‘Minions & Monsters’ Opens to $65M Over July 4 Weekend — Franchise’s Lowest Debut in Years

Illumination’s beloved yellow minions are back in theaters, but their latest adventure is coming up a little short compared to previous box office hauls. Minions & Monsters pulled in $16 million on Friday as it heads into the critical July 4th holiday weekend, and early estimates suggest a five-day opening of around $63-65 million — a significant drop from the franchise’s usual fireworks.

That Friday number, combined with an $11 million Saturday, puts the animated sequel on track for a roughly $39.5 million three-day weekend and around $65 million over the five-day holiday frame (Wednesday through Sunday). For context, 2022’s Minions: The Rise of Gru opened to $123 million over its extended debut, while 2024’s Despicable Me 4 managed $122 million. A $65 million opening represents a nearly 50% drop in audience turnout — numbers that would’ve seemed unthinkable for this franchise just two years ago.

A Franchise at a Crossroads

The seventh installment in the Despicable Me/Minions franchise, Minions & Monsters was produced on a $85 million budget — relatively modest by modern animation standards. The film follows the Minions in 1920s Hollywood as they search for frightening creatures for their monster movie, partner with a green creature, and eventually must save the planet after inadvertently unleashing real monsters.

Directed by franchise veteran Pierre Coffin (who also voices the Minions), the film features an impressive voice cast including Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, and Trey Parker. Critics have been surprisingly kind to the sequel, with many calling it the best film in the franchise since the original Despicable Me in 2010. That critical goodwill, however, hasn’t fully translated into opening weekend momentum.

What’s Behind the Soft Opening?

A few factors are at play. The July 4th holiday falling on a Saturday historically depresses moviegoing — families are at barbecues, fireworks displays, and other celebrations. Industry analysts at Deadline noted that holiday activities typically pull audiences away from theaters on Independence Day itself, which this year lands on Saturday.

There’s also the question of franchise fatigue. Seven films in sixteen years is a lot of Minions content, even for the most devoted fans of the yellow pill-shaped comedians. The prequel series (Minions, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and now Minions & Monsters) has been entertaining but hasn’t quite captured the magic of the original pair of Despicable Me films starring Steve Carell’s Gru.

And let’s be honest — the competition is fierce. Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5 continues to dominate its third weekend, adding $13 million on Friday alone. That film is on track for a $30 million three-day weekend and has already amassed $365 million domestically. Families looking for animated entertainment have real choices right now.

The Bigger Box Office Picture

Here’s how the rest of the top five shaped up on Friday:

• 1. Minions & Monsters — $16M Friday ($63-65M 5-day estimate)
• 2. Toy Story 5 — $13M Friday ($365M+ domestic total)
• 3. Supergirl — $2.3M Friday (steep second weekend drop)
• 4. Obsession — $1.6M Friday (the breakout horror hit continues its run)
• 5. Disclosure Day — Steven Spielberg’s alien invasion film holding steady

For Supergirl, things are looking rough. The DC film debuted to just $37 million last weekend and is facing a projected 60% drop in its sophomore frame — not the start Warner Bros. was hoping for Milly Alcock’s superhero debut.

Obsession, meanwhile, continues to be the story of the summer. The $750,000 horror film has already crossed $286 million worldwide, cementing its place as one of the most profitable releases in modern Hollywood history.

International Prospects

The Minions franchise has always been a global juggernaut, and Minions & Monsters is no exception. The film has already grossed $17 million from international markets, bringing its worldwide total to $31 million as of Friday. With major territories like the UK, Germany, and Japan still to open, the film should eventually turn a healthy profit on its $85 million budget — even if its domestic opening is softer than usual.

Pre-release tracking had projected a $80 million five-day opening, but actual numbers are coming in about 20% below those early estimates. The gap between tracking and reality has been a recurring theme for 2026’s summer blockbusters — audiences are becoming harder to predict, and tracking models that worked pre-pandemic are showing their age.

Voice Cast Highlights

The film’s vocal performances have been singled out in early reviews as a highlight. Allison Janney brings her signature sharp wit as the leader of a monster-hunting expedition, while Christoph Waltz voices a mysterious European creature collector with his trademark restrained menace. Jeff Bridges lends his unmistakable gravelly warmth to a veteran monster wrangler, and Trey Parker co-wrote and performs the end credits song — a raucous, jazz-infused number that’s already generating Oscar buzz in the Best Original Song conversation.

Perhaps most surprising is Jesse Eisenberg‘s turn as a hyper-animated film director whose monster movie dreams kick off the entire plot. Eisenberg’s rapid-fire delivery feels custom-made for the Minions universe, and early buzz suggests his character could become a fan favorite alongside perennial scene-stealers like the Minions themselves.

This voice cast represents one of the deepest ensembles Illumination has ever assembled — a sign that the studio is taking the franchise’s creative direction seriously even as box office expectations recalibrate.

Where the Franchise Goes From Here

With seven films now under its belt, the Despicable Me/Minions franchise shows no signs of slowing down — even if individual installments earn less than their predecessors. Illumination has built an animation empire on these characters, and CEO Chris Meledandri has hinted at more stories to tell beyond the current prequel timeline.

Rumors of a proper Despicable Me 5 featuring the return of adult Gru and Lucy have circulated for months, and the studio’s production pipeline suggests a major announcement may come before the end of 2026. For now, Minions & Monsters carries the banner for the franchise through what’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive summer seasons in recent memory.

For Illumination, Minions & Monsters‘ soft opening isn’t a disaster — the budget is controlled, international grosses are solid, and the positive reviews suggest strong legs through the rest of the summer. The film currently holds an A- CinemaScore, which typically translates to good word of mouth and repeat viewings from family audiences.

But it’s a signal that even the most reliable franchises aren’t immune to changing audience habits. Streaming continues to reshape how families consume content, and convincing them to make the trip to multiplexes requires more than just familiar yellow faces.

The real test will be how Minions & Monsters holds in the coming weeks. If it follows the pattern of previous Illumination films, it could still leg out to $200 million+ domestically. But if the soft opening becomes a trend, Universal and Illumination may need to rethink their approach to a franchise that’s been printing money for over a decade.