Not too many people pay homage to Hollywood’s Golden Age in animation. Still, Universal is ready to sic its most lovable mischief makers on the monster movie tropes of old for a zany new animated adventure that’s bound to leave the back lots in ruins. Today, Universal and Illumination Entertainment dropped a new trailer for Minions & Monsters, the latest Despicable Me prequel starring the often pill-shaped chaos gremlins who speak in a vanacular somewhere between French and jibberish.
Minions everywhere!
Minions & Monsters serves as a prequel to 2010’s Despicable Me and a sequel to 2022’s Minions: The Rise of Gru. The Minions are, of course, Gru’s mischief-making helpers from the beloved Despicable Me franchise. They’re like Ubisoft’s Rabbids, but far more popular, even going so far as to get their own interactive ride at Universal Studios Florida. The newest adventure is set in the world of 1920s Hollywood as the beloved, highlighter-yellow underlings work to find the lead of their monster movie. Described as “rambunctious, ridiculous, and totally true,” the story follows how the Minions conquered the entertainment industry and became movie stars … only to lose everything and unleash monsters onto the world before (as everyone knows) they banded together to save the planet from their mayhem.
Minions & Monsters finds Pierre Coffin returning to the money-printing franchise to direct the latest film in the series. Coffin is Despicable Me royalty, having directed the first three Despicable Me films and the first Minions movie. He also voices the Minions.
What happens in the new trailer?
In the latest trailer for Minions & Monsters, presented in Minion-Vision, the minion James is encouraged to make his own Hollywood blockbuster. When inspiration strikes to make a creature feature, James and his friends accidentally summon a miniturized Cthuhullu-like creature to help get the job done. Naturally, things go awry, and it’s up to James, a mysterious green creature, and the rest of the Minions to save the planet from monsters on the loose.
Chris Meledandri on the Minions legacy
“The Minions have always had a wonderfully subversive spirit and ‘Minions & Monsters’ delivers a full dose of irreverence and comedic mayhem,” said Illumination founder Chris Meledandri in March. “Pierre and his Illumination team have brought a level of artistry to the film that has thrilled me all throughout production. The voice cast is filled with exceptional talent. The film’s story is unexpected and delightful, and perhaps the most lovely surprise is how ‘Minions & Monsters’ serves to honor cinema, its origins and the comedians who are the original inspiration for these adorable little guys.”
I’m not gonna lie, I like the Minions. Yes, they used to get under my skin. But I don’t have kids, so my exposure to their antics is limited. With each new film, my dislike for them has lessened, and now I’m completely on board with whatever they’ve got going on. They’re often a bright spot in the Despicable Me films, and their slapstick approach to comedy is relatively old-school in the grand scheme, giving Looney Tunes vibes alongside a healthy dose of Three Stooges. Call me an old man, but the Minions are okay in my book. Plus, I’ll see anything with Jeff Bridges. He’s my man.
Minions & Monsters opens in theaters on July 1, 2026.
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed