After five days of release, "Minions & Monsters" earned 37 million USD in the North American market, according to Box Office Mojo. Previously, the Minions series was nearly unbeatable in North America since the first installment, Despicable Me (2010), debuted. Most recently, in 2024, Despicable Me 4 achieved 75 million USD after just three days.

* "Minions & Monsters" trailer

By 7/7, the film reached 61 million USD in the US, about 20 million USD less than Illumination's expectations. This low opening is not attributed to the film's quality by experts.

The new installment revolves around the Minions' search for a master. Set in 1920s Hollywood, they unexpectedly become silent film stars, gaining attention in the film industry through their antics. When the era of sound films arrived, their incomprehensible language put the Minions at risk of being phased out. Consequently, the character James and his two friends, Henry and Ed, try to create their own film. The trio summons monsters for filming material, inadvertently causing catastrophe for humanity.

Market conditions also contributed to the film's reduced revenue. According to Variety, the US Independence Day holiday falling on a weekend led many to choose barbecues and fireworks over going to the cinema. Meanwhile, IndieWire reported that US box office revenue on 4/7 decreased by 23% compared to the previous year. The emergence and competition from films of the same genre impacted audience choices. "Toy Story 5 is too significant a competitor", Brian Welk, an IndieWire reporter, commented.

The appearance of James (center) and new Minion characters in the film. *Photo: Illumination/ Universal*

Despite the low North American opening, Universal remains optimistic. Global revenue currently stands at nearly 166 million USD, according to Box Office Mojo. This figure is promising compared to its production budget of approximately 85 million USD. Jim Orr, Universal's President of Domestic Distribution, stated: "We hope the film recovers better during the rest of the summer".

Some critics consider the new installment one of the most creative and vibrant works in the Minions franchise. On Rotten Tomatoes, film critic Clint Worthington praised the new installment's ideas as "interestingly realized". Conversely, some writers felt the film gradually lost its subtlety as humor became overpowering. Brian Welk also noted that "perhaps audiences believe it's time for the Minions to rest for a while", stating that the issue isn't the characters themselves, but the sense of familiarity and repetitive content.

Thao Uyen (according to Variety, IndieWire)