“Despicable Me” Breaks Record to Become First Animated Franchise to Cross $5 Billion at Box Office

Marina Watts

16 July 2024 at 12:43 pm·2-min read

Only 14 other movies had crossed the $5 billion box office threshold in film history

<p>llumination/Kobal/Shutterstock</p> Gru and his Minions — llumination/Kobal/Shutterstock
Gru and his Minions

Move over, Shrek! Gru and his Minions have taken over the box office.

On Sunday, July 14, Despicable Me became the first animated movie franchise to gross over $5 billion at the box office, according to Variety.

The franchise started in 2010 with Despicable Me and spans over six films, which includes two spinoffs focused on the beloved Minions (and a third one in the works).

Despicable Me 4 ushered the movie into this record-breaking territory after it garnered $88 million this past weekend at the box office.

<p>Illumination</p> Minions in 'Despicable Me 4'. — Illumination
Minions in 'Despicable Me 4'.

Despicable Me's franchise surpassed the Shrek franchise, which had previously taken home $4.02 billion at the box office, as per Animation Magazine and SlashFilm.

Not far behind them are Toy Story with $3.27 billion, Ice Age's $3.2 billion and Frozen's $2.7 billion (which notably only has two movies in its franchise.)

Only 15 franchises, including Despicable Me, have reached $5 billion at the box office. The animated franchise now joins the ranks of Avatar, Transformers, Jurassic Park and the Avengers films.

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Since its inception, Despicable Me has attracted plenty of star-studded talent. Steve Carell stars as the villainous Gru who adopts three daughters while on a mission to steal the moon.

The fourth installment focuses on Gru and his family as they welcome a new member, Gru Jr., who seems intent on wreaking havoc in the house. Meanwhile, criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal breaks out of prison and seeks revenge against Gru.

The movie has captured fans' attention and added star power such as Will Ferrell, Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman, Joey King, Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan and Sofía Vergara.

<p>Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett </p> Still from 'Despicable Me 4' — Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett
Still from 'Despicable Me 4'

Earlier this summer, Inside Out 2 became Pixar's highest-grossing film. The Incredibles 2 was the former global box office record holder earning $1.24 billion. Inside Out 2 surpassed them with $1.25 billion.

The animated sequel to Inside Out also surpassed Dune: Part Two as the highest-grossing film in 2024 within two weeks of its opening.

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