Minions & Monsters cost $85 million to produce and earned $183.2 million domestically and $523.6 million worldwide. The domestic total came from its July 1, 2026 release, with the balance earned internationally. Minions & Monsters is Illumination and Universal's seventh Despicable Me-franchise film, directed by Pierre Coffin. Set in 1920s Hollywood, it follows Minions as silent-film stars who unleash monsters.
Table of Contents
- What did it cost to make?
- How did it perform in North America?
- How did international sales shape the total?
- Why did a franchise low still make money?
- Where can viewers watch it now?
What did it cost to make?
According to The Playlist, the film carried a reported $85 million production budget The Playlist budget report. Production budget means spending to shoot and animate the film, before advertising and distribution. That figure was lower than prior franchise entries.
The savings mattered for risk. Prior entries cost about $100 million each, while Toy Story 5 reportedly cost $275 million. The comparison looked like this:.
- Minions & Monsters: $85 million
- Prior Despicable Me and Minions entries: about $100 million each
- Toy Story 5: reported $275 million
How did it perform in North America?
Box Office Mojo reports about $183.2 million domestically and a $37.0 million domestic opening weekend Box Office Mojo title page. Domestic means the United States and Canada. The opening set the pace for a shorter theatrical climb.
The debut fell below studio hopes. ComingSoon reports a $62 million five-day Independence Day opening against an $80 million expectation. That start made it the lowest-grossing installment in the franchise.
How did international sales shape the total?
Box Office Mojo reports about $340.4 million internationally, producing the $523.6 million global total. The split was roughly 35% domestic and 65% international. Foreign markets therefore carried most of the final gross.
That pattern fits a broad family franchise. Animated comedies often earn more abroad through dubbed releases and familiar characters. Here the Minions drove ticket sales outside North America even as domestic interest cooled.
Why did a franchise low still make money?
The global gross trailed Rise of Gru by 44%, according to TheWrap. Rise of Gru earned $940 million, while the original Minions earned $1.1 billion. Universal still called the result profitable because the production budget was low.
The caveat is marketing. Geeks + Gamers notes the $85 million excludes marketing and distribution. Trade estimates place break-even near 2.5 times production cost, or about $200-255 million worldwide.
Where can viewers watch it now?
After theaters, the film moved quickly to home viewing. Digital purchase began Aug. 11, 2026. That option suits viewers who want permanent access without a subscription.
According to Animation Magazine, Peacock streaming began Oct. 28, 2026 with bonus featurettes Animation Magazine streaming announcement. Peacock is Universal's subscription streaming service. The streaming release includes behind-the-scenes featurettes about the Hollywood-monster story.