With its fourth entry – Despicable Me 3 – edging towards $950 million at the box office, making it the biggest film of the summer, Universal and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me franchise has now topped Shrek to become the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time.
The series, which launched in 2010, has grossed a combined $3.622 billion around the globe, with its last three instalments all surpassing $900 million. Leading the way is the spinoff Minions, which earned $1.159 billion back in 2015. For comparison, the five Shrek movies earned $3.511 billion between 2001 and 2011.
Both series do have further instalments planned, with Minions 2 slated for release in 2020 and Shrek 5 planned for either 2019 or 2020. Puss in Boots 2: Nine Lives & 40 Thieves was also originally due to hit cinemas in 2018, but has been removed from DreamWorks’ release schedule and is yet to receive a new date.
Illumination, who brought audiences Despicable Me and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, continues the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions in Despicable Me 3. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, the animated film is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and executive produced by Chris Renaud.
Joining Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig in Despicable Me 3 is Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winner Trey Parker, co-creator of Comedy Central’s global phenomenon South Park and the Broadway smash The Book of Mormon. Parker voices the role of villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ‘80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date.
Originally published August 21, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
