Looking for the correct Minions and Despicable Me movies in order? You’re not alone — this franchise has grown from one supervillain-turned-dad comedy into a seven-film universe, and the release order and the story’s internal timeline are not the same thing. If you watch in release order, you’ll actually see Gru’s future before you see his past. Since debuting in 2010, the franchise (created by Sergio Pablos and shepherded by Illumination founder Chris Meledandri) has grossed nearly $5 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-earning animated franchises ever. Below, you’ll find both orders laid out clearly, starting with the quick-answer table.
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Quick Answer: Minions and Despicable Me Movies in Order
| # (Release) | Film | Year | Director | Timeline Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Despicable Me | 2010 | Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud | 4th chronologically |
| 2 | Despicable Me 2 | 2013 | Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud | 5th chronologically |
| 3 | Minions | 2015 | Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda | 2nd chronologically |
| 4 | Despicable Me 3 | 2017 | Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda | 6th chronologically |
| 5 | Minions: The Rise of Gru | 2022 | Kyle Balda | 3rd chronologically |
| 6 | Despicable Me 4 | 2024 | Chris Renaud | 7th chronologically |
| 7 | Minions & Monsters | 2026 | Pierre Coffin | 1st chronologically |
Callout: If you want the story to unfold in the order it actually happens, watch Minions & Monsters → Minions → Minions: The Rise of Gru → Despicable Me → Despicable Me 2 → Despicable Me 3 → Despicable Me 4. For everyone else, release order is the more common — and honestly more fun — way to experience it, since that’s how the jokes and callbacks were designed to land.
Minions and Despicable Me Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. Despicable Me (2010)
This is where it all started: a supervillain named Gru plots to steal the moon, only to get sidetracked by three orphan girls he adopts as cover for his scheme. It’s a surprisingly sweet arc about a “villain” learning to be a father. Behind the scenes, the Minions were almost cut entirely — animators added them late in production as comic relief, and they stole the movie so thoroughly they got their own franchise. This film sets up Gru’s whole world, from his rivalry with Vector to the gadget-filled lair you’ll see referenced for the next decade of movies.
2. Despicable Me 2 (2013)
Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to track down a mysterious criminal using a powerful mutagen, teaming him up with the excitable agent Lucy Wilde. It’s a lighter, more romance-driven sequel than the original. Trivia-wise, this is the film that cemented the Minions’ status as merchandising gold, directly inspiring the 2015 spinoff. By the end, Gru’s personal life has shifted enough that the story naturally hands the spotlight to the Minions themselves for their first standalone outing.
3. Minions (2015)
Jumping backward in time, this prequel follows the Minions across centuries as they search for the perfect evil boss to serve, eventually landing with 1960s supervillain Scarlet Overkill. It’s the first film centered entirely on Kevin, Stuart, and Bob rather than Gru. Notably, it’s the only mainline entry not directed by Chris Renaud, bringing in Kyle Balda instead. The ending sets up the Minions crossing paths with a young Gru — the connective tissue that leads straight into the next spinoff.
4. Despicable Me 3 (2017)
Gru discovers he has a long-lost twin brother, Dru, and must decide whether to return to villainy while facing off against a washed-up ’80s child star turned criminal. This entry leans hardest into franchise nostalgia, right down to its retro-styled villain and soundtrack. Production-wise, it’s the first film where the Minions briefly quit working for Gru, giving them an independent subplot. It closes out the “present-day Gru” era before the series jumps back in time again for its next spinoff.
5. Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Set in the 1970s, this prequel shows a 12-year-old Gru trying to join a supervillain group called the Vicious 6, with the Minions backing him up every step of the way. It’s the direct bridge between the Minions prequels and the main Despicable Me story. The film became a surprise cultural moment thanks to the “Gentleminions” trend, where teens showed up to theaters in suits. It ends with young Gru’s crew more or less intact, setting the stage for the adult Gru of the original trilogy.
6. Despicable Me 4 (2024)
Gru and his family go into hiding under new identities after a vengeful former classmate, Maxime Le Mal, targets them, while Gru also navigates fatherhood with his infant son, Gru Jr. This entry expanded the cast significantly and introduced the “Mega Minions,” giving the yellow sidekicks superhero-style powers for the first time. It became a massive box office hit, pushing the franchise’s lifetime total close to $5 billion. Its ending leaves several threads — including Gru Jr.’s future role — open for whatever comes next.
7. Minions & Monsters (2026)
The newest entry rewinds all the way to 1920s Hollywood, following a completely different tribe of Minions who accidentally become movie stars on a silent-film set. It’s a standalone prequel, meaning this Minion tribe isn’t the same one that later serves Gru. Directed once again by Pierre Coffin with a score from franchise regular Heitor Pereira, it earned some of the best reviews in the series since the 2010 original. As the earliest point on the timeline, it functions as a origin-flavored bonus chapter rather than a direct connector to the other six films.
Do You Need to Watch Minions Before Despicable Me?
No — you don’t need to. Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru are prequels, and while they add fun context and setup, the core Despicable Me trilogy plus Despicable Me 4 tells a complete, self-contained story on its own. Watching in either order works, since the films were built to be entered from more than one angle.
Minimum viable watch order (if you’re short on time):
- Despicable Me (2010) — required starting point
- Despicable Me 2 (2013) — continues Gru’s core arc
- Despicable Me 3 (2017) — introduces Dru, optional but recommended
- Despicable Me 4 (2024) — current end of the main story
- Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) — best single prequel if you only watch one
- Skip Minions (2015) and Minions & Monsters (2026) unless you want full backstory
How Many Minions and Despicable Me Movies Are There?
There are currently seven feature films in the franchise: four mainline Despicable Me movies and three Minions spinoffs. That count doesn’t include the various short films (like Home Makeover or Mower Minions) that Illumination has released alongside the features.
All Minions and Despicable Me Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Despicable Me — July 9, 2010
2. Despicable Me 2 — July 3, 2013
3. Minions — July 10, 2015
4. Despicable Me 3 — June 30, 2017
5. Minions: The Rise of Gru — July 1, 2022
6. Despicable Me 4 — July 3, 2024
7. Minions & Monsters — July 1, 2026
How Many Minions Spinoff Movies Are There?
There are currently three Minions spinoff films: Minions (2015), Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), and Minions & Monsters (2026), all directed or co-directed by Pierre Coffin.
All Minions Spinoff Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Minions — July 10, 2015
2. Minions: The Rise of Gru — July 1, 2022
3. Minions & Monsters — July 1, 2026
What’s Next for the Franchise?
A fifth Despicable Me film has not been officially greenlit as of this writing, though director Chris Renaud has publicly said it’s possible if the team lands on a fresh story. Given the franchise’s usual gap between installments, industry speculation points to a potential 2027 or 2028 window, but treat any specific date you see online as unconfirmed until Universal and Illumination make it official.
There’s also no confirmed fourth Minions film yet, though given how consistently this franchise alternates between the two series, another prequel eventually feels likely. For now, Minions & Monsters is the most recent chapter, and anything beyond it remains speculation rather than fact.
FAQ
Do I need to watch the Minions movies to understand Despicable Me? No. The Minions films are prequels that add backstory and context, but the Despicable Me movies work as a complete story without them.
What order should I watch Minions and Despicable Me movies in order chronologically? The story timeline runs Minions & Monsters, Minions, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, Despicable Me 3, then Despicable Me 4.
Is Minions & Monsters connected to the Minions who work for Gru? Not directly. It follows a different tribe of Minions in the 1920s, making it more of a standalone origin story than a direct prequel link.
Will there be a Despicable Me 5? Nothing is confirmed yet. The director has left the door open, but Universal and Illumination haven’t announced an official release date.
Whichever order you pick, the important thing is you now know exactly what you’re getting into — happy watching. Now that you’ve got the full Minions and Despicable Me movies in order, you’re set for a marathon that actually makes sense.
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