Overview
- The film opened wide on July 1 and earned an estimated $36.4 million over the three‑day July 3–5 weekend and $61.4 million across the five‑day holiday frame, marking the weakest U.S. debut in the Despicable Me/Minions series.
- International markets lifted the launch to roughly $160 million worldwide, with China leading the overseas intake by contributing about RMB111.5 million (roughly $16.4 million) during the July 3–5 window.
- Critics have been unusually positive, giving the film about a 91 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, while audience indicators are more mixed: an A‑ CinemaScore, a 76 percent audience Rotten Tomatoes score, and a 58 percent definite‑recommend on PostTrak.
- Analysts point to timing quirks—the July 4 holiday fell on a Saturday—strong family competition from Toy Story 5 and signs of franchise fatigue as the main reasons for muted U.S. turnout.
- With a reported production budget near $80–85 million and strong international and merchandising potential, studios expect the lower break‑even threshold to keep the picture on a path to profit even if domestic legs remain soft.