Illumination’s Despicable Me and Minions film series have become some of the most beloved and profitable franchises in Hollywood. Many have grown up with these hilarious yellow characters. But, ever wondered what year the Minions movie is set in and how many movies feature the Minions? This article will dive into those details.
Minions Franchise: All Movies In Order
The Despicable Me franchise consists of two main series: the Despicable Me films and the Minions prequels. While the Despicable Me movies were released first, the timeline actually starts with the Minions films. Below is a chronological list of the movies:
1. Minions (2015)
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Setting: 1968
The movie Minions, released in 2015, took place 42 years before Gru's time in Despicable Me. The movie’s setting was in New York City and Orlando, Florida.
During the 20th century, the Minions were living in the Antarctic with no boss. Then, in 1968, three Minions including Kevin, Bob, and Stuart, had their adventurous journey to Orlando for Villain Con - a convention for supervillains.
2. Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
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Setting: 1976
This is the second Minions film. Minions: The Rise of Gru tells the story of 12-year-old Gru desiring to join a notorious group of supervillains known as the Vicious 6.
What’s about Minions' role in this film? They become young Gru’s royal companions, helping him to navigate chaotic misadventures. Together, they unlock the meaning of true friendship and establish the basis for their iconic partnership in the Despicable Me series.
Despicable Me Franchise: All Movies in Order
Now that we’ve covered the Minions’ timeline, let’s delve into the chronological order of the Despicable Me movies. Here’s a guide.
3. Despicable Me (2010)
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Setting: 2010
Taking place after the prequels, Despicable Me’s setting immediately jumps ahead to the 2010s. Gru is now an adult and an established evil genius, still hiring Minions to do multiple jobs.
During this movie, Gru has to fight against another villain named Vector by adopting a trio of orphan girls including Margo, Edith and Agens. However, Gru truly becomes a father to them in the end.
4. Despicable Me 2 (2013)
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Setting: 2012
Despicable Me 2 is set just one year after the events of the first movie. This movie is about how Gru adjusts to his new role as a father of 3 girls. Gru has significantly devoted himself to fatherhood and left his career as a villain behind.
However, his quiet life takes an unexpected turn due to the call from a spy agency. During the mission, he finds himself being attracted to a secret agent named Lucy Wilde. Their partnership soon blossoms into a romantic relationship, leading to an iconic wedding by the end of the movie.
5. Despicable Me 3 (2017)
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Setting: 2014
This movie takes place 4 years after the previous one. It describes the story of Gru's family with his wife and their adorable daughters. The plot twist of this movie is that they have to face off with Balthazar Bratt, a former '80s child star-turned-supervillain.
Additionally, this encounter leads to Gru meeting his long-lost brother, Dru, who has his own ambitions of being a supervillain.
6. Despicable Me 4 (2024)
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Setting: 2015
Fans of the Despicable Me franchise always struggle to figure out when the latest movie - Despicable Me 4 takes place. The movie follows Gru’s adventure of dealing with Maxime Le Mal, an old rival from his supervillain school days.
Additionally, Gru and Lucy welcome their newest family member, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.
Viewing Recommendations: Despicable Me and Minions Movies In Order
There are 6 Despicable Me movies that have been released, including four mainline movies and two Minions spin-offs. But what is the most reasonable Despicable Me order you can consider? Here are two suggestions for your choice.
By Release Order
By approaching these 6 movies with release order, you experience the evolution of the series such as how the storyline and characters developed over time:
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Despicable Me 1 (Release date: July 9, 2010)
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Despicable Me 2 (Release date: July 3, 2013)
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Minions (Release date: July 10, 2015)
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Despicable Me 3 (Release date: June 30, 2017)
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Minions: The Rise of Gru (Release date: July 1, 2022)
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Despicable Me 4 (Release date: July 3, 2024)
By Chronological Order
The chronological order is about seeing how events are interconnected, particularly the origins of characters like the Minions and their bond with Gru. This reaching provides a clearer and more coherent understanding of the plot’s progression.
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Minions (Release date: July 10, 2015)
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Minions: The Rise of Gru (Release date: July 1, 2022)
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Despicable Me (Release date: July 9, 2010)
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Despicable Me 2 (Release date: July 3, 2013)
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Despicable Me 3 (Release date: June 30, 2017)
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Despicable Me 4 (Release date: July 3, 2024)
Will There Be More Movies After Despicable Me 4?
There have not been any official announcements from Universal Pictures and Illumination whether Despicable Me 5 will be released or not. The success of Despicable Me 4 stays ahead on the determination of whether Illumination Studios develops the next movies in the future or not.
In spite of mixed reviews, Despicable Me 4 has continued the franchise's streak of box-office successes, grossing $969 million worldwide. This achievement makes it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2024.
Reaching these impressive box office milestones, the studio behind this franchise is confident in continuing to create new films. Audiences can look forward to thrilling new adventures featuring the beloved yellow Minions and their boss, Gru, on the big screen.
Wrapping Up
Above is everything you need to know about what year does Minions take place as well as two recommended ways of watching these films in order including release date and movie setting time. Hopefully, our article will help you have ways to approach and enjoy the movie-watching process completely. Stay tuned for other articles about the animated industry on our site.
