Minions (film)

Minions is a 2015 American 3D computer-animated family comedy film,^[8] serving as a prequel/spin-off to the Despicable Me franchise. Produced by Illumination Entertainment for Universal Pictures, it was directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, written by Brian Lynch, and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy.^[9] The film stars Coffin (as the Minions), Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, and Steve Coogan, and is narrated by Geoffrey Rush. It was first foreshadowed in the end credits of Despicable Me 2, where Stuart, Kevin, and Bob, three of the Minions, are seen auditioning for the film.^[10]

Minions had its world premiere on June 11, 2015, in Leicester Square, London, and went into general release in the United States on July 10, 2015. ^[11] Critical response was mixed: some critics praised the comedic aspects of the film and the performances of Bullock and Hamm,^[12] while others felt that the titular characters were not able to carry the film on their own, and that the villains were flatly characterized. The film has grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide (outgrossing both Despicable Me films), making it the 10th highest-grossing film of all time, the 2nd highest-grossing animated film, and the highest-grossing non-Disney animated film.

Directed by	Kyle Balda Pierre Coffin
Produced by	Chris Meledandri Janet Healy
Written by	Brian Lynch
Starring	Sandra Bullock Jon Hamm Michael Keaton Allison Janney Steve Coogan Jennifer Saunders Pierre Coffin
Narrated by	Geoffrey Rush
Music by	Heitor Pereira^[1]
Edited by	Claire Dodgson
Production company	Illumination Entertainment Illumination Mac Guff
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	June 11, 2015(London premiere)^[2] July 10, 2015 (United States)^[3]
Running time	91 minutes^[4]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$74 million^[5]^[6]
Box office	$1.154 billion^[7]

Cast

Pierre Coffin as Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and the Minions^[17]
Sandra Bullock as Scarlet Overkill, an ambitious supervillain^[18]
Jon Hamm as Herb Overkill, an inventor and Scarlet's husband^[19]
Michael Keaton as Walter Nelson, who picks up the hitchhiking Minions^[20]^[21]
Allison Janney as Madge Nelson^[22]
Steve Coogan as Professor Flux and a tower guard^[20]^[23]
Jennifer Saunders as Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom^[24]^[25]
Geoffrey Rush as the narrator^[26]
Hiroyuki Sanada as Dumo the Sumo, a sumo wrestler^[25]
Steve Carell as young Gru,^[27] a future supervillain and the Minions' master in the Despicable Me films