Minions & Monsters

Did You Know?

• The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 21, 2026.
• Wendy's ran a promotion for the film starting June 8, 2026, including a meal, toy, and frosty.
• The film was originally planned for release on June 30, 2027, but was moved up to July 1, 2026.

Plot

Thousands of years ago, a tribe of Minions inadvertently kills their masters in various ways. James, an artistic Minion, befriends Henry, a two-eyed supporter, and Ed, a mute Minion who uses sign language. After a Russian warlock is killed by a monster Henry summons from a spell book, Ed takes the book. The tribe later chases a bank robber, who turns out to be an actor filming a chase scene for a 1927 Hollywood movie.

Filmmaker Max hires the Minions to star in his silent films, making them global phenomena. When sound film arrives, the Minions cannot adapt due to their incomprehensible language and are fired. James proposes making his own film titled Minions & Monsters, where the Minions fight giant monsters. Tribe leader Dick rejects the idea, but Henry and Ed help James.

Ed uses the warlock's spell book to summon a squid monster, accidentally releasing a small green monster named Goomi, who offers to find perfect monsters for the film.

Voice cast

Pierre Coffin voices the Minions, including James, a one-eyed Minion passionate about art; Henry, a two-eyed best friend; Ed, a tall, deaf two-eyed Minion using sign language; Dick, a bossy one-eyed leader; and Greg, a short two-eyed second-in-command. Allison Janney plays Olivia, a tour guide. Christoph Waltz portrays Max, a film director. Jeff Bridges plays twin brothers Frank and Elwood Bright, studio bosses. Jesse Eisenberg voices Dort, an alien robot parodying Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still. Trey Parker voices Goomi, a small Cthulhu-resembling monster. Zoey Deutch plays Debbie, a suffragette and Dort's love interest. Phil LaMarr voices Howard, a tentacled monster. Bobby Moynihan voices Phillips, a piranha-like monster. George Lucas cameos as a fictionalized version of himself. Gru, Dr. Nefario, and Agnes appear during the credits via archival recordings.

Production

Producer Chris Meledandri conceived the idea of Minions making a movie with monsters. He pitched it to Pierre Coffin, who agreed despite not intending to direct another franchise film after Despicable Me 3. Coffin set the film in early Hollywood due to his love of old cinema. In July 2024, a third Minions film was announced with Coffin directing, Brian Lynch writing, and Meledandri and Bill Ryan producing.

Patrick Delage served as co-director. The title Minions & Monsters was revealed during Super Bowl LX, sharing its name with a 2021 short. The budget was $85 million. In March 2026, the voice cast was announced.

George Lucas was approached by Meledandri after Lucas expressed being a fan of the franchise. Animation was done by Illumination Studios Paris. Monster designs and spell book drawings came from character designer François Launet, whose nickname "Goomi" was used for Trey Parker's character.

Reception

Minions & Monsters grossed $183 million in the United States and Canada and $331 million elsewhere, totaling $514 million worldwide against an $85 million budget. It opened to $14.2 million on its first day and $62 million over the five-day Independence Day holiday frame, a franchise low-opening attributed to America 250 celebrations, competition from Toy Story 5, and franchise fatigue. In its second weekend it grossed $21.2 million, dropping 43% to second place behind Moana.

The film received positive reviews, with many calling it the best installment since Despicable Me. On Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 180 critics gave positive reviews, with an average rating of 6.9/10, making it Illumination's highest-rated film on the site. Metacritic gave a score of 70 out of 30 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. Audiences gave an average CinemaScore of A–, and 58% of PostTrak respondents said they would definitely recommend the film.