Illumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters,’ directed by Pierre Coffin. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
In theaters on July 1 is ‘Minions & Monsters,’ the latest spin-off from the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise, another prequel following the earlier misadventures of the chattering characters. This time, they’re causing problems in 1920s Hollywood.
“Hollywood has a monster problem.”
Release Date: Jul 1, 2026
Run Time: 1 hr 30 min
Budget: $85,000,000
Directed by Pierre Coffin (‘Despicable Me’) and Patrick Delage (‘Sing 2’), the comedy features the voices of Zoey Deutch (‘Juror #2’), Allison Janney (‘The Help’), Jesse Eisenberg (‘A Real Pain’), Jeff Bridges (‘The Big Lebowski’) and Christoph Waltz (‘Django Unchained’), with Coffin as usual voicing the Minions.
Related Article: Jeff Bridges & Allison Janney to Lead ‘Minions & Monsters’ Voice Cast
Initial Thoughts
(L to R): Ed, Henry and Goomi in Illumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters’. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Given that they’re still primarily a one-joke concept –– gibberish-spewing creatures who want nothing more than to work for the worst villain around –– the Minions of the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise have proved to be relatively reliable movie series drivers on their own account. But does the latest keep their winning streak?
Script and Direction
(L to R) Dick, Ed, James, Henry and additional Minions in Illumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters,’ directed by Pierre Coffin. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Written as usual by director Coffin and Brian Lynch, the new film follows a familiar template –– a fun opening sequence that sees the Minions looking for their next master and screwing it up in slapstick ways.
The actual story, about three Minions named James, Henry and Ed, finding their way to Hollywood is slight but still amusing, allowing for riffs on some familiar movie tropes (let’s face it, the Minions are ideal for 1920s moviedom, since they’re already silent movie stalwarts (even if they rarely shut up).
Cast and Performances
llumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters,’ directed by Pierre Coffin. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Coffin as usual brings some heart and character to the squabbling, enthusiastic leads, while Trey Parker (‘South Park’) is fun as Goomi, a creature they meet. Jesse Eisenberg, meanwhile, gives is all to robot Dort, a metal man who discovers there’s more to life than plotting to invade Earth.
Final Thoughts
llumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters,’ directed by Pierre Coffin. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
The younger crowd will thrill to have their favorite characters back on screen, but there’s enough to make sure older audiences won’t be bored. There’s not much subtlety here, but that’s never the point.
But if a Minions movie has more entertaining things to say about the evolution of Hollywood from silent to talkies than ‘Babylon’ you have to wonder what that says about the industry!
‘Minions & Monsters’ receives 68 out of 100.
(L to R): Ed, James and Henry in Illumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters’. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
What is the plot of ‘Minions & Monsters’?
This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.
Who is in the cast of ‘Minions & Monsters’?
- Pierre Coffin as the Minions
- Trey Parker as Goomi
- Allison Janney as Olivia
- Christoph Waltz as Max
- Jesse Eisenberg as Dort
- Jeff Bridges as Frank and Elwood
- Zoey Deutch as Debbie
- Bobby Moynihan as Phillips
Illumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters,’ directed by Pierre Coffin. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Other Movies in the ‘Despicable Me’ Franchise:
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