Summary
AlthoughMinionswas a huge financial success upon its original release, the franchise’s sequelMinions 2pulled off a rare achievement that only a handful of other series can boast. Early inScream 2, a class full of film students debate whether sequels can ever outdo their predecessors. The usual examples are outlined, includingThe Godfather Part II,Aliens, andTerminator 2: Judgment Day. If the scene were remade today,theDespicable MeandMinionsfranchisecould reasonably be cited as another example of this rare phenomenon. As surprising as it may sound, theMinionsmovies managed to repeat this feat.
TheDespicable Mefranchise began in 2010 when Steve Carell’s inept supervillain, Gru, was first introduced to viewers. Gru’s first movie earned an impressive $543 million, but it was 2013’s sequelDespicable Me 2that made the series a full-blown phenomenon with a $971 million box office haul. This prompted an inevitable spinoff in 2015’sMinions, which focused on Gru’s little yellow henchmen. ThecompleteDespicable MeandMinionsstorycontinued to grow in popularity at the box office, withMinionsmaking $1.159 billion andDespicable Me 3earning $1 billion two years later in 2017.
How Old Are The Minions?
The Minions from the Despicable Me franchise seem immortal and ageless, but how old are they exactly and what is their history on earth?
Minions 2 Was Received Far Better Than The Original Spinoff
Minions 2: The Rise of Gru Outdid Minions
While 2022’sMinionssequelMinions: The Rise of Gruwas also a financial success, that’s not what makes the movie so notable.Minions: The Rise of Gruearned better reviews than the originalMinions, something that precious few franchises can boast. It’s not uncommon for a fourth or sixth movie in a series to outdo some of its predecessors, especially in horror, where a franchise can last for nine or ten movies. However, it is unusual for a sequel to comfortably outdo the franchise’s original movie andMinions: The Rise of Grudid so by a large margin.
OnRotten Tomatoes,Minionsboasts a 56% critical rating, whileMinions: The Rise of Gruhas a far stronger 70%. Audiences affirmed this change, withMinionsgaining a 49% audience rating compared toMinions: The Rise of Gru’s 89% rating seven years later. AlthoughMinions: The Rise of Grumade some mistakes, it comfortably outdidMinionseverywhere but the box office. Even then,Minions: The Rise of Gru’s $940.7 million was very respectable compared to the $1 billionMinionsearned. The reason for this sudden critical surge is easy to discern but tough for the series to navigate.
Minions 2 Revealed An Awkward Truth About The Despicable Me Franchise
Despicable Me’s Gru Needs Minions And They Need Him
FromDespicable Meonwards, it was clear thatthe minions were central to the success of theDespicable Memovies. However,MinionsandMinions: The Rise of Gruproved the minions need Gru, too. After all, the return of the supervillain accounts for the sequel’s jump in popularity. Critics complained that, despite a starry cast including Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, and Michael Keaton,Minionslacked the straightforward storytelling style of earlier outings. Most reviewers said a full movie devoted to the minions was too much of a good thing, givingMinionsa perfect way to improve withMinions 2.
