Gru and his mischievous Minions are back in action—this time taking Netflix by storm. Despicable Me 4, the latest installment in Illumination’s mega-popular franchise, has shot straight to the #1 spot on the streaming giant’s global charts, proving once again that Gru and his banana-loving sidekicks have lost none of their charm. After a massive box office run that saw the film rake in over $750 million worldwide, its streaming debut has reignited fan excitement, making it one of Netflix’s hottest titles of 2025.
A Streaming Sensation Fueled by a Box Office Smash
Despicable Me 4 premiered in theaters in July 2024 and quickly became one of the year’s biggest animated hits. The film’s blend of slapstick humor, heartwarming family dynamics, and high-stakes adventure earned it a global audience, despite mixed critical reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 62% critics score, but audiences were far more generous, awarding it an 88% audience score, showing the enduring appeal of the franchise to families and fans alike.
You can watch Despicable Me 4 on Netflix here: https://www.netflix.com/title/81776693
Why the Netflix Release Was Such a Big Deal
The movie’s quick turnaround from theaters to streaming was part of Netflix’s first-window deal with Universal Pictures, allowing high-profile animated films from Illumination to land on Netflix months after their theatrical releases. Historically, big animated titles like this would take much longer to hit streaming platforms, so this faster release strategy has given Despicable Me 4 a second life—and an even wider audience. This strategy follows Netflix’s success with earlier Universal hits like Minions: The Rise of Gru, which also dominated streaming charts upon release.
What’s New in Despicable Me 4?
In this chapter, reformed supervillain Gru (voiced again by Steve Carell) balances life as a family man with his newborn son, Gru Jr., while facing off against a new nemesis: Maxime Le Mal (voiced by Will Ferrell), an old rival with a score to settle. Kristen Wiig returns as Lucy, and viewers are treated to new Minion antics, including a subplot featuring “Mega Minions”—five enhanced Minions given superpowers in a nod to superhero blockbusters.
The Bigger Picture: Animation’s Streaming Boom
The film’s streaming success isn’t an isolated case. Animated movies are seeing a resurgence on platforms like Netflix, with family-friendly titles often outperforming live-action competitors. Despicable Me 4 even edged out Venom 3 during its debut week, highlighting the massive demand for content that appeals to kids and nostalgic adults alike. The Despicable Me franchise itself is now the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time, surpassing Shrek and Toy Story, with over $4 billion in global box office earnings across its six films (including Minions spin-offs).
What’s Next for Gru and the Gang?
With Despicable Me 4 continuing to dominate Netflix charts, fans are already speculating about what’s next. Although Illumination has been tight-lipped, there’s buzz about a Minions 3 spin-off in development. Given the franchise’s unstoppable momentum, it’s likely we haven’t seen the last of Gru, Lucy, and the Minions.
Bottom Line
Despicable Me 4’s meteoric rise to Netflix’s #1 spot proves the franchise’s lasting appeal and cements its place as a modern animated juggernaut. Whether you’re in it for Gru’s latest mission or the Minions’ endless chaos, it’s clear audiences can’t get enough of this franchise’s heart and humor. If you missed it in theaters, now’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about—just fire up Netflix and join millions of others reliving the fun.
Key Takeaways
- “Despicable Me 4” has captured the #1 position on Netflix after generating $750 million at theaters worldwide.
- The film features Gru facing an old rival while adjusting to life with a new baby alongside his family and Minions.
- This marks another streaming success for the Universal Animation franchise as part of their distribution agreement with Netflix.
Despicable Me 4’s Triumphant Return to Popularity
Despicable Me 4 has quickly captured audience attention worldwide, demonstrating the lasting appeal of Gru and his Minions. The animated film’s move to streaming has brought new life to the franchise months after its theatrical run.
Rise to the #1 Movie Slot on Netflix
After joining Netflix’s catalog on February 28, 2025, Despicable Me 4 wasted no time climbing the charts. Within days of its release on the platform, the film secured the #2 spot with an impressive 8.8 million viewers. Shortly after, it claimed the coveted #1 position.
This rapid ascent speaks to the franchise’s enduring popularity. The fourth installment follows Gru facing a new villain, Maxime Le Mal, forcing him and his family to go on the run.
The film’s success on Netflix comes after an already successful theatrical run where it brought in approximately $750 million worldwide. This performance reinforces Universal’s animation dominance in streaming markets.
Viewers have embraced the latest chapter featuring the arrival of Gru’s new baby and the chaotic antics of the Minions.
Impact on Hollywood and Animation Industry
Despicable Me 4’s streaming triumph highlights the evolving relationship between theatrical releases and digital platforms. The film’s ability to dominate both spaces demonstrates a successful dual-distribution strategy that many studios now aim to replicate.
Universal has strengthened its position in the animation market with this continued success. The Despicable Me franchise has become one of animation’s most reliable performers, consistently drawing audiences to theaters and now streaming services.
This performance may influence future animation production decisions. Studios are closely watching how animated features perform in the streaming environment after their theatrical windows.
The film’s ability to remain relevant months after its initial release also showcases the importance of character-driven franchises that connect with audiences across multiple age groups.
Contextual Analysis And Broader Industry Trends
Despicable Me 4’s Netflix dominance reflects significant shifts in how animated franchises perform across both streaming and theatrical markets. The billion-dollar success story highlights evolving viewer preferences and distribution strategies.
Comparison with Other Streaming Platforms and Theatrical Releases
Netflix’s acquisition of Despicable Me 4 represents a major win against competing platforms like Disney+ and Prime Video. While Disney+ typically dominates animated content with its Pixar and Disney Animation libraries, Netflix’s strategic placement of Universal’s hit showcases its commitment to family entertainment.
The film’s $1 billion theatrical run before hitting streaming demonstrates the “theatrical-first, streaming-second” model that many studios still prefer. This contrasts with some pandemic-era releases that went directly to platforms.
Compared to other animated hits on competing services, like Inside Out 2 on Disney+, Despicable Me 4 brings Universal significant leverage in the streaming wars. The film’s performance outpaces similar animated content on Hulu and Paramount+.
Sequels and Franchise Success
Despicable Me has proven extraordinarily resilient as a franchise, with its fourth main installment still drawing massive audiences. This puts it in rare company alongside other long-running successful film series.
The billion-dollar box office achievement makes Despicable Me 4 one of 2024’s highest-grossing films, demonstrating that well-executed sequels can still attract audiences despite potential franchise fatigue. This success pattern differs from other attempted franchise extensions like recent efforts from Sony Animation.
Universal’s approach with the Minions spin-offs and mainline Despicable Me films has created a consistent release cycle that keeps audiences engaged. This strategy contrasts with A24’s more limited franchise approach or Paramount’s struggles to maintain animated franchises.
Integration in Broader Media and Entertainment Landscape
Beyond streaming and theaters, Despicable Me 4 extends into merchandise, theme park attractions, and potential TV series expansions. Universal has leveraged the property across multiple revenue streams.
The Minions characters specifically have become cultural icons, appearing in everything from Super Bowl commercials to consumer products. This cross-media presence helps drive interest in the films across different audience segments.
The franchise’s international appeal makes it particularly valuable in today’s global entertainment market. Unlike some Hollywood productions that struggle overseas, Despicable Me maintains strong performance in key markets like China, Europe, and Latin America.
Unlike smaller studio offerings from companies like A24, Universal can exploit the Despicable Me universe through massive marketing campaigns across traditional and digital channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Despicable Me 4 has generated many questions from fans since its release and Netflix debut. Here are answers to the most common questions about this newest addition to the franchise.
When was Despicable Me 4 released on Netflix?
Despicable Me 4 was released in theaters on July 5, 2024. The film made its way to Netflix in early 2025, where it quickly climbed to the #1 spot on the streaming platform.
This follows the typical pattern of major animated films, which usually arrive on streaming platforms several months after their theatrical runs.
Are there any new characters introduced in Despicable Me 4?
The fourth installment introduces several new characters to the Despicable Me universe. Most notably, Gru and Lucy welcome a new baby to their family, expanding their household.
The film also features a new villain – Gru’s old rival who returns seeking revenge. This character forces Gru to uproot his family and Minions for their safety.
Several new Minions also make their debut, adding fresh comedic elements to the familiar yellow crew.
How has Despicable Me 4 performed in comparison to its predecessors?
Despicable Me 4 has been financially successful, generating approximately $750 million at the worldwide box office. This continues the franchise’s reputation for excellent return on investment.
The film maintains an IMDb rating of 6.2 out of 10, which is slightly lower than some earlier entries in the series.
On Netflix, its performance has been exceptional, quickly reaching the #1 position and maintaining strong viewership numbers.
Will there be additional sequels or spin-offs following Despicable Me 4?
While Illumination has not officially announced a fifth Despicable Me film, the financial success of the fourth installment makes future entries likely.
The Minions sub-franchise also remains popular, suggesting potential for additional spin-offs focused on the yellow creatures.
Some industry analysts have noted that the franchise shows no signs of slowing down, with its combined box office totals now exceeding several billion dollars.
Has the voice cast from the previous films returned for Despicable Me 4?
The core voice cast has returned for Despicable Me 4, maintaining continuity with the previous films. Steve Carell continues his role as Gru, the reformed supervillain.
Other returning cast members include the voices behind Lucy, the three girls, and Dr. Nefario.
The film also features new voice talent for the latest additions to the cast, including Gru’s new nemesis.
What are the critics’ and audience’s reviews of Despicable Me 4?
Critical reception of Despicable Me 4 has been mixed. Some reviewers have noted that the series follows a familiar formula without significantly evolving the characters or storyline.
A common criticism involves the lack of character growth, particularly regarding Gru’s daughters, who haven’t aged significantly throughout the series.
Audiences have generally responded more positively than critics, particularly families with young children who enjoy the Minions’ antics and the film’s humor.
