The “Despicable Me” franchise has shattered the previous record held by the “Shrek” series, becoming the animated franchise with the most No. 1 box office debuts. “Despicable Me 4” has now given the franchise six movies that have debuted at the top of the charts, surpassing the five No. 1 openings achieved by the “Shrek” series and its spin-offs.
“Despicable Me 4” arrived in theaters on Wednesday and is on track to gross $120 million over its five-day extended opening weekend, according to Deadline. This includes the spin-off “Minions” and its sequel “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” which capitalized on the popularity of the lovable yellow henchmen. “Minions” remains the most successful movie in the franchise, grossing a staggering $1.15 billion at the box office in 2015.
The “Despicable Me” series has achieved particular success internationally, likely due to the Minions’ made-up nonsense speech that transcends language barriers and focuses on visual gags. According to The Wrap, “Despicable Me 4” is expected to continue this trend, with a projected total global haul of $225 million by the end of the weekend.
Domestically, the movie is estimated to score a $72.4 million three-day opening weekend, roughly on par with 2017’s “Despicable Me 3,” which grossed over $1 billion worldwide. While this latest sequel may not reach those heights, it is already shaping up to be another big hit for Illumination.
Other Animated Films in the Box Office
Despite the arrival of “Despicable Me 4,” “Inside Out 2” has not been completely overshadowed. Pixar’s latest is on track to add another $33.1 million to its domestic total this weekend, a drop of just 42%. Both animated films are expected to have strong legs throughout the summer as families seek out entertainment options.
