Despicable Me— centering on the secret agent, Gru, his adoptive daughters, and his yellow-colored minions — remains one of the most revered franchises in Hollywood. So far, the installments have collectively grossed $5.4 billion, making this the most profitable animated franchise of all time. The films have also been nominated for numerous awards, including Oscars, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes. Additionally, there are several theme parks that true fans can visit to engage in various fun activities.
As is the case in every franchise, theDespicable Memovies aren’t equal. Some were crafted expertly, ticking all the boxes that commentators tend to look out for, while others were average, something critics also noticed. However, it’s worth noting that the public has loved all the movies, with none getting less than an A- grade on CinemaScore.
Here’s every movie in the franchise so far, ranked according toRotten Tomatoes.
6’Minions' (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 55%
Minionsushers us right into the world of the yellow pill-shaped creatures, who have served history’s most despicable masters since the beginning of time. Unfortunately,their clumsiness has caused them to accidentally kill all their bosses. Without a master to serve, they have become disillusioned. Three minions (Kevin, Stuart, and Bob), therefore, head out on a mission to find a new master, a search that leads them to the world’s first ever villainess, Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock).
A Flawed, But Watchable Spinoff
The film heavily relies on music, an inspired decision.The tunes composed by Heitor Perreira, used generously throughout the proceedings, underscore brilliantly the emotional turbulence which slowly surfaces and ultimately engulfs these little charactersas their search for a purpose morphs from a thing of lyrical beauty to one of chaos. Watching the minions struggle with an aimless post-employment existence and then go on to serve a more questionable master is relatable since many people have been there.
Unfortunately,the film is all spectacle and no substance. Many critics singled out the dialogue for being extremely flat and surprisingly inappropriate, considering the franchise is mostly adored by younger audiences. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus reads:“The Minionsbrightly colored brand of gibberish-fueled insanity stretches to feature length in their self-titledDespicable Mespinoff, with uneven but often hilarious results."
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5’Despicable Me 4' (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 56%
Despicable Me 4
InDespicable Me 4, reformed supervillain and secret agent Gru (Steve Carell)relocates his family to a more secure home when his old arch-nemesis Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) seeks revenge. We thus see Gru’s family struggling to adapt to their new lives, a teenage neighbor attempting to emulate Gru, and a group of Gru’s Minions becoming superheroes known as the Mega Minions.
The Stars are Back
Despicable Me 4isa masterwork of excellent voice acting. Ferrell is at his nutty best as the benevolent Maxime. Kristen Wiig soothes our ears in her role as Gru’s wife. Carrell makes us feel the pain that stems from experiencing too many life changes. Sofía Vergara is also solid and likable as writer Valentina, Maxime’s femme fatale lover who owns a pet Maltese dog, while the tweety-voiced Pierre Coffin once again delivers as the Minions.
“Fast-paced and teeming with slapstick gags,Despicable Me 4is as overstuffed as a piñata but full of enough candy to give audiences an enjoyable sugar rush.“This was the critics’ verdict, and it’s quite accurate.It often feels that too much is happening. There are too many characters, stealing time from the ones we prefer to follow.
4’Despicable Me 3' (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 58%
Despicable Me 3
Gru is no longer interested in crime after getting fired by the new boss of the Anti-Villain League as punishment for a failed mission. The Minions hope he’ll be back, but he stays firm. Instead, heheads to Freedonia to meet his long-lost twin brother. Before they can get acquainted properly, the twins are forced into an alliance to take down Balthazar Bratt(Trey Parker), an ‘80s child star who became a supervillain afterhis show was abruptly canceled. Who will be the victor inDespicable Me 3?
Balthazar Won’t Get Over It
AboutDespicable Me 3, Rotten Tomatoes-certified critics noted that the movie“should keep fans of the franchise consistently entertained with another round of colorful animation and zany—albeit somewhat scattershot—humor.“Indeed, the screenwriting team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio throw in so many jokes, and only a few of them land. Still, there’s some gold to be found if you may ignore all that.
The animation is the best it has ever been.The sound editing and music stand out, creating an everlasting feeling of euphoria. The producers did well by bringing back both Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams. You’ll especially love the pastiche of the “Major-General’s Song.”
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3’Minions: The Rise of Gru' (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Minions: The Rise of Gru
It’s the year 1976 inMinions: The Rise of Gruand eleven‑year‑oldGru has dreams of joining the supervillain group the Vicious 6. He makes an application to be the new replacement member once their leader is toppled, but is rejected. Instead of walking away quietly,he steals their powerful Zodiac Stone, only for one of his buddies to trade it for a pet rock. A furious Gru thus fires the Minions and goes on a mission to find the stone alone. Wrong move! He soon gets kidnapped and faces a plethora of other challenges.
Gru Begins!
The Rise of Gru’sfirst act is both mesmerizing and chilling, stamping the terrifying reality and delicate nature of friendships whilst exposing all the flaws that keep propelling these characters to their ignominious doom. While other installments have often felt like they are endlessly assailing us with the same display of senseless and overdone gratuitous action sequences, this particular one has little wastage.
With its $940 million gross, this is also one ofthe highest-grossing animated movies of all time. But beware, there isno attempt to offer anything new, something that slightly irked the Rotten Tomatoes’ chosen critics. They said:“The Minions' antic shenanigans are beginning to grate despite this sequel’s injection of retro chic, although this loony marathon of gags will still delight young children.”
2’Despicable Me 2' (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
Despicable Me 2
Gru is done with crime and is now focused on raising his children. But how will he provide for them?Opportunity comes knocking in the form of the Anti-Villain League, an organization tasked with fighting all kinds of evil.Gru’s mission inDespicable Me 2, should he choose to accept it, is tocapture a heist-master who took a highly potent mutagen known as PX-41 from a lab in the Arctic Circle.
As Awesome as the Original
Critics noted that"Despicable Me 2offers plenty of eye-popping visual inventiveness and several big laughs.”Indeed, this exhilarating animated comedy, featuringfancy slapstick and infectious crooning, perfectly captures the optimistic spirit that comes when one gets a new job.The joint direction effort by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin is razor-sharp, aided by a dedicated ensemble cast whose impeccable voices edge this laugh-fest into the realm of classic animation.
The film received two Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. Steve Carell, whose voice somehow feels poetic here, also snagged a statuette from the Annie Awards.
1’Despicable Me' (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Despicable Me
Gru has a crazy heist idea inDespicable Me.Hewants to steal the Moon. To properly execute this plan, headopts three orphaned girls, planning to use them to infiltrate his rival’s fortress. Though he initially sees them as nothing but pawns, he grows to love them. As the stakes rise and the girls find themselves in danger, Gru develops a crisis of conscience and opts to change his ways.
The Beginning of Something Great
Despicable Mesoars on the strength of the music by Pharrell Williams and Heitor Pereira. The good work earned them plenty of accolades. In addition to that,the dialogue and animation are also brilliant, not only evoking the mood of the film but lending a persistent undertone of compassion, making the audience conscious of how transient one’s ambitions can be when the outcomes deeply affect those close to you.
“Borrowing heavily (and intelligently) from Pixar and Looney Tunes,Despicable Meis a surprisingly thoughtful, family-friendly treat with a few surprises of its own,“said the RT-certified critics. They weren’t wrong. The director and screenwriters understood that animated characters who were more willing to do good had appealed to audiences for decades, so they pivoted towards that direction.
