Minions (film)
A prequel to Despicable Me featuring the Minions' search for a boss.
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**Minions** is a 2015 American animated comedy film from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, with a script by Brian Lynch, it acts as a prequel to the 2010 film *Despicable Me*. The voice cast includes Coffin (providing the voices for the Minions), Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, and Geoffrey Rush as the narrator. The story follows the Minions as they seek a new evil master to serve, having accidentally killed every boss they have ever worked for throughout history.
The film had its premiere in New York City on June 11, 2015, followed by a London premiere on June 18, 2015, and was released in the United States on July 10. Critics gave it mixed reviews, but it earned approximately $1.159 billion at the box office. This made it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2015, the third-highest-grossing animated film (behind *Frozen* and *Toy Story 3*), and the tenth-highest-grossing film of all time. It launched a film series that includes two subsequent movies.
**Plot**
The Minions are small, yellow, pill-shaped creatures that have existed since the dawn of time. They evolved from single-celled organisms into beings whose only purpose is to serve the most despicable masters in history. However, they are extremely clumsy and accidentally kill every boss they work for. After firing a cannon at Napoleon while in France, they are driven into isolation and begin a new life in a cave. But after many years, the Minions grow sad and unmotivated without a master to serve. This leads three Minions—Kevin, Stuart, and Bob—to set out on a quest to find a new boss for their tribe.
In 1968, the three end up in New York City and spend the night in a department store. There, they discover a hidden commercial for Villain-Con, a convention for villains in Orlando. The next day, they hitch a ride to the convention with the Nelsons, a family of thieves. At the convention, they meet Scarlet Overkill, the world's first female supervillain. She unexpectedly hires them and takes them to her home in London. They call the rest of the Minions to join them. Scarlet plans to steal the Imperial State Crown from Queen Elizabeth II. She promises to reward the Minions if they succeed but threatens to kill them if they fail.
Scarlet’s husb
- release_date
- June 11, 2015 (New York City premiere); June 18, 2015 (London premiere); July 10, 2015 (United States)
- directors
- Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda
- writer
- Brian Lynch
- production_companies
- Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment
- box_office
- Approximately $1.159 billion worldwide
- genre
- Animated comedy
Lore & Background
The film opens with the Minions, small yellow pill-shaped creatures, having existed since the beginning of time, evolving to serve history's most despicable masters but accidentally killing each one. After a mishap with Napoleon in France, they isolate themselves in a cave, eventually becoming sad and unmotivated. Three Minions—Kevin, Stuart, and Bob—embark on a quest to find a new boss. In 1968, they travel to New York City, discover Villain-Con in Orlando, and meet Scarlet Overkill, the world's first female supervillain, who hires them to steal the Imperial State Crown from Queen Elizabeth II. During the heist in London, Bob pulls the Sword in the Stone, becoming king of England, but Scarlet imprisons them. After escaping, they accidentally drop a chandelier on Scarlet a
Reader's Guide
Minions was a major commercial success, grossing $1.16 billion worldwide, making it the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the second-highest-grossing animated film at the time. It received mixed reviews from critics but became a cultural phenomenon, spawning a film series of two subsequent films. The marketing campaign was described by Bloomberg News as the 'largest and most comprehensive' in Universal's history, including partnerships with McDonald's, Chiquita, and General Mills, and the creation of a new Pantone color, 'Minion Yellow.' The film's popularity led to extensive merchandising and a lasting impact on animated comedy, though its critical reception remained divided.
Did You Know?
- Sandra Bullock was paid $10 million for her role as Scarlet Overkill.
- Pantone created a new official color, 'Minion Yellow,' in partnership with Illumination.
- The film was originally scheduled for December 19, 2014, but was postponed to July 10, 2015.
- Bloomberg News estimated Universal spent $593 million promoting the film.
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