Key facts
- Minions & Monsters opened at No. 1 at the domestic box office.
- The film earned an estimated $36 million over the traditional three-day weekend.
- Its five-day holiday weekend projection is $64.5 million.
- This debut represents the lowest opening for any film in the Despicable Me franchise.
- The movie achieved a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore.
- Internationally, the film grossed $86 million over the weekend, bringing its worldwide total to $159.8 million.
Minions & Monsters, the latest installment in the Despicable Me franchise, opened at No. 1 at the North American box office but significantly underperformed compared to its predecessors. The film garnered $36 million over the traditional three-day weekend and is projected to reach $64.5 million over the five-day holiday frame. This debut marks the lowest opening weekend for any film in the franchise, falling below the original Despicable Me's $56 million opening in 2010.
Despite the disappointing domestic performance, Minions & Monsters received positive reviews, achieving a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore. The film's international performance was stronger, earning $86 million over the weekend and bringing its worldwide total to $159.8 million. The production budget for the film was $85 million.
Industry watchers suggest that the franchise may be suffering from overexposure, with seven installments released over 16 years. This contrasts with franchises like Toy Story, which has had fewer releases over a longer period. The holiday weekend itself saw lower overall ticket sales compared to previous years, with the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday, potentially shifting consumer focus to other celebrations.