How to Watch the ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Movies in Order

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• ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Movies in Chronological Order
  • Minions (2015)
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
  • Despicable Me (2010)
  • Despicable Me 2 (2013)
  • Despicable Me 3 (2017)
  • Despicable Me 4 (2024)

• ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Movies in Release Order

As a longtime fan of animated films, I have to say that the Despicable Me and Minions series has been a delightful journey through laughter and heartwarming moments. From Gru’s transformation from villain to loving father, to the antics of those yellow, mischievous minions, these movies have managed to touch my heart and make me chuckle simultaneously.

With Despicable Me 4 available on Peacock and set to hit Netflix in March 2025, it’s time to give viewers a proper chronological viewing order of the popular Illumination franchise. Remember, watching a movie franchise in chronological order differs from watching in release order, with the narrative continuity taking precedence over scheduling. Therefore, with at least two prequels in the hit animated film series, tracking how and where each cinematic story fits within the overarching Minions universe is vital.

Besides offering viewers the perfect guide for watching both the beloved movies, ‘Minions’ and ‘Despicable Me’, our goal is to attach a trailer for every release and offer information on where each film can be streamed online. Excluding the ‘Minions & More’ short films, here’s how you can enjoy the ‘Despicable Me’ series in chronological order with your family during this holiday season and beyond.

‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Movies in Chronological Order

Minions (2015)

In a surprising move for the third installment of the franchise, the film “Minions” traces their origins deeper into history than any previous release. The narrative spans from 3.8 million years ago, detailing the formation and development of the Minions – a species of yellow, male creatures who have historically carried out the malevolent tasks of a villain named Felonious Gru, portrayed by Steve Carell. While they are endearingly funny, childlike, clumsy, and difficult to comprehend, “Minions” reveals how this species has been serving some of the most ruthless predators across time periods, from dinosaurs and dictators to various other entities.

By delving into the Minions’ past and their development over time, the main storyline of the film “Minions” unfolds in 1968, where they are searching for a suitable replacement for their lost masters. This makes it essential to watch “Minions” before any other films in the franchise, such as “Despicable Me,” if you want to follow the animated movie series’ narrative continuity from start to finish. You can stream Minions on Netflix now.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

After finishing the movie “Minions“, viewers should catch “Minions: The Rise of Gru” next. While “Minions” delves into the prehistoric roots of the race, “The Rise of Gru ” is a coming-of-age tale that follows the awkward transformation of the future villain, Gru (Carell), from his childhood days in the 1970s – a time filled with disco and bell-bottom fashion. The main storyline of this movie unfolds in 1976, a decade after the initial events depicted in “Minions“, offering fans an amusing glimpse into Gru’s youth during the era of flared pants and dance floors.

Starting at age 11, Gru has harbored a strong ambition to rise as the world’s most infamous and respected supervillain, aiming to join the notorious Felonious Five for credibility. Initially, his tale unfolds as a villainous origin story, but it transforms into a heartwarming rescue mission when the Minions attempt to retrieve Gru from Wild Knuckles, the previous leader of the Felonious Five. Although the narrative progresses the franchise’s timeline by merely eight years, Minions: The Rise of Gru is the following chapter after Minions, seamlessly leading into Despicable Me.. Minions: The Rise of Gru is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Despicable Me (2010)

As a huge fan, let me share that I’ve recently found myself drawn to “Despicable Me,” the third installment in the beloved animated series, which hit the screens back in 2010. Unlike its prequels, this movie takes place in the modern era of the 2010s. The storyline revolves around the adult version of Gru, as he competes with a formidable foe, a supervillain named Vector, in their quest for global domination.

In Despicable Me, Gru initially takes in three orphaned girls – Agnes, Edith, and Margo – to aid him in defeating his main adversary and establish himself as the world’s top supervillain. However, as he spends more time with these girls and grows attached to them, Gru finds himself softening and embracing the role of fatherhood. Since all the Minions are male, the introduction of these female characters brings a new perspective to Gru’s life, melting his heart and transforming him into a more nurturing parental figure. You can catch Despicable Me on Peacock for streaming.

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

In 2013, we find ourselves in the contemporary era with “Despicable Me 2.” The narrative unfolds right after the events of the original “Despicable Me,” providing an effortless and logical progression to the storyline. The plot primarily revolves around Gru’s journey towards embracing his role as a father, nurturing affection for Agnes, Edith, Margo, and a multitude of Minions who are always ready for their next assignment.

In Despicable Me 2, Gru finds himself pulled back into a world of espionage when he’s recruited by an intelligence agency to stop a new danger. Meanwhile, the minions lend their best support to Gru. As the story unfolds, Gru develops feelings for a fellow spy named Lucy, which leads to a significant softening of his wicked side. The movie concludes with a grand wedding ceremony between Gru and Lucy. It’s important to note that this event takes place 147 days after Gru’s last mission, as shown in the epilogue. If you’d like to watch Despicable Me 2, it’s now streaming on Peacock.

Despicable Me 3 (2017)

Four years after Gru and Lucy’s wedding, we move on to the next chapter in the beloved animated film series called Despicable Me 3. Although the timeline is a bit muddled as Gru’s daughters haven’t grown since we last saw them, the narrative revolves around Gru and Lucy struggling to capture a former child star turned supervillain named Balthazar Bratt. Along their journey, our hero, Gru, comes across his long-lost twin brother, Dru, who shares his ambition of becoming a global supervillain.

In the film “Despicable Me 3”, the plot unfolds over a short period, making its sequence of events easy to follow. A significant part of its charm lies in the amusing relationship between the stiff and humorless Gru and his free-spirited brother Dru, enabling Carell to further explore his vocal talents within the beloved series. Despite variations in timeframe, Gru’s character development throughout the franchise humanizes him and makes him more relatable as he transitions from a villainous past towards becoming a father, spouse, and now a sibling. You can stream “Despicable Me 3” on Fubo TV.

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

According to updates from December 2024, it seems that “Despicable Me 4” marks the conclusion of this beloved series. Although specifics about the timeline are yet to be clarified, the narrative picks up not long after Lucy delivers their first child, Gru Jr. Interestingly, Gru’s adopted daughters remain unchanged in age, which makes the chronology a bit hazy. Nevertheless, the events unfold approximately one year following those depicted in “Despicable Me 3,” and it is suggested that this movie should be watched as the final installment in order of storyline progression.

In the narrative of Despicable Me 4, Gru finds himself in a tough situation as he attempts to foster a bond with his biological child, having spent years caring for three adopted daughters and countless minions. As he strives to strengthen this family tie, Gru is faced with a formidable adversary, Maxime Le Mal, along with his partner Valentina. The tension escalates significantly when these villains threaten not only Gru but also his precious newborn son, Gru Jr.

After you’ve watched all the Despicable Me movies in order, it’s important to mention that another Minions film, as of yet untitled, is set for a June 30, 2027 release. By the way, Despicable Me 4 can be streamed on Peacock.

‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Movies in Release Order

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2024-12-13 05:32