated five-day opening of $120 million, including a three-day weekend haul of $72.4 million.

That’s in line with expectations and a strong start for the fourth outing in the main franchise, and the sixth in the Despicable Me/Minions series, which ranks as the top-grossing animated franchise of all time.

The first Despicable Me opened over the July 9-11 weekend in 2010 to $56 million. The series then shifted its release earlier and became a Fourth of July staple. 2013’s Despicable Me 2 likewise opened on July 3, a Wednesday, and posted a five-day debut of $143 million. That was followed by a $120 million five-day holiday start for the threequel in 2017.

In the first Despicable Me movie in seven years, Gru — the world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain League-agent voiced...

Mega Minions introduced in Despicable Me 4 were inspired by The Fantastic Four, according to Director Chris Renaud. Co-directors focused on giving the Mega Minions simple, graphic powers for easy understanding. Despicable Me characters' ages remain static, resembling The Simpsons' ageless appeal.

Despicable Me 4 presented viewers with a new twist to the franchise's beloved Minions. The latest installment of the animated film series introduced the Mega Minions. This playful homage to the superhero genre is part of Illuminations effort to expand the universe of Despicable Me. Recently, directors Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage opened up about the creative process behind the creation of the Mega Minions.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Renaud and Delage revealed how The Fantastic Four influenced the creation of the Mega Minions. For example, the team includes a Minion reminiscent of The Thing and another that stretches like Mr. Fantastic. Renaud said:

"So, when we started,...

Quick Links What Is Despicable Me 4 About? Who Is Dru Gru? Why Isn't Dru in Despicable Me 4?

Released theatrically in the U.S. on July 3, 2024, Despicable Me 4 has received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. While most agree the film doesn't push the boundaries of the animated film franchise forward, the divisive summer film offers plenty of nostalgic entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. However, those anticipating the return of Felonius Gru's hilarious twin brother, Dru Gru (both voiced by Steve Carell), are bound to face disappointment.

Before explaining Dru's conspicuous absence from Despicable Me 4, it's worth noting that the character is mentioned in passing at least once in the movie. Some of those who've seen the movie also claim Dru briefly shows up at the end in Gru's backyard, possibly teasing the next prequel, sequel, or spin-off. Regardless of his silent cameo length,...

Gru and his mischievous minions are hoping to fulfill their patriotic duty and once again set off major fireworks at the Fourth of July box office.

Illumination and Universal’s Despicable Me 4, which opened Wednesday in theaters across the U.S., posted an opening day gross of $27 million for an estimated five-day holiday debut of $120 million at the domestic box office, including $70 million for more for the three-day weekend, according to early returns. That’s in line with expectations and a strong start for the fourth outing in the main franchise, and the sixth in the Despicable Me/Minions series, which combined ranks as the top-grossing animated franchise of all time.

DM4 — earning a glowing A CinemaScore — will have no trouble wresting the box office crown from Pixar and Disney blockbuster Inside Out 2, which is now in its fourth weekend.

Even with the entry of DM4, however, don...

Illumination and Universal’s “Despicable Me 4” is poised to light up the box office this Fourth of July weekend, with industry projections suggesting a potentially massive opening. The fourth installment in the main franchise and sixth in the overall Despicable Me/Minions series is expected to continue the franchise’s tradition of holiday success.

Early estimates from various sources indicate a strong performance for the animated feature:

A five-day holiday debut ranging from $110-$135 million, including $70-$85 million for the traditional three-day weekend. Potential for a $28 million opening day (Wednesday). Worldwide three-day opening projections between $140-$190 million. Total global earnings could approach $200 million when including overseas markets where the film has already opened.

These numbers align with the franchise’s previous July 4th performances. “Despicable Me 2” (2013) opened to a five-day total of $143 million, while “Despicable Me 3” (2017) started with $120 million over five days.

The new installment sees the...

It has been seven years since the last “Despicable Me” movie was in theaters, and fourteen years since the first film was released. Now, Gru and his minions return in Despicable Me 4 to further the adventures of the bad guy turned good guy through the influence of his makeshift family.

Gru’s latest adventure picks up with Gru still working alongside the Anti-Villain League when an old nemesis – Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) – escapes from prison in order to take revenge on Gru for repeatedly thwarting his nefarious plans. The focal point of Maxime’s newest scheme is to kidnap Gru’s son – Gru Jr. – and turning the boy’s allegiance away from Gru. The threat that Maxime presents force Gru and his family into the equivalent of the “villain” witness protection program where his daughters are subject to navigating a new school and all of those particular pratfalls.

As we approach the big extended (four days) holiday weekend the big Summer movie season dashes past its halfway point with a new entry in a fourteen-year-old film franchise. No big surprise, but this one is hoping to “ride the wave” generated by a sequel that caused an unexpected near-seismic tsunami at the box office, only a few weeks ago. Oh, did I mention that both flicks are animated? Yes, Inside Out 2 exceeded all the financial forecasters to be the first billion-dollar movie of 2024. So, will “lightning strike” again, as this is the first installment of the series in seven years, not counting a couple of prequel spin-offs. Perhaps Gru and his gang, including lotsa’ manic Minions, can lure some families at the multiplex away from another visit in Riley’s noggin with Despicable Me 4.

The story does start with the “Dm’ himself, Gru (voice of Steve Carell) as he attends,...

While Despicable Me 4 may not have the same verve as the first, the franchise has morphed into something more since the 2010 original. The immensely successful animated series has spawned sequels, prequels, television series, holiday specials, shorts, and even video game adaptations. Now, the fourth film arrives just in time for this American holiday season.

The main character has not only found his soul but has wholly transformed Gru into a family man with an immense, warm heart. That alone makes Despicable Me 4 the animated family film of the summer. Then, along with its unique sense of humor and beloved minions, it continues to steal the show, for better or worse.

Despicable Me 4 | Image via Universal Pictures

SUGGESTEDUncanny Resemblance Between Despicable Me 4 and The Incredibles 2 Hasn’t Missed the Fans’ Eyes

Despicable Me 4 Review and Synopsis

The fourth installment of the beloved Illumination animated films continues...

Despicable Me 4 is forecast to make $200 million worldwide over the five-day Fourth of July weekend; the sequel has already amassed $25.5 million from international screenings which began on July 1. Grus (Steve Carell) big-screen return is predicted to make somewhere between $110 million and $120 million domestically, which could break the franchises record for best opening-weekend. Minions (2015) currently holds that honor for the film series best debut with $115.7 million.

Gru could theoretically become a $200-million man over the Fourth of July weekend. Steve Carell reprises the role of the diabolical baddie who turned into a loving husband and father prior to the highly anticipated Despicable Me 4. And, at the time of this writing, directors Chris Renaud and Patrick Delages Despicable sequel is forecast to make in the neighborhood of $200 million worldwide over the upcoming holiday (per Deadline). The 2024 summer movie season was nothing worth writing home about in May, but its clearly...

Despicable Me 4's Rotten Tomatoes score has arrived, and it falls below its box office rival. After three successful previous installments, Gru's (Steve Carell) saga is set to continue with the upcoming sequel from directors Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage. Despicable Me 4's story will follow Gru and his family as they deal not only with new rival Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), but also the arrival of the mischievous Gru Jr. As the film's release date approaches, one question facing the sequel is how it will stack up against its predecessors.

Despicable Me 4 has now debuted on Rotten Tomatoes to 63% with 35 reviews. This score could fluctuate as more reviews are added, but, as of writing, the film's score is relatively in line with other recent installments in the franchise. It's far below the film's biggest box office rival, Inside Out 2, however, which currently has a strong 90% score.

It may have been seven years since the last Despicable Me movie, but Despicable Me 4 will be familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in the ever-expanding billion-dollar franchise. This latest entry has all the hallmarks of Illumination Studios: a steady stream of danceable pop music, an eye-popping palette, and colourful characters with big round eyes and distinct, angular shapes.

An awful lot is going on in the latest adventure for reformed supervillain Gru (Steve Carrell). There are roughly half a dozen plots, none of which come together meaningfully. One, featuring young, wannabe villain Poppy (Joey King), goes nowhere, even if it does yield a few amusing visual gags. There are glimpses of an interesting story – one thread hints at Gru experiencing insecurity about his new baby disliking him, but that never gets a chance to develop. This is the most disconnected entry in the franchise yet.

Despicable Me 4 registers 63% on the Tomatometer rating against 24 reviews, at the time of this writing. The original Despicable Me (2010) still holds the franchises best Rotten Tomatoes score at 80%. However, the two entries in the film series with the lowest Rt ratings have made the most money at the box office. Despicable Me 4 opens on Wednesday, July 3, and is eyeing a $100+ million five-day Fourth of July weekend take.

Former super-villain Felonious Gru (Steve Carell) is a family guy dealing with a bouncing baby boy, who doesnt quite jibe with his old man in the upcoming sequel, Despicable Me 4. Unfortunately, the animated adventure isnt quite working for critics either, judging from its average Rotten Tomatoes score of 63%. However, the titular character is once more portrayed by Carell.

This is adult Grus first cinematic adventure since 2017s Despicable Me 3. Carell did voice young Gru two years ago in Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Despicable Me 4 releases in theaters on July 3, 2024, with 3D and IMAX options. Streaming debut on Peacock likely in October 2024, with a potential digital release in August. The fourth installment follows Gru and his family as they face a new villain, Maxime Le Mal.

The Despicable Me franchise is back with another adventure for Gru and the Minions, and there are different options for where to watch Despicable Me 4. Illumination's popular animated franchise began in 2010 as audiences were introduced to Steve Carell as the supervillain Gru and his army of Minions. Over the course of the prior movies, he's transformed into the hero, loving husband, and caring father he is when Despicable Me 4 begins. The 2024 film follows Gru and his family as they cross paths with a major new villain, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell).

With as much as success as the Despicable Me movies have had over the years,...

Despicable Me 4 introduces Gru Jr., adds new challenges for characters, and features more over-the-top villains and Minions. The film has too many plotlines, leaving some characters underdeveloped and overshadowing Gru's bond with his daughters. Despite its flaws, Despicable Me 4 offers entertaining action, new characters, and potential for future crossovers, as long as it stays true to its roots.

Once upon a time, a supervillain named Gru (Steve Carell) adopted three adorable young girls with the hopes of using them for his nefarious goal of stealing the moon. Instead, he began to care for them, and eventually became a proper dad. You all know this story: the Despicable Me franchise now spans four main movies, two spinoffs, several shorts, video games, and theme park attractions. The newest installment in the main storyline, Despicable Me 4, features more of some of the franchise's hallmarks over-the-top villains, Minions while losing track of others.

The “Despicable Me” franchise began in 2010 with the first animated film from creators/writers Sergio Pablos, Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. The story focuses on a former supervillain turned secret agent named Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), and his adorable yellow sidekicks, the Minions. The original movie raked in $251.7 million in the United States alone, and $543 million total worldwide. Because of that breakout success, Universal Pictures and Illumination wanted more, more, more. Hence, there have been three “Despicable Me” direct sequels plus two spin-offs, “Minions” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

In addition to the six feature films, the ever-growing franchise includes several short films, a TV special, video games, and a Universal Studios ride. “Despicable Me” is the highest-grossing animated film franchise of all time, earning more than $4.6 billion (and counting), with “Shrek” in second place and “Toy Story” in third place.

While it’s obvious that fans worldwide...

In Despicable Me 4, the latest installment of Illumination Studio’s popular franchise, Gru (a winning Steve Carell) confronts the subtle villainy of suburban life. There’s something about the charmed aesthetics of Mayflower that doesn’t sit right. Maybe it’s the near-identical cottage-style homes, all painted the same shade of eggshell white and retrofitted with pristine pools; or perhaps it’s the residents, a wealthy and entitled bunch bent on excluding the unfamiliar. Whatever the reason, the vibes are certainly off.

Directed by Chris Renaud from a screenplay by The White Lotus creator Mike White and franchise stalwart Ken Daurio, Despicable Me 4 is a reliable follow-up for this financially dependable series. A new setting, new villain and new characters, including Gru and Lucy’s newborn Gru Jr., serve up enough fun and antics that will satisfy existing fans. The plot can sometimes feel like a chaotic melange stretched too thin,...

Despicable Me 4 keeps characters ageless like The Simpsons. Director Chris Renaud says audiences don't care about characters not aging. Ageless approach allows new plots without altering relationships, maintaining continuity and flexibility in storytelling.

Despicable Me 4 fans might notice that despite the time lapse since the previous films, Gru, his daughters, and the Minions have not aged a day. The film director Chris Renaud recently shared insights into this creative choice, mirroring a concept familiar to fans of The Simpsons.

During his interview with Deadline, Renaud touched on the decision to keep his characters ageless. The director acknowledged the recurring question about the static age of his characters. This artistic approach has not detracted from the audience's enjoyment, according to Renaud, who has observed no significant pushback on this issue.

"Its funny, it comes up a lot. I dont think the audience cares. First off, to your point, we...

Director Chris Renaud says the characters in Despicable Me 4 don't age intentionally, following The Simpsons' model in their approach. The frozen age decision helps maintain familiarity with the characters and keeps the cast feeling familiar despite the amount of time between new entries. Keeping characters the same age allows for more story ideas without aging them up, possibly broadening what can be done in the movies.

Despicable Me 4 director Chris Renaud has revealed why nobody in the movie has aged since the last installment, explaining the approach to the characters in the latest film. The newest entry in the animated comedy franchise sees Gru (Steve Carell) and his family forced to relocate after a villain from his past, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), returns seeking revenge. While the movie takes place some time after the end of the third film in Despicable Me's chronology, the characters haven't...