“Minions 3” is slated for release on June 30, 2027, continuing the popular animated franchise. Directed by Pierre Coffin, who also voices the Minions, and produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Bill Ryan, the film follows the mischievous yellow characters in new adventures, promising more fun for audiences.
Since launching in 2010, the “Despicable Me” and “Minions” movies have become the highest-grossing animated franchise globally, earning nearly $5 billion collectively.
In 2022, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” dominated the box office, setting a record for the July 4 holiday with a $125 million domestic opening. “Despicable Me 4” followed closely with a $122.6 million debut, expected to lead the box office for its second week with over $30 million in earnings.
The summer box office, once dominated by Will Smith and Indiana Jones, now belongs to the “Despicable Me” series.
For seven out of the past 14 years, Illumination Entertainment strategically released major animated films, including their successful “Despicable Me” and “The Secret Life of Pets” franchises, around or just after Independence Day weekend.
This timing has proven effective, with both “Despicable Me 2” and “Despicable Me 3” surpassing $1 billion in global box office earnings.
The studio’s approach underscores its significant impact and success within the animation industry, contributing to a library of titles grossing over $10 billion worldwide.
“Less than a year after dual writers’ and actors’ strikes shut down Hollywood, kid-friendly cartoons are propping up the theatrical box office in a big way,” he concluded, also pointing to the billion-dollar-grossing “Inside Out 2” as proof of animation’s domination at the multiplex.
