Minions & Monsters (soundtrack)

Background

John Powell was confirmed to score Minions & Monsters on April 17, 2026, marking his third collaboration with Illumination and the first Despicable Me franchise installment not scored by Heitor Pereira. In an interview, Powell described a pivotal minute as "a very dangerous moment" that "can go so horribly wrong." Director Pierre Coffin had reached out to Powell, who responded, "OK, it's probably time you come and listen to some things," adding that moment is the difference between talking about music and listening to it.

Powell recalled the scoring as "Overly emotional, overwrought, overplayed, overwritten. Just over. Everything was over," noting it helps elicit laughs but would be dangerous for a serious film. The recording involved 80 musicians, including around 30 violinists and 25 brass players, plus a 60-member vocal choir, over three weeks.

Powell noted that while most film scoring sessions moved out of America due to tax credits, the score was recorded in Los Angeles because talented musicians could be found in one place, and he thanked all musicians on the last day. Recording took place at the Barbra Streisand Scoring Stage at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, and at the Eastwood Scoring Stage at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.

Reception

Zanobard Reviews rated the soundtrack 7.5 out of 10, calling it a loving and meticulously-crafted musical tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood with apt thematic chaos for the Minions and seamless transitions between orchestral and vocal styles. Jason Pirodsky of The Prague Reporter wrote that John Powell's score gives the proceedings added propulsion, while the animation stages silent-era pastiche alongside modern blockbuster spectacle. Barry Levitt of Time described it as a great original score from John Powell.