The "Despicable Me" franchise has now shattered all records, surpassing even the formidable "Shrek" and its sequels and spin-offs, boasting more No. 1 box office debuts than any other animated franchise. Among the six "Shrek" and "Shrek"-related films released thus far, "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" was the lone exception, yet it still went on to achieve box office glory. This week, "Despicable Me 4" graced the silver screens on Wednesday, poised to rake in an impressive $120 million over its extended five-day opening, according to Deadline.
The franchise's remarkable tally of six consecutive box office chart-topping launches includes the smash hit spin-off "Minions" and its sequel "Minion: The Rise of Gru," both of which capitalized on the charm of Gru's army of adorably mischievous yellow minions. In fact, "Minions" remains the crown jewel of the franchise, grossing a staggering $1.15 billion at the global box office in 2015. The series' international success is likely attributed to the minions' non-verbal gibberish, which transcends linguistic barriers and relies heavily on visual humor, making it universally appealing.
According to The Wrap, "Despicable Me 4" is anticipated to continue this triumphant streak, amassing a global haul of $225 million by the end of the weekend. Domestically, the film is expected to score a robust three-day opening weekend of $72.4 million, following its Friday gross of $27 million, which puts it on a similar footing with "Despicable Me 3" in 2017. That film went on to gross over a billion dollars worldwide, and even if this latest sequel doesn't reach such lofty heights, it's already shaping up to be another significant hit for Illumination.
With the arrival of "Despicable Me 4," "Inside Out 2" has relinquished its three-week reign at the top of the box office charts, sliding to second place. However, despite the fresh competition from another animated family film, "Inside Out 2" is still a formidable contender. Having surpassed $1 billion worldwide last weekend, Pixar's latest offering is predicted to add another $33.1 million to its domestic total this weekend, according to Deadline — a mere 42% drop. Both "Inside Out 2" and "Despicable Me 4" are expected to maintain strong momentum throughout the summer as parents search for entertaining options for their children during their school breaks.
