Despicable Me 3#Critical response
{{Short description|2017 Illumination film}}
{{for|the soundtrack|Despicable Me 3 (soundtrack){{!}}Despicable Me 3 (soundtrack)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Despicable Me 3 theatrical release poster.jpg
| alt = A minion with one eye wearing black-and-white striped denim overalls, with a tattoo that reads "GRU LIFE" around his arms.
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = {{Plainlist|
}}
| writer = Cinco Paul
Ken Daurio
| producer = {{Plainlist|
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Steve Carell
- Kristen Wiig
- Trey Parker
- Pierre Coffin
- Miranda Cosgrove
- Steve Coogan
- Jenny Slate
- Dana Gaier
- Nev Scharrel
- Julie Andrews
}}
| editing = Claire Dodgson
| music = {{Plainlist|
- Heitor Pereira (score)
- Pharrell Williams (songs and themes)
}}
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- Universal Pictures{{Cite web |title=Film releases |url=http://www.varietyinsight.com/print_featurefilm_releases.php |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516201033/https://www.varietyinsight.com/print_featurefilm_releases.php |archive-date=2017-05-16 |access-date=2017-02-26 |website=Variety Insight}}
- Illumination
}}
| distributor = Universal Pictures
| released = {{Film date|2017|6|14|Annecy|2017|6|30|United States}}
| runtime = 90 minutes{{Cite web |title=Despicable Me 3 |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/despicable-me-3-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00odq5njm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210915131150/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/despicable-me-3-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00odq5njm |archive-date=September 15, 2021 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |website=British Board of Film Classification}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $75-80 million{{cite web |title=Despicable Me 3 (2017) - Financial Information |url=https://the-numbers.com/movie/Despicable-Me-3#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=January 28, 2025}}
| gross = $1.035{{nbsp}}billion{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=3469046|title=Despicable Me 3|access-date=January 17, 2021}}{{cbignore}}
}}
Despicable Me 3 is a 2017 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal. It is the sequel to Despicable Me 2 (2013), the third main installment, and the fourth overall entry in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by production and character designer Eric Guillon, and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, from a screenplay by the writing team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate, Dana Gaier, Nev Scharrel, and Julie Andrews. In the film, Gru teams up with his long-lost twin brother Dru to stop Balthazar Bratt, a former child actor of the 1980s, from destroying Hollywood after his show was canceled years ago.
Development on a third main Despicable Me film began in 2013 with Coffin returning as director alongside Balda. The film was in the early writing stages by 2014, while the cast was announced in 2016. Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams returned for the music like the first two films.
Despicable Me 3 debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 14, 2017, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 30. Despite mixed reviews from critics, it grossed $1.035{{nbsp}}billion worldwide, becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2017 and the fourth-highest-grossing animated film of all time during its theatrical run. A sequel, Despicable Me 4, was released in 2024.
Plot
Married Anti-Villain League (AVL) agents Felonious Gru and Lucy Wilde are sent to recover the stolen Dumont Diamond from Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who became a supervillain after his show, Evil Bratt, was canceled. Gru recovers the diamond, while Bratt escapes. At the AVL headquarters, director Silas Ramsbottom announces his retirement, and appoints board member Valerie Da Vinci as the new director. Da Vinci dismisses Gru and Lucy from the AVL, believing they should have captured Bratt during the mission.
When Gru and Lucy return home, they tell their adopted daughters Margo, Edith, and Agnes of their dismissal, but assure them they will soon have new jobs. When Gru refuses to return to being a supervillain, and with his assistant Dr. Nefario accidentally frozen in carbonite,{{efn|Carbonite, a fictional substance from The Empire Strikes Back (1980), is referenced in the film.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=July 3, 2017 |title=Despicable Me 3 includes a pretty sneaky reference to Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/7/3/15914178/despicable-me-3-minions-star-wars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513213306/https://www.polygon.com/2017/7/3/15914178/despicable-me-3-minions-star-wars |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=Polygon}}}} most of his Minions, led by Mel, abandon him to find new jobs. They eventually land in jail after trespassing on a television studio.
A butler named Fritz arrives at Gru's home with an invitation from his long-lost twin brother Dru, who lives in a distant country named Freedonia. The family travels to meet Dru, and are surprised by his immense wealth and mansion. Meanwhile, Bratt steals the diamond again, intending to use it to power a giant robot that will destroy Hollywood, as revenge for his show's cancelation. Dru reveals to Gru that their dead father was a supervillain known as "the Bald Terror", whose villainous activities and technological advances are the real source of the family's wealth. Dru wants Gru to teach him how to become a villain, but Gru refuses to revert to his old ways. While Lucy struggles with her new tasks as a mother, Dru and Gru become closer after joyriding in their father's high-tech vehicle.
Gru and Dru decide to steal the diamond; however, Gru secretly intends to bring it to the AVL to convince Da Vinci to rehire him and Lucy. They narrowly escape with the diamond and are rescued by Lucy. Dru, finding out Gru's true motives, is upset that Gru lied about teaching him how to be a villain. In return, Gru berates Dru for his incompetence, disowns him, and decides to leave Freedonia.
Bratt, disguised as Lucy, kidnaps the girls, and once again acquires the diamond. Discovering this, Gru and Dru put aside their differences; the brothers and Lucy set off after Bratt in the Bald Terror's vehicle. The Minions, having escaped jail, manage to follow them. With his robot's laser powered by the diamond, Bratt terrorizes Hollywood, covering it in superpowered bubble gum in hopes of lifting the city into outer space. Lucy rescues the girls from a falling skyscraper as Bratt sends Gru and Dru crash-landing into the streets of Hollywood. Bratt tries to kill Gru with the robot's laser, but Dru risks his life to break into the robot and power it down from the inside. Gru engages Bratt in a final dance fight before stealing his weaponized keytar to defeat him, and send him float away in bubble gum just as AVL helicopters arrive in time. As the Minions pop the bubble gum bubbles covering the city, Dru and Gru reconcile, and share an embrace with Lucy, Margo, Edith and Agnes.
Gru and Lucy are reinstated into the AVL. The newly united family celebrates in Gru's home, and the girls acknowledge Lucy as their mother. Still wishing to be a supervillain, Dru, along with most of the Minions, steals Gru's rocket-powered aircraft and flies away. Gru and Lucy decide to give them a five-minute head-start before engaging in pursuit.
Voice cast
- Steve Carell as Felonious Gru, simply called Gru, a spy and former villain turned Anti-Villain League agent. He is the adoptive father of Margo, Edith and Agnes, and Lucy's husband.{{Cite magazine |last=Franich |first=Darren |date=April 13, 2016 |title=Trey Parker Will Voice The Villain In Despicable Me 3 |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/13/trey-parker-despicable-me-3-villain |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415222851/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/13/trey-parker-despicable-me-3-villain |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |access-date=April 14, 2016}}
- Carell also voices Dru Gru, the long-lost twin brother of Gru, and the girls' adoptive uncle.{{Cite news |last=Calvario |first=Liz |date=2017-03-14 |title='Despicable Me 3' Trailer Reunites Gru With His Long-Lost Twin Brother |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/despicable-me-3-trailer-gru-twin-brother-steve-carell-watch-1202043357/ |url-status=live |access-date=2017-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609101241/http://deadline.com/2017/03/despicable-me-3-trailer-gru-twin-brother-steve-carell-watch-1202043357/ |archive-date=June 9, 2017}}
- Kristen Wiig as Lucy Wilde, an Anti-Villain League agent who is the wife of Gru, and the girls' adoptive mother{{Cite news |last=Nequinto |first=Denise |date=30 September 2016 |title='Despicable Me 3' 2017 Plot: Gru Experiences Sibling Rivalry, Faces New Villain |work=CitizenOracle |url=http://www.citizenoracle.com/2016/09/30/despicable-me-3-2017-plot-gru-experiences-sibling-rivalry-faces-new-villain/ |url-status=dead |access-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010125828/http://www.citizenoracle.com/2016/09/30/despicable-me-3-2017-plot-gru-experiences-sibling-rivalry-faces-new-villain/ |archive-date=October 10, 2016}}
- Trey Parker as Balthazar Bratt, a super-villain and former child star who grows up to become obsessed with the character that he played in the 1980s and is bent on world domination
- Pierre Coffin as Mel and the other Minions{{Cite magazine |last=Snetiker |first=Marc |date=May 19, 2017 |title=Despicable Me 3: Meet the mutinous new Minion |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/05/19/despicable-me-3-new-minion/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523021449/http://ew.com/movies/2017/05/19/despicable-me-3-new-minion/ |archive-date=May 23, 2017 |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
- Coffin also voices a museum director and does additional voices with Kyle Balda{{Cite web |title=Despicable Me 3 |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/59ba617202ba4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814170007/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/59ba617202ba4 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |access-date=December 28, 2020 |website=British Film Institute}}
- Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, the oldest and clever adopted daughter of Lucy and Gru
- Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom, the director of the Anti-Villain League, who retires at the beginning of the film
- Coogan also voices Fritz, Dru's butler.
- Jenny Slate as Valerie Da Vinci, a tyrannical member of the Anti-Villain League who becomes the new AVL director{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Lexy |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Despicable 3: Meet the Voices Behind the Animated Characters |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/famous-cast-despicable-3-meet-voice-actors-1012594/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818042947/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/famous-cast-despicable-3-meet-voice-actors-1012594/ |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=August 18, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}
- Dana Gaier as Edith, the middle and mischievous adopted daughter of Lucy and Gru{{Cite web |last=Lesnick |first=Silas |date=December 14, 2016 |title=Gru is Back in the Despicable Me 3 Trailer! |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/792971-despicable-me-3-trailer#/slide/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215162146/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/792971-despicable-me-3-trailer#/slide/1 |archive-date=December 15, 2016 |access-date=December 14, 2016 |website=ComingSoon.net}}
- Nev Scharrel as Agnes, the youngest and innocent adopted daughter of Lucy and Gru. She was originally voiced by Elsie Fisher in the first two films{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2016 |title=Nev Scharrel Talks 'Despicable Me 3' In Exclusive Q&A! |url=http://www.popstaronline.com/nev-scharrel-talks-despicable-me-3-in-exclusive-qa/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193843/http://www.popstaronline.com/nev-scharrel-talks-despicable-me-3-in-exclusive-qa/ |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=December 12, 2016 |website=popstaronline.com}}
- Julie Andrews as Gru and Dru's mother
Additionally, Andy Nyman voices Clive the robot, Bratt's sidekick, and Adrian Ciscato voices Niko, a boy from Freedonia who falls in love with Margo.
Production
{{expand section|date=January 2021}}
= Development =
Development on Despicable Me 3 began in 2013, when production and character designer Eric Guillon began supervising the process as a co-director with Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, both of whom had concluded work on Minions (2015).{{sfn|Croll|2022|p=287}}{{Cite web |last=Hazelton |first=John |date=November 27, 2015 |title=Minions: the three stooges |url=https://www.screendaily.com/awards/minions-the-three-stooges/5097389.article |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223154542/https://www.screendaily.com/awards/minions-the-three-stooges/5097389.article |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |access-date=November 9, 2023 |website=Screen Daily}} While the development was underway in 2014, Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri reported that the film was in early writing stages.{{Cite web |last=White |first=James |date=January 31, 2014 |title=Chris Meledandri Talks Despicable Me 3 & More |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/chris-meledandri-talks-despicable-3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318172331/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/chris-meledandri-talks-despicable-3/ |archive-date=March 18, 2017 |access-date=November 9, 2023 |website=Empire}} The production team intended to give each Despicable Me film its own "larger narrative positioning", allowing the expansion of the main characters' stories.{{sfn|Croll|2022|p=287}}
= Casting =
In April 2016, it was reported that Steve Carell would reprise his role as Gru and also voice his twin brother Dru, and that Trey Parker was cast as Balthazar Bratt. In September 2016, it was announced that Miranda Cosgrove and Kristen Wiig would reprise their roles as Margo and Lucy Wilde, respectively, and that Nev Scharrel would replace Elsie Fisher as Agnes.
= Music =
{{Main|Despicable Me 3 (soundtrack){{!}}Despicable Me 3 (soundtrack)}}
The soundtrack for Despicable Me 3 was released on June 23, 2017. Pharrell Williams released the new song "Yellow Light" for the soundtrack, which was made available through digital download and streaming.{{Cite magazine |last=Reed |first=Ryan |date=June 9, 2017 |title=Hear Pharrell's Joyous New Song 'Yellow Light' From 'Despicable Me 3' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-pharrells-joyous-new-song-yellow-light-from-despicable-me-3-w486864 |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613182648/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-pharrells-joyous-new-song-yellow-light-from-despicable-me-3-w486864 |archive-date=June 13, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |url-access=limited}}
Marketing and release
File:2017 IMAX London.jpg in London, England.]]
The marketing campaign of Despicable Me 3 included promotions, such as the star ratings being replaced with the Minions during Amazon's "Minion Day", and BuzzFeed's "character takeover" badges. In New York City, 600 taxicabs had the sculpted Minions atop of them, of which had a Minionese greeting. Additional marketing partners for the film included 23 & Me, Chiquita, Ferrero, Kellogg's, McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Topps, and Yummy Spoonfuls.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=July 2, 2017 |title='Despicable Me 3' Now At $75M+; 'Baby Driver' Booms To $30M As 'The House' Goes Broke With $9M – July 4th Weekend B.O. |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/despicable-me-3-baby-driver-the-house-july-4th-weekend-box-office-independence-day-1202122599/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630173918/http://deadline.com/2017/06/despicable-me-3-baby-driver-the-house-july-4th-weekend-box-office-independence-day-1202122599/ |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |access-date=June 30, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
Despicable Me 3 debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 14, 2017,{{Cite web |last=Hopewell |first=John |date=June 11, 2017 |title=Annecy Fest Surges in Size Yet Again, as 'Despicable Me 3,' 'Loving Vincent,' 'The Big Bad Fox' Premiere at Event |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/2017-annecy-animation-festival-grows-despicable-me-3-premiere-1202462247/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211004142349/https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/2017-annecy-animation-festival-grows-despicable-me-3-premiere-1202462247/ |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |website=Variety}} followed by a premiere on June 24, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |last=Franklin |first=Ericka |date=June 25, 2017 |title=Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig Welcome 'Despicable Me 3' With '80s Field Day |url=https://variety.com/2017/scene/vpage/steve-carell-kristen-wiig-despicable-me-3-1202477939/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211004142358/https://variety.com/2017/scene/vpage/steve-carell-kristen-wiig-despicable-me-3-1202477939/ |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |website=Variety}}{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2017 |title=Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig attend 'Despicable Me 3' premiere in Los Angeles |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Photos/Steve-Carell-Kristen-Wiig-attend-Despicable-Me-3-premiere-in-Los-Angeles/fp/11127/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211004144448/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Photos/Steve-Carell-Kristen-Wiig-attend-Despicable-Me-3-premiere-in-Los-Angeles/fp/11127/ |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |website=United Press International}} The film was released in the United States on June 30.{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=January 15, 2014 |title=Universal Dates Despicable Me 3, New Grinch Who Stole Christmas |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/universal-dates-despicable-me-3-new-grinch-who-stole-christmas-671303/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517152723/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/universal-dates-despicable-me-3-new-grinch-who-stole-christmas-671303/ |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |access-date=December 22, 2022 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}
=Home media=
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released Despicable Me 3 for digital download on November 21, 2017, and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on December 5. Physical copies contain The AVL Database, behind-the-scenes featurettes, character descriptions, a Freedonian map, a deleted scene, a "Doowit" sing-along version, Minion mugshots and posters, a short film The Secret Life of Kyle, and a "Yellow Light" music video.{{Cite web |last=McLean |first=Thomas J. |date=October 6, 2017 |title=Despicable Me 3 Comes Nov. 21 to Digital, Dec. 5 to Disc |url=https://www.awn.com/news/despicable-me-3-comes-nov-21-digital-dec-5-disc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721012642/https://www.awn.com/news/despicable-me-3-comes-nov-21-digital-dec-5-disc |archive-date=July 21, 2018 |access-date=November 8, 2023 |website=Animation World Network}}
Reception
= Box office =
Despicable Me 3 earned $264.6 million in the United States and Canada and $770.2 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $1.035{{nbsp}}billion. It was the fourth highest-grossing film of 2017 and the fourth highest-grossing animated film of all time.{{Cite web |title=2017 Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2017/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211165008/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2017/ |archive-date=February 11, 2021 |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=Box Office Mojo}}{{Cite web |title=All Time Worldwide Animated Box Office |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/all-time-animated |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111034012/https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/all-time-animated |archive-date=November 11, 2017 |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=The Numbers}} Deadline Hollywood calculated its net profit at $366.2 million, accounting for production budgets, marketing, talent participation, and other costs; box office grosses and home media revenues placed it third on their list of 2017's "Most Valuable Blockbusters".{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=March 26, 2018 |title=No. 3 'Despicable Me 3' Box Office Profits – 2017 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/despicable-me-3-box-office-profits-1202351590/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327021824/http://deadline.com/2018/03/despicable-me-3-box-office-profits-1202351590/ |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
In the United States and Canada, Despicable Me 3 was released with The House and Baby Driver.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=June 27, 2017 |title='Despicable Me 3' To Own Crowded Independence Day Weekend Stretch – Box Office Preview |url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/despicable-me-3-baby-driver-the-house-weekend-box-office-preview-1202120784/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629223910/http://deadline.com/2017/06/despicable-me-3-baby-driver-the-house-weekend-box-office-preview-1202120784/ |archive-date=June 29, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} The film grossed $29.2 million on its first day,{{Cite web |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |date=July 1, 2017 |title=Box Office: 'Despicable Me 3' Nabs Diabolical $29.2M Friday |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/07/01/box-office-despicable-me-3-nabs-diabolical-29m-friday/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825230454/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/07/01/box-office-despicable-me-3-nabs-diabolical-29m-friday/ |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=Forbes}} including $4.1 million from Thursday night previews.{{Cite web |last=Fuster |first=Jeremy |date=June 30, 2017 |title='Despicable Me 3' Schemes Up $4.1 Million at Thursday Previews |url=https://www.thewrap.com/despicable-3-schemes-4-1-million-thursday-previews/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825233159/https://www.thewrap.com/despicable-3-schemes-4-1-million-thursday-previews/ |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=TheWrap}} During its opening weekend, Despicable Me 3 grossed $75.4 million across 4,529 theaters, which was increased to 4,535 the following week, making it the number-one film. This surpassed the record of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse{{'}}s (2010) 4,468 theaters to become the widest release ever until Avengers: Endgame (2019) took over with 4,662.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{Cite web |last=Fuster |first=Jeremy |date=June 27, 2017 |title=Record Wide Opening for 'Despicable Me 3' to Kick Off July Box Office |url=https://www.thewrap.com/despicable-me-3-box-office/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702062536/https://www.thewrap.com/despicable-me-3-box-office/ |archive-date=July 2, 2017 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=TheWrap}}{{Cite magazine |last=Serrao |first=Nlvea |date=July 2, 2017 |title=Box office report: Despicable Me 3 steals first place |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/07/02/box-office-report-despicable-me-3/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825233205/https://ew.com/movies/2017/07/02/box-office-report-despicable-me-3/ |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=August 25, 2021}}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=July 10, 2017 |title='Spider-Man: Homecoming' Still Swinging In As Sony's Second Best Domestic Opening Ever With $116M-$118M |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/spider-man-homecoming-box-office-opening-1202124834/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707041218/http://deadline.com/2017/07/spider-man-homecoming-box-office-opening-1202124834/ |archive-date=July 7, 2017 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=April 28, 2019 |title=Avengers: Endgame Box Office: All the Records Broken in $1.2B Global Bow |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-endgame-box-office-all-records-broken-12b-bow-1205398/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509033226/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-endgame-box-office-all-records-broken-12b-bow-1205398/ |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |access-date=December 24, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}}} The film fell to number two in its second weekend with a gross of $34 million,{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Seth |date=July 9, 2017 |title=Box Office: 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Slings to Massive $117 Million Domestic Opening |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/spider-man-homecoming-box-office-opening-weekend-2-1202490552/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825234837/https://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/spider-man-homecoming-box-office-opening-weekend-2-1202490552/ |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=Variety}} and number six in its third with $19.4 million.{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=July 14, 2017 |title=Box Office: 'War for the Planet of the Apes' Stomping Past 'Spider-Man' With $57M |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-war-planet-apes-beating-spider-man-homecoming-1021303/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825234302/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-war-planet-apes-beating-spider-man-homecoming-1021303/ |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Despicable Me 3 left theaters by December 21, 2017.{{Cite web |title=Despicable Me 3 - Domestic Release |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl122652161/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825232623/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl122652161/ |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=Box Office Mojo}}
Worldwide, Despicable Me 3 grossed $9.9 million during its opening weekend in five markets on June 16.{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=June 19, 2017 |title='Mummy' Leads Overseas; 'Wonder Woman' Cuffs $572M WW; 'Cars', 'Despicable Me' 3s Hit International Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/the-mummy-wonder-woman-despicable-me-3-wekend-results-international-box-office-1202115482/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618190056/http://deadline.com/2017/06/the-mummy-wonder-woman-despicable-me-3-wekend-results-international-box-office-1202115482/ |archive-date=June 18, 2017 |access-date=June 13, 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} This was followed by its third weekend, grossing $95.6 million with an increased market count of 46.{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |author-link=Dave McNary |date=July 2, 2017 |title='Despicable Me 3' Launches to $192.3 Million at Global Box Office |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/despicable-me-3-global-box-office-1202486162/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404043045/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/despicable-me-3-global-box-office-1202486162/ |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |website=Variety}} Its top international markets were China ($158.2 million), Japan ($66.2 million), the United Kingdom ($62.7 million), Germany ($43.8 million), and France ($41.4 million).{{Cite web |title=Despicable Me 3 (2017) - International Box Office Results |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=despicableme3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235609/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=despicableme3.htm |archive-date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 |publisher=Box Office Mojo}}
= Critical response =
The film has an approval rating of 59% based on 193 professional reviews on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. Its critical consensus reads, "Despicable Me 3 should keep fans of the franchise consistently entertained with another round of colorful animation and zany—albeit somewhat scattershot—humor."{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} |type=m |title=Despicable Me 3 |access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}{{cbignore}} Metacritic (which uses a weighted average) assigned the film a score of 49 out of 100 based on 37 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.{{Cite Metacritic|id=despicable-me-3|type=movie|title=Despicable Me 3|access-date=November 24, 2020}}{{cbignore}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, down from the first two films' and Minions{{'s}} (2015) "A".
Alex Welch of IGN gave the film a six out of ten score, saying, "It's not much, but Despicable Me 3 is at least enough for the younger fans of the franchise."{{Cite news |last=Welch |first=Alex |date=26 June 2017 |title=Despicable Me 3 Review |work=IGN |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/26/despicable-me-3-review |url-status=live |access-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731025933/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/26/despicable-me-3-review |archive-date=July 31, 2017}} Peter Debruge of Variety wrote, "Despicable Me 3 is unwieldy, but it mostly works, as co-directors Pierre Coffin (who also voices the Minions) and Kyle Balda never lose sight of the film's emotional center, packing the rest with as much humor as they can manage. The jokes come so fast and furious, the movie can hardly find room for Heitor Pereira's funky score, and though Pharrell Williams has contributed five new songs to sell soundtracks (including the sweet "There's Something Special"), the movie hardly needs them."{{Cite news |last=Debruge |first=Peter |date=14 June 2017 |title=Film Review: 'Despicable Me 3' |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/despicable-me-3-review-1202465668/ |url-status=live |access-date=20 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220004132/http://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/despicable-me-3-review-1202465668/ |archive-date=December 20, 2017}} Alonso Duralde of TheWrap gave the film a mixed review, saying: "Ultimately, none of these flaws will matter to the throngs of little kids who have made the previous Despicable Me movies (and the superior Minions spin-off) into giant global hits."{{Cite web |last=Duralde |first=Alonso |author-link=Alonso Duralde |date=June 29, 2017 |title='Despicable Me 3' Review: This Time, Not Enough Minions and Too Many Subplots |url=https://www.thewrap.com/despicable-me-3-review-steve-carell-trey-parker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702091938/http://www.thewrap.com/despicable-me-3-review-steve-carell-trey-parker/ |archive-date=July 2, 2017 |access-date=July 20, 2017 |website=TheWrap}}
Sandy Schaefer for Screen Rant gives the film a three stars out of five saying "Despicable Me 3 offers enough in the way of zany, irreverent entertainment (with a dose of heart) to please steadfast fans of the franchise."{{Cite news |last=Sandy |first=Schaefer |date=29 June 2017 |title=Despicable Me 3 Review |work=Screen Rant |url=https://screenrant.com/despicable-me-3-movie-reviews/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115015207/https://screenrant.com/despicable-me-3-movie-reviews/ |archive-date=November 15, 2017}} Jordan Mintzer for The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review saying "This rather clever, breakneck-paced cartoon gives fans exactly what they want: Like the new nemesis voiced by Trey Parker, it shoots multiple machine-gun bursts of bubblegum at the audience, asking them to chew and enjoy"{{Cite web |last=Mintzer |first=Jordan |date=14 June 2017 |title='Despicable Me 3': Film Review {{!}} Annecy 2017 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/despicable-me-3-review-1013368 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115015331/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/despicable-me-3-review-1013368 |archive-date=November 15, 2017 |access-date=14 November 2017 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film three stars out of four, saying "Pierre Coffin (who voices the Minions) and co-director Kyle Balda keep the plot spinning merrily. Pharrell Williams contributes five new songs to the mix, including the hummable "There's Something Special." It's no mystery why Illumination's franchise is still something special after three go-rounds—the box-office gross is a whopping $1.5 billion and counting."{{Cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers |date=November 14, 2017 |title='Despicable Me 3' Review: Steve Carell Times Two Makes Third Time a Charm |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/peter-travers-despicable-me-3-proves-third-times-a-charm-w489921 |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629185658/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/peter-travers-despicable-me-3-proves-third-times-a-charm-w489921 |archive-date=June 29, 2017 |access-date=June 29, 2017 |url-access=limited}} Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a 'B' grade, saying "What shines through is the visual wit and innate sweetness of the storytelling, and Carell's cackling, cueball-skulled misanthrope a (mostly) reformed scoundrel who can still have his cake, and arsenic too."{{Cite magazine |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah |date=November 22, 2017 |title=Despicable Me 3 is a giddy but scattershot sequel |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/06/29/despicable-me-3-ew-review/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701062652/http://ew.com/movies/2017/06/29/despicable-me-3-ew-review/ |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |access-date=June 29, 2017}}
The Minions' nonsense pastiche of the "Major-General's Song" was termed "amusing" (in an otherwise negative review)Marsh, Calum. [https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/resistance-is-futile-why-the-ubiquity-of-the-minions-cannot-and-will-never-be-contained "Resistance is futile: Why the ubiquity of the Minions cannot (and will never) be contained"], National Post, June 29, 2017 and "the film’s finest moment";Prigge, Matt. [https://www.metro.us/despicable-me-3-finds-a-loopy-series-finally-running-out-of-gas "Despicable Me 3 finds a loopy series finally running out of gas"], Metro, June 26, 2017 it was uploaded to YouTube by Illumination as a singalong challenge and had garnered more than 19 million views as of 2023.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwgTtwJHoWQ "#DespicableMeChallenge – In Theaters June 30"], YouTube, Illumination Entertainment, July 4, 2019
= Accolades =
{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
Sequel
{{main|Despicable Me 4{{!}}Despicable Me 4}}
Despicable Me 3{{'s}} success resulted in the development of a sequel, Despicable Me 4.{{cite web |last1=Sakoui |first1=Anousha |last2=Palmeri |first2=Christopher |title=In Dismal Summer, Despicable Me 3 Producer Delivers $1 Billion |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-12/in-dismal-summer-despicable-me-3-producer-delivers-1-billion |website=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=January 4, 2021 |date=September 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929135104/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-12/in-dismal-summer-despicable-me-3-producer-delivers-1-billion |archive-date=September 29, 2017 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}} Upon its release in 2024, the film polarized critics and was a box office success.{{Cite web |last=Stedman |first=Alex |date=July 12, 2024 |title=Minions 3 Is Officially Happening in the Wake of Despicable Me 4{{'s}} Predictably Big Box Office |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/minions-3-is-officially-happening-in-the-wake-of-despicable-me-4s-predictably-big-box-office |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711204614/https://www.ign.com/articles/minions-3-is-officially-happening-in-the-wake-of-despicable-me-4s-predictably-big-box-office |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=IGN}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Works cited
{{Refbegin}}
- {{Cite book|last=Croll|first=Ben|title=The Art of Eric Guillon: From the Making of Despicable Me to Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and More|date=July 12, 2022|publisher=Insight Editions|isbn=9781683836810|location=San Rafael, California}}
{{Refend}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{Official website|https://www.uphe.com/movies/despicable-me-3}}
- {{IMDb title|3469046}}
- {{Mojo title}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{Navboxes
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{{Pierre Coffin}}
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{{Despicable Me}}
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{{Portal bar|Film|United States|Cartoon|Animation|Comedy|Speculative fiction|2010s}}
Category:2017 American animated films
Category:2010s children's comedy films
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Category:Films directed by Kyle Balda
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Category:Illumination (company) animated films