In 2010, Despicable Me laughed its way into cinemas. The animated comedy, about a supervillain called Gru who changes his evil ways after adopting three orphans, starred Steve Carell, Jason Segel, and Julie Andrews.

When it opened in cinemas, Despicable Me was a huge hit with audiences, guaranteeing a series of sequels, as well as a collection of spin-offs featuring popular characters the Minions. But how many Despicable Me / Minion movies are there?

For all the details and more keep reading!

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The Despicable Me / Minions movies

Image: ©Universal Pictures/Illumination

Despicable Me (2010)

The first entry in the Despicable Me/Minions movie series is 2010’s Despicable Me. The film focuses on supervillain, Gru, who is formulating a plan to steal the Moon.

However, while Gru is keen on bringing his plans to fruition, his life soon takes an unexpected change when he decides to start a family. After adopting three orphans, he finds himself questioning his commitments to villainy.

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

The second entry in the movie series is 2013’s Despicable Me 2. Created as a direct sequel, this instalment sees Gru recruited by agent Lucy Wilde, who is investigating the theft of a mutagen known as PX-41.

Minions (2015)

The third film in the series is a spin-off, which was conceived as a prequel to the Despicable Me films. Set before the events of 2010’s Despicable Me, the film focuses on Gru’s ‘Minions’ and their search for a new master.

Despicable Me 3 (2017)

The next instalment jumps back to the main series for Despicable Me 3 – a sequel to Despicable Me 2. In this film, Gru teams up with his long-lost twin brother, Dru to stop former child actor Balthazar Bratt from destroying Hollywood.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

Back to the Minions movies once again for entry number five: Minions: The Rise of Gru. Set between the events of Minions and Despicable Me, the film tells the story of 11-year-old Gru’s plans to become a super villain and his battle against the Vicious 6.

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

For movie number six, the film series jumps back to the Despicable Me entries for Despicable Me 4. The film is a sequel to Despicable Me 3 and furthers Gru’s story.

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Image: ©Universal Pictures/Illumination

The Despicable Me / Minions movies in production order

To date there are six entries in the Despicable Me / Minions movie series. if you wish to watch the movies in production order, please follow this list:

  • Despicable Me (2010)
  • Despicable Me 2 (2013)
  • Minions (2015)
  • Despicable Me 3 (2017)
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
  • Despicable Me 4 (2024)

The Despicable Me / Minions movies in timeline order

As the Despicable Me / Minions movie series jumps back and forth along the timeline, should you wish to watch the films in chronological order, then follow this list:

  • Minions (2015)
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
  • Despicable Me (2010)
  • Despicable Me 2 (2013)
  • Despicable Me 3 (2017)
  • Despicable Me 4 (2024)
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The Despicable Me / Minion movie shorts

Image: ©Universal Pictures/Illumination

In addition to the feature-length movies, the Despicable Me / Minion film series has also been accompanied by a sizeable collection of shorts. These short films include:

  • Home Makeover (2010)
  • Orientation Day (2010)
  • Banana (2010)
  • Puppy (2013)
  • Panic in the Mailroom (2013)
  • Training Wheels (2013)
  • Binky Nelson Unpacified (2015)
  • Competition (2015)
  • Cro Minion (2015)
  • Mower Minions (2016)
  • The Secret Life of Kyle (2017)
  • Yellow is the New Black (2018)
  • Santa’s Little Helpers (2019)
  • Minion Scouts (2019)
  • Minions & Monsters (2021)
  • Mooned (2023)
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Who are the voice cast of the Despicable Me / Minions movie series and are the films the work of the same director?

Image: ©Universal Pictures/Illumination

Notable cast members in the Despicable Me/Minions include Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Kristen Wiig, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate, Michelle Yeoh, Jason Segel, Will Arnett, Benjamin Bratt, Trey Parker, Andy Nyman, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Taraji P. Henson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, and Alan Arkin.

In terms of the directors, the films are the work of the following:

  • Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin directed Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2
  • Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda directed Minions and Despicable Me 3
  • Kyle Balda directed Minions: The Rise of Gru
  • Chris Renaud directed Despicable Me 4
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Which is the best Despicable Me / Minions movie?

Image: ©Universal Pictures/Illumination

According to IMDb, the Despicable Me/Minions movies are rated as follows:

  • Despicable Me (2010) – 7.6/10
  • Despicable Me 2 (2013) – 7.3/10
  • Minions (2015) – 6.4/10
  • Despicable Me 3 (2017) – 6.2/10
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) – 6.5/10
  • Despicable Me 4 (2024) – Not yet rated
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Editor/writer/evil genius

Alex Wiggan

Alex is the writer and editor of It’s A Stampede! – a blog which specialises in movies, TV, comics, retro toys, and general geekery. He is a championing voice in nerd content, an expert in pop culture, and a trusted movie critic who publishes new reviews on a weekly basis. After graduating with a degree in film & television studies from the University of Derby in the UK, Alex went on to study journalism in Sheffield, before acquiring NCTJ accreditation. Prior to creating It’s A Stampede!, Alex was a magazine editor, a senior copywriter, a features writer, and a freelancer.

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about the Despicable Me / Minions movie series. For more movie posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.

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