The beloved minions are back, and they're set to make a splash. Illumination and Universal Pictures' “Despicable Me 4” is gearing up for an impressive opening in cinemas this Wednesday. Projections indicate the film is on track for a $110-120 million haul in North America over the five-day Wednesday-to-Sunday period.
The film has already opened in select international markets, including Australia, raking in $25.5 million. By the end of Sunday, “Despicable Me 4” is expected to pull in around $80 million from overseas markets, bringing its total worldwide debut to a staggering $200 million. These figures indicate that the film is breaking franchise records in several territories.
Despite this success, it is unlikely to surpass the domestic records set by “Despicable Me 2” and the “Minions” films, which each surpassed $140 million in their first five days. Nevertheless, “Despicable Me 4” is positioned to become another major hit for the franchise.
Critical reception has been mixed, mirroring the response to the third film in the series and placing it just ahead of “Minions” according to Rotten Tomatoes. The film faces stiff competition from “Inside Out 2,” which remains strong in theaters, expected to pull in $32 million in its fourth weekend, making it the fourth highest-grossing animated movie domestically.
Additionally, “A Quiet Place: Day One” is projected to take third place with a second-weekend haul of $23.5 million, while Ti West's “MaXXXine” is set to debut on Friday with an anticipated $7 million over three days.
Directed by Chris Renaud and featuring the voices of Steve Carell as Gru and Pierre Coffin as the Minions, “Despicable Me 4” continues the adventures of Gru, his family, and his mischievous minions. The film promises to deliver the humor and heart that fans have come to love. With its projected massive debut, “Despicable Me 4” is sure to be a blockbuster success, reaffirming the franchise's popularity and enduring charm. Be sure to catch it in theaters starting this Wednesday!
