How a 1927 Hollywood spoof became the most critically acclaimed Minions film ever made
In short: Set in the transition from silent to sound cinema, this animated comedy follows a group of Minions attempting to produce their own monster movie. Despite a slow opening weekend at the box office, the film earned the highest critical ratings of the entire Despicable Me franchise for its creative storytelling.
Released in 2026, Minions & Monsters serves as a prequel set in 1927, exploring the early days of cinema through the eyes of a unique tribe of Minions. Directed by Pierre Coffin, the story follows an artistic Minion named James who, after being fired from a studio for failing to adapt to the arrival of sound film, decides to craft his own monster feature. His project inadvertently spirals into chaos when he uses a warlock’s spell book to summon real monsters, including a green creature named Goomi and two sea monsters, Howard and Phillips.
The film’s production was deeply influenced by director Pierre Coffin’s affection for classic cinema. Composer John Powell, who replaced long-time franchise musician Heitor Pereira, intentionally crafted an "over-the-top" score that paid homage to Golden Age composers like Max Steiner and Bernard Herrmann. The monster designs were inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft, with character designer François Launet basing the creatures on his own webseries, "Goomi’s Unspeakable Vault of Doom."
While the film faced a challenging start, opening to $62 million over its five-day holiday frame—a franchise low attributed to competition and market fatigue—it eventually grossed $525 million worldwide. Critics praised the film for its meta-narrative, with many reviewers, such as those at RogerEbert.com, noting that it successfully elevates the Minions from simple agents of chaos into symbols of the enduring human impulse to entertain. With an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it stands as the most highly regarded entry in the series to date.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Minions & Monsters
- Also: Wikidata — Minions & Monsters · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Minions & Monsters · CC0
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