The yellow, pill-shaped agents of chaos have been a reliable engine for Universal and Illumination for 16 years. But this Fourth of July weekend, the engine sputtered. “Minions & Monsters,” the latest installment in the “Despicable Me” universe, limped to a $61 million debut over the five-day holiday frame, falling well short of the $80 million projection.

It is the lowest opening in the history of the franchise, landing below even the original 2010 “Despicable Me,” which earned $56 million in its debut. For a series that has consistently banked over $120 million in five-day holiday openings with its two most recent entries, the drop is stark. The film managed only $36 million from Friday to Monday across 4,243 North American locations.

The Fatigue Factor

While the industry expected a softer holiday turnout—with July 4th falling on a Saturday, many consumers opted for backyard barbecues over multiplexes—the decline for “Minions & Monsters” suggests a deeper issue than just the calendar. Total industry ticket sales for the weekend topped out at roughly $121 million, a far cry from the $150 million to $200 million range historically expected for the holiday.

However, the competition tells a different story. Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” continued to draw families in its third weekend, pulling in $31 million and bringing its domestic total to $366 million. The contrast is telling: “Toy Story” has released five films over 30 years, while the “Despicable Me” universe has churned out seven chapters in just 16.

“Seven is further than any animation series has gone,” says David A. Gross, who publishes the box office newsletter FranchiseRe. “Audiences are showing fatigue now. The movie will be profitable, but it’s a misfire.”

A Global Bright Spot

Despite the domestic stumble, the film is not a total loss. Universal produced the movie for $85 million—a leaner budget than the $100 million price tags of its predecessors—and international markets are providing a necessary cushion. The film earned $86 million overseas over the weekend, bringing its worldwide total to $159.8 million.

Critics and audiences remain on board, with the film holding a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A-” CinemaScore. If the franchise’s historical staying power holds, the film may find its footing throughout the summer, even if it fails to reach the heights of “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

Supergirl’s Brutal Sophomore Slump

If the “Minions” opening was a disappointment, the performance of “Supergirl” was a catastrophe. The Warner Bros. and DC adaptation suffered a 74% drop in its second weekend, earning just $9.6 million from 3,602 screens.

With a domestic total of only $58.5 million against a $37.1 million debut, the film is struggling to find an audience. The result highlights the growing divide in the superhero genre: while A-list icons like Superman and Spider-Man continue to dominate, secondary characters are finding it increasingly difficult to justify the massive production budgets required for modern comic book spectacles.

Key Takeaways

  • Franchise Fatigue: “Minions & Monsters” posted the lowest opening in the franchise’s 16-year history, suggesting that the rapid release cadence of the “Despicable Me” series may finally be hitting a ceiling.
  • Budget Discipline: Despite the soft opening, the film’s $85 million production budget—lower than previous installments—provides a clearer path to profitability, bolstered by a strong $98 million international start.
  • Superhero Struggles: The 74% drop for “Supergirl” underscores the ongoing difficulty studios face in marketing lesser-known comic book characters to a post-pandemic audience that has become increasingly selective.

Universal will now look to international markets to carry the weight of the “Minions” brand as the summer season progresses. For the DC slate, the focus shifts to whether the upcoming “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” can restore the genre’s box office dominance, or if the “Supergirl” result is a sign of a broader cooling in the superhero market.