All 6 Despicable Me & Minions Movies Ranked

(Photo by Universal/ Courtesy Everett Collection. DESPICABLE ME.)

The latest: The one that started it all, Despicable Me, celebrates its 15th anniversary!

We’re ranking all 6 Despicable Me movies from animation house Illumination, including the first two Certified Fresh films and the viral Minions spinoff series!

Despicable Me (2010)
80%

Critics Consensus: Borrowing heavily (and intelligently) from Pixar and Looney Tunes, Despicable Me is a surprisingly thoughtful, family-friendly treat with a few surprises of its own.

Synopsis: Supervillain Gru, a man who delights in all things wicked, hatches a plan to steal the moon. Surrounded by an [More]

Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews

Directed By: Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin

Despicable Me 2 (2013)
75%

Critics Consensus: Despicable Me 2 offers plenty of eye-popping visual inventiveness and a number of big laughs.

Synopsis: Now that Gru has forsaken a life of crime to raise Margo, Agnes and Edith, he's trying to figure out [More]

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove

Directed By: Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
69%

Critics Consensus: The Minions' antic shenanigans are beginning to grate despite this sequel's injection of retro chic, although this loony marathon of gags will still delight young children.

Synopsis: In the heart of the 1970s, amid a flurry of feathered hair and flared jeans, Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) [More]

Starring: Steve Carell, Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, RZA

Directed By: Kyle Balda

Despicable Me 3 (2017)
58%

Critics Consensus: Despicable Me 3 should keep fans of the franchise consistently entertained with another round of colorful animation and zany -- albeit somewhat scattershot -- humor.

Synopsis: The mischievous Minions hope that Gru will return to a life of crime after the new boss of the Anti-Villain [More]

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove

Directed By: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda

Despicable Me 4 (2024)
55%

Critics Consensus: 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.

Synopsis: In the first Despicable Me movie in seven years, Gru, the world's favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain League-agent, returns for an exciting, bold [More]

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King

Directed By: Chris Renaud

Minions (2015)
55%

Critics Consensus: The Minions' brightly colored brand of gibberish-fueled insanity stretches to feature length in their self-titled Despicable Me spinoff, with uneven but often hilarious results.

Synopsis: Evolving from single-celled yellow organisms at the dawn of time, Minions live to serve, but find themselves working for a [More]

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney

Directed By: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda