Minions & Monsters posts franchise-low $61.4M domestic debut, but international haul keeps franchise afloat

Opening weekend numbers

Universal and Illumination's "Minions & Monsters" led the July 4th holiday box office with an estimated $36.4 million from Friday to Sunday and $61.4 million over its first five days since opening on 1 July, according to studio estimates. That is a 62% decline from the $120 million-plus five-day debuts of "Despicable Me 4" in 2024 and "Minions: The Rise of Gru" in 2022. The three-day figure is the lowest for any Despicable Me franchise entry, falling below even the original 2010 film's $56 million (not adjusted for inflation).

Why the soft start

Several factors depressed turnout. The 4th of July fell on a Saturday, pulling audiences toward barbecues and fireworks rather than theaters on the busiest moviegoing day of the week. The World Cup also competed for attention, with Universal running a promotional spot featuring French star Kylian Mbappé. Meanwhile, Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5" held strongly in its third weekend, earning $31 million domestically and siphoning off family audiences.

International rescue

Overseas markets responded far more warmly. "Minions & Monsters" collected $85 million over the weekend from 71 territories, pushing its international cume to $98 million. Top markets included China ($16.3 million), Germany ($6.4 million), and the United Kingdom and Ireland ($5.8 million). The global total reached $160 million, with international ticket sales historically accounting for 60–71% of the franchise's grosses.

Franchise fatigue vs. Toy Story 5

Box office watchers point to oversaturation. Seven Despicable Me films have arrived in 16 years, averaging a new adventure every two years. In contrast, "Toy Story" has released only five films over three decades. "Toy Story 5" added $69.3 million internationally in its third frame, including a $14.6 million opening in Japan, and has now grossed $764 million worldwide. It is on track to surpass "Toy Story 4" ($1.07 billion) as the highest-grossing chapter.

Profitability still likely

Despite the domestic disappointment, "Minions & Monsters" carries an $85 million budget, lower than the $100 million cost of prior entries. With an A- CinemaScore and a 91% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is expected to show staying power and remain profitable for Comcast's Universal. The broader summer box office is up nearly 12% from 2025, though the holiday weekend itself was down 24% year-over-year.