The film Despicable Me 4 , released theatrically in the United States on July 3, 2024 , marks the latest main installment in the world's highest-grossing animated franchise. Directed by Chris Renaud and written by Mike White and Ken Daurio, the film continues the adventures of reformed supervillain Felonius Gru as he balances secret agent work with a growing, chaotic family. Plot: A New Addition and an Old Rival The story picks up with Gru (Steve Carell) and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) welcoming a new member to the family: Gru Jr. , who seems dedicated to tormenting his father. Their domestic peace is shattered when Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), a cockroach-themed supervillain and Gru's high school rival, escapes from prison seeking revenge. To stay safe, the family—including Margo, Edith, and Agnes—is forced to relocate to a safe house in the upscale community of Mayflower. While there, they adopt fake identities, leading to low-stakes humorous misunderstandings with neighbors, including the Prescotts. The Mega Minions and New Characters A significant subplot involves the Mega Minions , a superhero initiative where five Minions are augmented with superpowers by the Anti-Villain League (AVL). Taking inspiration from teams like the Fantastic Four , these augmented Minions bring a new level of "super-ineptitude" to the franchise's signature slapstick. New characters introduced in this installment include: Poppy Prescott (Joey King): An aspiring supervillainess and admirer of Gru. Valentina (Sofía Vergara): Maxime’s femme fatale girlfriend. Perry and Patsy Prescott (Stephen Colbert and Chloe Fineman): Gru’s new, somewhat arrogant neighbors. Cast and Production
Despicable Me 4 released in the United States on July 3, 2024 , and marks the sixth entry overall in the Illumination franchise . Despite receiving mixed critical reception for its thin and disjointed plot, the film was a massive commercial hit, grossing $972 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Film Summary DESPICABLE ME 4 – Review by Valerie Kafrin July 2, 2024 July 5, 2024 Valerie Kalfrin Chris Renaud, Despicable Me 4, Illumination Entertainment, kristen wiig, Patrick Delage, Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Following the massive success of the franchise, Despicable Me 4 was released on July 3, 2024 , continuing the adventures of reformed supervillain Gru and his growing family. Plot Overview In this installment, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) balances his life as a secret agent for the Anti-Villain League with a major new life change: the arrival of his son, . The family's peace is shattered when an old rival, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), escapes from prison and seeks revenge, forcing Gru, Lucy, the girls, and the Minions to relocate to a safe house in the upscale town of Mayflower. Key Characters and Voice Cast
Film Despicable Me 4: A Complete Guide to the Minions’ Latest Chaotic Adventure It has been over a decade since former supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) first stole the moon—and our hearts. With the global success of the Despicable Me franchise and its Minions spin-offs, the anticipation for the next chapter has been immense. Film Despicable Me 4 officially hit theaters in the summer of 2024, and it delivers exactly what fans craved: mayhem, heart, and a heavy dose of yellow chaos. Below is your comprehensive guide to the plot, cast, reviews, and everything else you need to know about the latest installment. Plot Summary: Gru Goes on the Run The film Despicable Me 4 picks up shortly after the events of Despicable Me 3 . Gru and his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) are now proud parents to their biological son, Gru Jr., who unfortunately has inherited his father’s grumpy demeanor but none of his villainous respect. Meanwhile, the Anti-Villain League (AVL) is busier than ever. The story kicks into high gear when Gru and Lucy face a new arch-nemesis: Maxime Le Mal (voiced by Will Ferrell), a former school rival of Gru’s with a grudge and a grotesque cockroach-themed transformation. After Maxime escapes from prison with the help of his femme fatale girlfriend, Valentina (Sofia Vergara), the AVL decides the only safe option is to move Gru’s entire family into witness protection. The family relocates to the sleepy, upscale suburb of Mayflower , where they must adopt new identities. Gru becomes “Chet Cunningham,” a boring solar-panel salesman. This fish-out-of-water scenario leads to some of the film’s funniest moments, as the former supervillain struggles with suburban etiquette, PTA meetings, and nosy neighbors. However, when the Minions get involved (specifically the “Mega-Minions” experiment), the quiet town of Mayflower becomes a war zone of gadgets, goo, and giggle-inducing gags. The Voice Cast: Star Power Meets Familiar Favorites One of the strongest pillars of the film Despicable Me 4 is its top-tier voice cast. Film Despicable Me 4
Steve Carell returns as Gru and his twin brother, Dru. Carell continues to master the faux-Russian accent that has become iconic. Kristen Wiig brings warmth and slapstick energy as Lucy Wilde. Will Ferrell enters the franchise as Maxime Le Mal, delivering a performance that is equal parts menacing and ridiculous—especially when he speaks French-accented English while controlling swarms of roaches. Sofia Vergara is perfectly cast as Valentina, a sharp, ruthless partner-in-crime. Joey King voices Poppy Prescott, a teenage aspiring villain who discovers Gru’s secret and blackmails him into helping her commit a heist. Stephen Colbert appears as Perry Prescott, the overly confident, Mercedes-driving neighbor who makes suburban life a nightmare for Gru.
And of course, Pierre Coffin returns to voice the Minions (Kevin, Bob, Stuart, and a few new troublemakers), whose gibberish continues to transcend language barriers. The Mega-Minions: A New Superpowered Gimmick No film Despicable Me 4 review would be complete without discussing the “Mega-Minions.” In an attempt to upgrade the AVL’s smallest agents, a lab accident exposes five Minions (Dave, Tim, Gus, Jerry, and a purple newcomer named “Rex”) to a serum created from PX-41 (the same mutagen from Despicable Me 2 ). The result? Each Minion gains a unique, over-the-top superhero ability:
Dave becomes a stretchy, Mr. Fantastic-like Minion. Tim turns into a giant, rock-like behemoth. Gus gains laser vision (which he cannot control). Jerry becomes super-fast. Rex develops the ability to talk— proper English—which horrifies the other Minions. The film Despicable Me 4 , released theatrically
This subplot injects a superhero parody element into the franchise, leading to an explosive third-act battle where the Mega-Minions take on Maxime’s army of genetically mutated cockroaches. Key Themes: Family, Identity, and Acceptance On the surface, film Despicable Me 4 is a non-stop comedy. However, like its predecessors, it has a surprisingly emotional core. The main theme is accepting who you are .
Gru must reconcile his past as a villain with his new life as a suburban dad. Unlike previous films where he misses villainy, here he genuinely wants to be boring—but finds that his creative, rule-breaking spirit can be used for good. Gru Jr. represents the fear that your child might reject you. The running gag is that Gru Jr. hates his father (constantly biting his finger and laser-blasting him), but the resolution is genuinely touching. Poppy Prescott serves as a mirror for young Gru—talented, misunderstood, and desperate for a mentor.
The film also touches on the anxieties of moving, changing schools, and starting over, making it relatable for both children and parents. Critical Reception and Box Office Performance Upon release, the film Despicable Me 4 received mixed-to-positive reviews. As of late 2024, it holds a 56% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes but an impressive 88% audience score . Critics noted that the plot is overstuffed, with too many subplots (Gru Jr., the Mega-Minions, the witness protection ruse, Poppy’s heist, and Maxime’s revenge). Some felt the franchise is running on fumes. Audiences , however, disagree. Families praised the relentless slapstick, the return of the Minions’ iconic pranks, and Will Ferrell’s hilarious villain. The CinemaScore was an "A," indicating strong word-of-mouth. At the box office, Despicable Me 4 shattered expectations, grossing over $950 million worldwide , making it the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2024 behind Inside Out 2 . Easter Eggs and Connections to the Minions Universe For longtime fans, film Despicable Me 4 is packed with callbacks: , who seems dedicated to tormenting his father
A flashback shows a young Gru and Maxime in a 1990s villain school (featuring a young Dr. Nefario). The AVL lab contains a frozen Scarlet Overkill from Minions (2015). Look for a post-credits scene where the Minions start a band called “The Yellow-Tones,” parodying The Beatles: Get Back . A giant poster for Minions 3 (set for 2027) appears briefly on a bus.
Should You Watch It? Final Verdict If you are a parent looking for 90 minutes of chaos that will make your children laugh until they cry, yes . If you are a completionist who has seen all previous Despicable Me and Minions films, yes . If you are a critic seeking plot coherence and character depth, you may be disappointed. Film Despicable Me 4 is exactly what it promises to be: loud, colorful, absurd, and occasionally sweet. The Minions steal the show (as always), the Mega-Minion sequence is a visual treat, and Steve Carell proves he never gets tired of saying “BANANA” in that voice. It may not be the best in the series, but it is far from the worst. And in the summer blockbuster landscape, that is more than enough.