Despicable Me 4#Box office

{{for|the soundtrack|Despicable Me 4 (soundtrack){{!}}Despicable Me 4 (soundtrack)}}

{{Infobox film

| image = Despicable Me 4 Theatrical Release Poster.jpeg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| alt = A Minion is in between the teeth of a rock-skinned Mega Minion.

| director = Chris Renaud

| writer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Chris Meledandri
Brett Hoffman

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| editing = Tiffany Hillkurtz

| music = {{Plainlist|

Heitor Pereira (score)
Pharrell Williams (songs and themes)

}}

| studio = {{Plainlist|

Universal Pictures{{cite web |last1=Gyarkye |first1=Lovia |title='Despicable Me 4' Review: Gru's Family Grows in Illumination Animation That Serves Up Familiar Antics |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/despicable-me-4-review-1235933955/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=4 July 2024 |date=28 June 2024 |archive-date=June 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630173338/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/despicable-me-4-review-1235933955/ |url-status=live }}
Illumination

}}

| distributor = Universal Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2024|06|09|Jazz at Lincoln Center|2024|07|03|United States}}

| runtime = 95 minutes{{Cite web|date=June 7, 2024|title=Despicable Me 4 (U)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/despicable-me-4-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmde4odi0|access-date=June 30, 2024|website=British Board of Film Classification}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $100 million{{Cite web|title=Despicable Me 4 Budget Revealed: It's Reportedly 100 Million|url=https://www.hollywoodmonday.com/despicable-me-4-budget-revealed-its-reportedly-100-million#tab=summary|website=The Hollywood Monday|date=June 8, 2024|access-date=June 21, 2024|archive-date=July 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705215618/https://www.hollywoodmonday.com/despicable-me-4-budget-revealed-its-reportedly-100-million/#tab=summary|url-status=dead}}

| gross = $971.1{{nbsp}}million{{Cite web |title=Despicable Me 4 — Financial Information|url=https://the-numbers.com/movie/Despicable-Me-4-(2024)#tab=summary|website=The Numbers|access-date=February 23, 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7510222/|title=Despicable Me 4|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 15, 2025 }}

}}

Despicable Me 4 is a 2024 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal. The sequel to Despicable Me 3 (2017), it is the fourth main installment and sixth overall entry in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Chris Renaud, co-directed by Patrick Delage, produced by Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman, and written by Mike White and Ken Daurio. It stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Stephen Colbert, Sofía Vergara, Steve Coogan, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, and Will Ferrell. The film sees reformed supervillain and secret agent Gru relocate his family to a safe house when his old rival Maxime Le Mal seeks revenge. Subplots deal with Gru's family adjusting to their new lives, teenage neighbor Poppy Prescott trying to follow in Gru's villainous footsteps, and a group of Gru's Minions becoming superheroes known as Mega Minions.

Development on a fourth main Despicable Me film began in September 2017. It was officially confirmed in February 2022, with Renaud, Delage, and White attached as director, co-director, and writer, respectively. Production was underway by June 2022. Most of the main voice cast was announced in January 2024, with Hoffman and Daurio revealed as co-producer and co-writer, respectively. Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams returned from previous installments to compose the score and write original songs and themes, respectively.

Despicable Me 4 debuted at the Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on June 9, 2024, and was theatrically released in the United States on July 3. Despite mixed reviews, the film continued the franchise's streak of box-office successes, grossing $971{{nbsp}}million worldwide against a budget of $100 million, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2024.

Plot

Undercover Anti-Villain League (AVL) agent Gru attends a class reunion at his former high school Lycée Pas Bon where he reunites with Maxime Le Mal, a former classmate of his who has a feud with Gru for "stealing" his talent show act. During the ceremony, Maxime reveals he has enhanced himself with cockroach body parts, and Gru has him arrested by the AVL. Helped by his girlfriend Valentina and her dog Fifi, Maxime escapes prison and reveals his new invention, a gun that transforms people into cockroach hybrids, which he plans to use specifically on Gru's infant son Gru Jr., who despises his father.

Days later, Silas Ramsbottom visits the Gru household to inform them that Maxime has escaped and that the AVL will have to relocate the Gru family to a safe house in another town under new identities. Meanwhile, the AVL takes in the Minions. Silas selects five of them to be augmented with superpowers under a new initiative called the Mega Minions. However, the initiative was called off after the group unintentionally caused significant collateral damage in a nearby city.

In their new well-off residential town, Gru and his family meet their new neighbors, the Prescotts, and their teenage daughter Poppy. Poppy, an aspiring villain, recognizes Gru from his former career as a villain and threatens to blow his cover unless he helps her pull a heist to steal Lycée Pas Bon's honey badger mascot Lenny. With the help of two Minions and Gru Jr., they successfully steal Lenny from the school, unaware that Lenny's collar contains a tracker. The school's principal Übelschlecht identifies Gru via security camera footage and contacts Maxime to inform him about Gru's whereabouts using Lenny's collar.

The next day, while Gru and Lucy are away at tennis practice, leaving the girls and Poppy to watch over Gru Jr., Übelschlecht visits the safe house to interrogate them about Gru. Poppy secretly watched this and leaves. Gru and Lucy rush back home after being alerted by Margo and they all fight Übelschlecht. Lucy also signals the AVL who calls the Mega Minions out of retirement to stop Maxime. In the havoc, however, Gru Jr. leaves the house and is spotted by Maxime and Valentina, who kidnap him. Lucy and the girls stay behind to handle Ubelschlecht as Gru decides to save his son along with Poppy.

Using a flying car, Gru and Poppy chase after the ship, with Poppy getting Gru onto the ship, he hijacks it, causing it to crash land onto a building under construction, where Maxime reveals he has brainwashed and transformed Gru Jr. into a human-cockroach hybrid and fights Gru off. Gru's words to his son manage to break Gru Jr. free from his brainwashing and attacks Maxime instead. Gru and Gru Jr. punch Maxime, causing him to fall off the building to the ground, where he is further squashed by the Mega Minions and in whole army of animals, who arrive in turn. The AVL then arrest Maxime and Valentina.

Reunited with Lucy and the girls, the family return to their original home, where Dr. Nefario reverses Gru Jr.'s transformation. Sometime later, Gru visits Maxime in prison to talk and settle their differences. The pair then puts on a performance of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" at an AVL prison for the prisoners, attended by villains from the past, while Poppy is enrolled at Lycée Pas Bon.

Voice cast

Steve Carell as Gru, a former supervillain turned Anti-Villain League agent who is Margo, Edith, and Agnes' adoptive father, the biological father of Gru Jr., and Lucy's husband, who poses as "Chet Cunningham Sr.", a solar panel salesman.
Kristen Wiig as Lucy Wilde, an Anti-Villain League agent, Gru's wife and adoptive mother to Margo, Edith, and Agnes, and Gru Jr.'s biological mother, who poses as "Blanche Cunningham", a hairdresser.
Will Ferrell as Maxime Le Mal, a French-accented, cockroach-themed supervillain who was an old highschool rival of Gru and seeks revenge against him and his family
Joey King as Poppy Prescott, an aspiring supervillainess who has admired Gru for a long time, Perry and Patsy's daughter and Gru's new neighbor in Mayflower{{cite web|author=|title=1 Asset from Universal Pictures Publicity's Despicable Me 4 |url=https://dam.gettyimages.com/s/sxnxv67vmp696tcvw66c4b|website=Getty Images|date=|access-date=May 14, 2024|archive-date=May 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514144134/https://dam.gettyimages.com/s/sxnxv67vmp696tcvw66c4b|url-status=live}}
Sofía Vergara as Valentina, Maxime's femme fatale girlfriend who owns a pet Maltese dog
Stephen Colbert as Perry Prescott, Gru's arrogant new neighbor in Mayflower and Poppy's father who owns a line of automobile dealerships
Chloe Fineman as Patsy Prescott, Poppy's Texan-accented mother
Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, Gru and Lucy's oldest adopted daughter, who poses as "Bree Cunningham"
Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom, the previously retired director of the Anti-Villain League
Pierre Coffin as the Minions, the yellow henchmen of Gru, most of whom later get jobs at the Anti-Villain League as agents and superheroes
Dana Gaier as Edith, Gru and Lucy's middle adopted daughter, who poses as "Blair Cunningham"
Madison Polan as Agnes, Gru and Lucy's youngest adopted daughter, who poses as "Britney Cunningham". Polan replaces Nev Scharrel from the third film, who in turn replaced Elsie Fisher from the first two films
Tara Strong as Gru Jr., Gru and Lucy's biological son, who loves Lucy but sometimes hates and loves Gru, who poses as "Chet Cunningham Jr."{{Cite web |last=Chhibber |first=Mimi Anthikad |date=July 5, 2024 |title=Despicable Me 4 movie review: Surf this tide of multi-hued super-villainy including the blue-and-yellow kind |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/despicable-me-4-movie-review-surf-this-tide-of-multi-hued-super-villainy-including-the-blue-and-yellow-kind/article68370847.ece |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705133931/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/despicable-me-4-movie-review-surf-this-tide-of-multi-hued-super-villainy-including-the-blue-and-yellow-kind/article68370847.ece |archive-date=July 5, 2024 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=The Hindu }}
Chris Renaud as Principal Frau Übelschlecht, the elderly principal of Lycée Pas Bon

Additionally, John DiMaggio, who previously voiced one of the former henchmen of Wild Knuckles in Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) and a Scoutmaster in the Minion Scouts animated short, voices Karl, the angry bus driver who works for the AVL transporting the remaining Minions to their new destination. Laraine Newman voices Melora, a salon customer whose hair was accidentally burned by Lucy and seeks revenge, Brad Ableson voices Sensei O'Sullivan, Agnes and Edith's abusive karate master,{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/bradableson/reel/C89v11exGjI/ | title=Instagram }} and Romesh Ranganathan voices Dr. Nefario, Gru's elderly scientist and assistant. Ranganathan replaces Nefario's long-time voice actor, Russell Brand.{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Max |date=August 9, 2024 |title=Russell Brand replaced in Despicable Me franchise after rape and sexual assault allegations |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/09/russell-brand-replaced-despicable-me-rape-sexual-assault/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809193749/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/09/russell-brand-replaced-despicable-me-rape-sexual-assault/ |archive-date=August 9, 2024 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=The Daily Telegraph}}

Cameos at the end of the film include several returning villains like Vector, El Macho, and Balthazar Bratt with Jason Segel, Benjamin Bratt, and Trey Parker reprising their roles through archive audio. Silent cameos include Gru's neighbor, Fred McDade, his mother Marlena, and his twin brother Dru, as well as several villains from the previous installments of the franchise including Vector's father Mr. Perkins, Scarlet and Herb Overkill, and the surviving members of the Vicious 6.

Production

= Development =

Development on Despicable Me 4 began in September 2017, with longtime Despicable Me and Illumination writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio writing early drafts of the script.{{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}} The film was officially confirmed in February 2022, with veteran Despicable Me director Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage, and Mike White attached as director, co-director, and writer, respectively, and a July 3, 2024, release date announced.{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=February 18, 2022 |title=Illumination & Universal Set Dates For Animated Films Migration & Despicable Me 4 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/despicable-me-4-migration-get-release-dates-from-illumination-universal-1234956816/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218203450/https://deadline.com/2022/02/despicable-me-4-migration-get-release-dates-from-illumination-universal-1234956816/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |last=Moreau |first=Jordan |date=February 18, 2022 |title=Despicable Me 4 Set for Summer 2024 by Illumination, Universal |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/despicable-me-4-release-date-1235186106/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218232745/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/despicable-me-4-release-date-1235186106/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |website=Variety}} Production was underway by June 2022, with Steve Carell starting his voice recording after a "couple of sessions".{{Cite web |last1=Seddon |first1=Dan |last2=Sandwell |first2=Ian |date=June 27, 2022 |title=Steve Carell gives exciting Despicable Me 4 update as he teases plot |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a40429545/steve-carell-despicable-me-4-plot-tease/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627105344/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a40429545/steve-carell-despicable-me-4-plot-tease/ |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=Digital Spy}} Most of the production was done during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2024, it was announced that The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) executive producer Brett Hoffman and Daurio had been added as co-producer and co-writer, respectively.{{cite web |title=Despicable Me 4 |url=https://www.universalpictures.com/movies/despicable-me-4 |website=Universal Pictures |access-date=28 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129044316/https://www.universalpictures.com/movies/despicable-me-4 |url-status=live }}

= Writing =

White wrote the screenplay of Despicable Me 4 with Daurio, who joined him later in the production.{{Cite web |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |date=July 4, 2024 |title=Despicable Me 4 Director on Spoofing Superheroes, GentleMinions and Those Crowd-Pleasing Cameos |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/despicable-me-4-director-mega-minions-gentleminions-interview-1235938710/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704204944/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/despicable-me-4-director-mega-minions-gentleminions-interview-1235938710/ |archive-date=July 4, 2024 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} The filmmakers aimed to delve deeper into multiple elements to improve the story's stability, since Minions: The Rise of Gru was delayed to July 2022. Renaud and White had ideas for the narrative including Gru and his family being forced into witness protection and Gru's rogue rival from high school; they were intended to foster a connection with the audience, depending on each subplot focus.{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=March 4, 2021 |title=F9 Postponed for the Third Time, Minions Sequel Pushed to 2022 |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/f9-release-date-postponed-summer-1234883492/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304233401/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/f9-release-date-postponed-summer-1234883492/ |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Variety}}{{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=June 26, 2024 |title=Despicable Me 4 Director Chris Renaud Talks Minions Fandom, Why Gru's Kids Won't Age & Thoughts On A Mega Minions Spinoff |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/despicable-me-4-director-chris-renaud-mega-minions-plans-1235978601/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626164726/https://deadline.com/2024/06/despicable-me-4-director-chris-renaud-mega-minions-plans-1235978601/ |archive-date=June 26, 2024 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

An abandoned Mega Minions idea from Despicable Me 2 (2013) was resurrected for Despicable Me 4. The filmmakers researched initial concepts of the idea,{{Cite web |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Despicable Me 4: How the Mega Minions Got Their Superpowers |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/despicable-me-4-mega-minions-chris-renaud-1236051326/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715191118/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/despicable-me-4-mega-minions-chris-renaud-1236051326/ |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=Variety}} taking inspiration from the Marvel Comics team Fantastic Four and the Pixar film The Incredibles (2004).{{Cite magazine |last=Huff |first=Lauren |date=July 3, 2024 |title=Despicable Me 4 director on why the new Mega Minions were inspired by Fantastic Four |url=https://ew.com/why-despicable-me-4-mega-minions-inspired-fantastic-four-8672430 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703135449/https://ew.com/why-despicable-me-4-mega-minions-inspired-fantastic-four-8672430 |archive-date=July 3, 2024 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{Cite web |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |date=July 3, 2024 |title=In Despicable Me 4, Director Chris Renaud Got to Go Full Superhero Vibes with Mega Minions |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/despicable-me-4-animation-mega-minions-chris-renaud-interview-1235021973/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703225156/https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/despicable-me-4-animation-mega-minions-chris-renaud-interview-1235021973/ |archive-date=July 3, 2024 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=IndieWire}} To make the Mega Minions unique from the majority of media featuring superheroes, Renaud incorporated the Minions' characteristics—including their incompetence—into the Mega Minions.

= Casting =

In January 2024, it was announced that Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Pierre Coffin, and Steve Coogan would return to reprise their respective roles as Gru, Lucy Wilde, Margo, Edith, the Minions, and Silas Ramsbottom, while Will Ferrell, Joey King, Sofía Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman, and Madison Polan (replacing Nev Scharrel who in turn replaced Elsie Fisher) would join the voice cast, respectively voicing Maxime Le Mal, Poppy Prescott, Valentina, Perry Prescott, Patsy Prescott, and Agnes.{{cite web |last1=Dick |first1=Jeremy |title=Gru Faces a New Nemesis in First Despicable Me 4 Trailer |url=https://www.cbr.com/despicable-me-4-first-trailer/ |website=CBR |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=en |date=January 28, 2024 |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204103037/https://www.cbr.com/despicable-me-4-first-trailer/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite Instagram|user=joeyking|postid=C2qIG11SNKt|title=Say hello to Poppy. You do not wanna get on her bad side…she can be pretty…Despicable. #DM4 coming to theaters July 3rd. Trailer out now|date=January 28, 2024|author-link=Joey King}}

=Animation=

According to Renaud, some of the characters who appeared in previous films had their character rigs and surfaces updated for this film. Fred McDade, who had not appeared since the second film, was recreated from scratch, as his character model was too old. The sequence where Poppy plays with an arcade machine originally started out as an animation test for the character, but the filmmakers liked the sequence so much that it was added to the final cut of the film.{{cite web|last1=Sarto|first1=Dan|last2=Hofferman|first2=Jon|title=Wacky Mayhem is Back in 'Despicable Me 4'|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/wacky-mayhem-back-despicable-me-4|website=Animation World Network|date=July 3, 2024|access-date=July 7, 2024|archive-date=July 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707091138/https://www.awn.com/animationworld/wacky-mayhem-back-despicable-me-4|url-status=live}}

Music

{{Main|Despicable Me 4 (soundtrack){{!}}Despicable Me 4 (soundtrack)}}

In March 2024, Heitor Pereira was announced to be composing the film's score, returning from the previous installments.{{Cite web |title=Heitor Pereira Scoring Illumination Entertainment's 'Despicable Me 4' {{!}} Film Music Reporter |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/03/25/heitor-pereira-scoring-illumination-entertainments-despicable-me-4/ |access-date=April 15, 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615012631/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/03/25/heitor-pereira-scoring-illumination-entertainments-despicable-me-4/ |url-status=live }} Pharrell Williams was also confirmed to be returning to co-compose the score with Pereira as well as to write new songs.{{cite web |last1=Jirax |first1=Jamie |title=Despicable Me 4 Confirms Pharrell Williams Returning as Songwriter and Performer |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/despicable-me-4-confirms-pharrell-williams-returning-as-songwriter-and-performer/ |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=April 16, 2024 |date=April 11, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415184437/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/despicable-me-4-confirms-pharrell-williams-returning-as-songwriter-and-performer/ |url-status=live }} The original soundtrack was released on June 27, 2024, by Back Lot Music.{{cite web |title='Despicable Me 4' Soundtrack Album Details {{!}} Film Music Reporter |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/06/27/despicable-me-4-soundtrack-album-details/ |access-date=3 July 2024 |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230205/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/06/27/despicable-me-4-soundtrack-album-details/ |url-status=live }}

Marketing

The first trailer for the film was released on January 28, 2024, during the 2023–24 NFL playoff championship games.{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/despicable-me-4-trailer/ |title=Despicable Me 4 Trailer Released |website=ComicBook.com |last=Lovett |first=Jamie |date=January 28, 2024 |access-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128211541/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/despicable-me-4-trailer/ |url-status=live}} The trailer features the songs "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses and "Maneater" by Hall & Oates, as well as in television showings, "Through the Fire and Flames" by DragonForce. CBR reported that the trailer showcased "the struggles of welcoming in a new member of the Gru family" and included the debut of Will Ferrell's Maxime Le Mal. Screen Rant{{'}}s Brennan Klein observed that Gru's tumultuous relationship with his son, Gru Jr., contrasted with the good relationship with his adopted daughters.{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Brennan |url=https://screenrant.com/despicable-me-4-trailer/ |title=Despicable Me 4 Trailer: Gru & His Son Team Up Against Revenge-Seeking Villain |date=January 28, 2024 |website=Screen Rant |access-date=June 3, 2024}} An additional trailer was revealed on February 11 during Super Bowl LVIII, being narrated by Jon Hamm, who previously voiced Herb Overkill in the 2015 spin-off film Minions, and featuring cameos by Ferrell and Steve Carell. Ryan Gajewski of The Hollywood Reporter said the trailer appeared to "tout the benefits of modern technology but feature strange images supposedly generated by AI," enjoying the Renaissance-era-inspired poses of Ferrell and Carell in the trailer.{{Cite web |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |date=February 11, 2024 |title=Jon Hamm Narrates 'Despicable Me 4' Super Bowl Trailer Mocking AI Glitches |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/despicable-me-4-super-bowl-trailer-jon-hamm-1235821945/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} On April 10, at CinemaCon, Universal displayed a clip of Gru and Poppy trying to steal a honey badger.{{Cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony D'Alessandro |last2=Tartaglione |first2=Nancy |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/despicable-me-4-universal-extended-look-cinemacon-1235881207/ |title='Despicable Me 4' Kicks Off Universal's 2024 CinemaCon With Gru's Honey Badger Heist |date=April 10, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614190242/https://deadline.com/2024/04/despicable-me-4-universal-extended-look-cinemacon-1235881207/ |url-status=live }} Brennan Kline of Screen Rant appreciated that the clip solidified the "important element" of Gru's domestic family man status in the sequel.{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Brennan |url=https://screenrant.com/despicable-me-4-footage-description-gru-heist-cinemacon/ |title=Gru & His Son Rob An Old Lady In First Despicable Me 4 Footage Shown At CinemaCon |date=April 10, 2024 |website=Screen Rant |access-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507213758/https://screenrant.com/despicable-me-4-footage-description-gru-heist-cinemacon/ |url-status=live }}

The second trailer was released on May 7, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Timothy |date=May 7, 2024 |title=New Despicable Me 4 Trailer Released |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/despicable-me-4-trailer-released-online-watch/ |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=May 7, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507161308/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/despicable-me-4-trailer-released-online-watch/ |url-status=live }} Writing for TheWrap, Drew Taylor called the trailer "Minions-heavy" and pointed out one of Pharrell Williams' new original songs featured in the trailer.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Drew |url=https://www.thewrap.com/despicable-me-4-trailer-will-ferrell-mega-minions/ |title=New 'Despicable Me 4' Trailer Introduces the Mega-Minions and Will Ferrell's Evil Frenchman |date=May 7, 2024 |website=TheWrap |access-date=June 3, 2024}} Collider noted the "devastating consequences" of enlisting a small group of Minion volunteers for an experiment that gave them superpowers. Journalist Diego Peralta pointed out a sequence in which one of the super-powered minions destroys a part of their base with laser vision and said that villains Maxime and Valentina "are more dangerous than any threat Gru has faced before."{{Cite web |last=Peralta |first=Diego |url=https://collider.com/despicable-me-4-trailer-steve-carrell/ |title=The Minions Develop Super-Powers in New 'Despicable Me 4' Trailer |date=May 7, 2024 |website=Collider |access-date=June 3, 2024 |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230207/https://collider.com/despicable-me-4-trailer-steve-carrell/ |url-status=live }}

On June 8, 2024, Illumination released a parody teaser for the film in which Steve Carell announces the Megaverse, a parody of shared universes such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe, by claiming that Illumination would release 100 years' worth of films, television series, and stage productions starring the Mega Minions.{{Cite web |title=Despicable Me 4: Steve Carell Roasts Marvel, DC in Hilarious New Video |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/despicable-me-4-steve-carell-roasts-marvel-dc-in-hilarious-new-video/ |access-date=June 8, 2024 |website=Comicbook.com |date=June 8, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=June 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608200211/https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/despicable-me-4-steve-carell-roasts-marvel-dc-in-hilarious-new-video/ |url-status=live }} Illumination also published a website for the Megaverse.{{Cite web |last=Powster |title=Illumination's The Megaverse |url=https://www.despicable.me/megaverse/ |access-date=June 8, 2024 |website=Despicable Me 4 (2024) {{!}} Only in Theaters July 3 |language=en |archive-date=June 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608020635/https://www.despicable.me/megaverse |url-status=live }} Some of the fake productions noted on the website include Mega Minions: The Tax Write-Off and an untitled Mega Minions spin-off series with a "story to be determined based on rigorous market testing and ad hoc decision-making." The stunt referenced several current Hollywood affairs such as the cancellation of Warner Bros. films like Batgirl, Scoob! Holiday Haunt and Coyote vs. Acme and the failure of the 2022 DCEU film Black Adam, as well as the mixed reception to Disney's live-action remakes of their classic animated films and many of Marvel's recent productions, such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Secret Invasion.

Release

=Theatrical=

Despicable Me 4 debuted at the Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on June 9, 2024,{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Kate |last2=Rice |first2=Nicholas |title=See All the Stars Arriving at the Premiere of 'Despicable Me 4' |url=https://people.com/despicable-me-4-red-carpet-arrivals-photos-8660558 |website=People |access-date=June 10, 2024 |date=June 9, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610115647/https://people.com/despicable-me-4-red-carpet-arrivals-photos-8660558 |url-status=live }} followed by a premiere on June 13, at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/despicable-me-4-french-premiere-annecy-1235973006/ |title='Despicable Me 4' Enjoys Homecoming Welcome As It Makes French Premiere In Annecy |date=June 13, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230207/https://deadline.com/2024/06/despicable-me-4-french-premiere-annecy-1235973006/ |url-status=live }} The film was released in the United States on July 3.

=Home media=

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released Despicable Me 4 for digital download on September 10, 2024, and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 24. Physical copies contain behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, recreational activities, an overview of the franchise's adversaries, and two short films—Game Over and Over and Benny's Birthday.{{Cite web |last=Prange |first=Stephanie |date=September 3, 2024 |title=Despicable Me 4 Available at Regular Digital Pricing Sept 10, on Disc Sept. 24 |url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/despicable-me-4-available-at-regular-digital-pricing-sept-10-on-disc-sept-24/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908222430/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/despicable-me-4-available-at-regular-digital-pricing-sept-10-on-disc-sept-24/ |archive-date=September 8, 2024 |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=Media Play News}}

The film was made available to stream on NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service on October 31, 2024.{{cite web|last=Lammers|first=Tim|title='Despicable Me 4' Lands Streaming Premiere Date On Peacock|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2024/09/27/despicable-me-4-lands-streaming-premiere-date-on-peacock/|access-date=September 28, 2024|work=Forbes|date=September 27, 2024|archive-date=September 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928013501/https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2024/09/27/despicable-me-4-lands-streaming-premiere-date-on-peacock/|url-status=live}} As part of their 18-month deal with Netflix, the film is streaming on Peacock for the first four months of the pay-TV window, before moving to Netflix for the next ten beginning on February 28, 2025.{{cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |title=NBCUniversal's New Theatrical Window Scheme To Bring Films To Peacock After As Few As 45 Days Of Release |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/nbcuniversal-theatrical-window-films-stream-peacock-45-days-1234887914/ |access-date=December 10, 2021 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 9, 2021 |archive-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209190325/https://deadline.com/2021/12/nbcuniversal-theatrical-window-films-stream-peacock-45-days-1234887914/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/netflix-exclusive-rights-universal-animated-films-105446842.html|title=Netflix extends exclusive rights to Universal's animated films in the US|last=Moon|first=Mariella|website=Engadget|date=July 14, 2021|access-date=July 14, 2021|language=en|archive-date=July 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710055401/https://www.engadget.com/netflix-exclusive-rights-universal-animated-films-105446842.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Kasey |date=January 22, 2025 |title=What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025 |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/coming-soon/whats-coming-to-netflix-in-february-2025/ |access-date=January 26, 2025 |work=What's on Netflix}}

Reception

=Box office=

Despicable Me 4 grossed $361 million in the United States and Canada, and $610.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $971.1{{nbsp}}million.

In the United States and Canada, Despicable Me 4 was projected to gross $100–125 million from 4,030 theaters in its five-day opening weekend.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/despicable-me-4-box-office-projection-1235972952/ |title='Despicable Me 4': Minions To Rule July 4th Frame Again With $100M+ In 5-Day Opening – Box Office Early Look |date=June 13, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-date=June 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613225113/https://deadline.com/2024/06/despicable-me-4-box-office-projection-1235972952/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Rebecca |title='Despicable Me 4' Looking to Ignite Fourth of July Box Office With $100 Million-Plus Debut |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/despicable-me-4-july-fourth-box-office-opening-weekend-projections-1236057924/ |website=Variety |access-date=1 July 2024 |date=1 July 2024 |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230207/https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/despicable-me-4-july-fourth-box-office-opening-weekend-projections-1236057924/ |url-status=live }} The film made $27 million on its first day and $20.4 million on its second.{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/despicable-me-4-independence-day-box-office-july-4-horizon-flops-1236060880/ |title='Despicable Me 4' Tops July 4th Box Office With $20.4 Million, 'Inside Out 2' Crosses $500 Million Domestically |date=July 5, 2024 |website=Variety |access-date=July 5, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title='Despicable Me 4' Lights $27M Wednesday, 'A' CinemaScore; $120M 5-Day Opening Still In Reach; 'Inside Out 2' Crossing Half Billion U.S. Today – Box Office Update |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/box-office-despicable-me-4-1236001250/ |website=Deadline |access-date=4 July 2024 |date=4 July 2024 |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230128/https://deadline.com/2024/07/box-office-despicable-me-4-1236001250/ |url-status=live }} It went on to debut to $75 million over the traditional three-day weekend, along with a total five-day gross of $122.6 million, topping the box office.{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title='Despicable Me 4' Leaves 'Em Laughing With $122M+ 5-Day Over July 4th Frame – Box Office Update |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/box-office-despicable-me-4-1236001250/ |website=Deadline |access-date=July 7, 2024 |date=July 7, 2024 |archive-date=July 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706210453/https://deadline.com/2024/07/box-office-despicable-me-4-1236001250/ |url-status=live }} The film made $43.6 million the following weekend, remaining in first place.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W28/|title=Domestic 2024 Weekend 28|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 16, 2024|archive-date=July 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715185340/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W28/|url-status=live}} In its third weekend the film made $24.4 million, finishing in second behind newcomer Twisters, and then made $14.6 million in its fourth weekend, finishing in third behind Twisters and Deadpool & Wolverine.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W29/|title=Domestic 2024 Weekend 29|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 28, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W30/|title=Domestic 2024 Weekend 30|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=August 5, 2024|archive-date=August 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805041943/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W30/|url-status=live}}

Internationally the film opened in different countries with different dates, with Australia being the earliest country to release it. The film opened big in multiple countries, and in some it settled franchise records, though in many countries that it opened prior to its US release date, the film opened second behind Inside Out 2, slowing its international climb.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/despicable-me-4-international-box-office-25-million/ |title='Despicable Me 4' Continues Its Head Start at the International Box Office |website=Collider |date=June 30, 2024 |access-date=July 16, 2024 }}

=Critical response=

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|56|5.6|164|Fast paced and teeming with slapstick gags, Despicable Me 4 is as overstuffed as a piñata but full of enough candy to give audiences an enjoyable sugar rush.|ref=y|access-date=December 11, 2024}} {{Metacritic film prose |score=52 |count=36|ref=yes |access-date=July 2, 2024}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale (same as the first two films), while those surveyed by PostTrak gave the film an 82% positive score, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend it.

Variety admitted the film is entertaining but found the plot overcrowded with useless characters: "One thing is absolutely certain: We haven't seen the last of these characters, even if we might prefer that a few of them sit out the next sequel—like the Mega Minions, who aren't nearly as cute as they sound."{{Cite web |last=Debruge |first=Peter |date=June 14, 2024 |title='Despicable Me 4' Review: Illumination Adds a Baby and Five Mega Minions to Gru's Already Overcrowded Family |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/despicable-me-4-review-mega-minions-1236037073/ |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} A similar appraisal can be found in Screen Rant,{{Cite web |last=Labonte |first=Rachel |date=June 28, 2024 |title=Despicable Me 4 Review: I Can't Shake The Feeling That Something's Missing From Gru's Latest Adventure |url=https://screenrant.com/despicable-me-4-movie-review/ |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628204203/https://screenrant.com/despicable-me-4-movie-review/ |url-status=live }} as well as in The Hollywood Reporter, observing, for example, the underdeveloped role of the villain in the midst of the various plot lines: "Running a brisk 95 minutes, Despicable Me 4 doesn't leave enough time for Maxime to enact his plans in a way that packs an emotional punch."{{Cite web |last=Gyarkye |first=Lovia |date=June 28, 2024 |title='Despicable Me 4' Review: Gru's Family Grows in Illumination Animation That Serves Up Familiar Antics |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/despicable-me-4-review-1235933955/ |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=June 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630173338/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/despicable-me-4-review-1235933955/ |url-status=live }} ABC News commented: "Should a review of a 'Despicable Me' movie be a thoughtful analysis or just a list of the funny stuff the Minions do in it? As much as I might believe in the value of film criticism, I kind of suspect that even the finest points of assessment would be dismantled about as fast as a Minion can say 'Bello!{{'"}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Review: More Minion mayhem in 'Despicable Me 4' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/review-minion-mayhem-despicable-4-111524744 |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}}

=Accolades=

Despicable Me 4{{'s}} theme song "Double Life" received a nomination for Original Song in an Animated Film at the 15th Hollywood Music in Media Awards.{{Cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=November 21, 2024 |title=Emilia Pérez and Hans Zimmer Are Top Winners at 2024 Hollywood Music in Media Awards |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2024-hollywood-music-in-media-awards-winners-full-list-1235835233/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241122210807/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2024-hollywood-music-in-media-awards-winners-full-list-1235835233/ |archive-date=November 22, 2024 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}} Habib Louati won Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production at the 52nd Annie Awards.{{Cite web |last1=Flores |first1=Terry |last2=Giardina |first2=Carolyn |date=February 8, 2025 |title=The Wild Robot Soars at Annie Awards With Nine Wins; Fire Alarm Interrupts Ceremony |url=https://variety.com/2025/artisans/awards/annie-awards-winners-list-wild-robot-1236300845/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250209092427/https://variety.com/2025/artisans/awards/annie-awards-winners-list-wild-robot-1236300845/ |archive-date=February 9, 2025 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Variety}} The film was nominated for Best Animated Film at the 52nd Saturn Awards and Best Movie for Families at the 2025 Movieguide Awards.{{Cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=December 5, 2024 |title=Dune: Part Two, Fallout Lead Saturn Awards Nominations |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/saturn-awards-nominations-2025-list-1236195149/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205183903/https://deadline.com/2024/12/saturn-awards-nominations-2025-list-1236195149/ |archive-date=December 5, 2024 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |last=Luxford |first=Victoria |date=February 3, 2025 |title=Saturn Awards 2025 winners – see the full list |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/saturn-awards-2025-winners-full-list-3834160 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250203204906/https://www.nme.com/news/film/saturn-awards-2025-winners-full-list-3834160 |archive-date=February 3, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |website=NME}}{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Lynette |date=January 22, 2025 |title=32nd Annual Movieguide Awards: Twisters, Bluey & Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of TV Among 2025 Nominees |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/32nd-annual-movieguide-awards-2025-nominees-film-tv-1236263839/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122200723/https://deadline.com/2025/01/32nd-annual-movieguide-awards-2025-nominees-film-tv-1236263839/ |archive-date=January 22, 2025 |access-date=February 14, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}