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When a franchise is firing on all cylinders, it is often a no-brainer for production companies to give the green light to an entire series of films as opposed to waiting for specific box office figures. We have seen in recent years that the likes of theStar Warsfranchise and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have had no issues with confirming several years' worth of upcoming features in the knowledge that enough will be a financial success. One such franchise, although perhaps not as world-dominating as the other two we mentioned, isDespicable Me. Debuting back in 2010 and created bySergio Pablos,Despicable Meinstantly took a worldwide audience by storm, with the initial response to the first movie declaring the birth of a fantastic animated series with heaps of potential. So, when the sequelDespicable Me 2came out and defied all box office expectations, fans and critics knew just how much of a powerhouse this new franchise was going to be. Gru and, in particular, the Minions were so engaging and funny that they almost transcended the film form and became their own cultural phenomenon, with the Minions themselves having already spawned two spin-off movies, the first of which,Minions, made over $1 billion at the box office.
Numbers like that more than justify the confidence from production companies, with the fourthDespicable Mefilm, and the sixth in the franchise, being officially confirmed by Illumination’s CEOChris Meledandriback in 2017. So, with that particular sequel having set a release date and almost six years since the movie’s confirmation, here is everything we know aboutDespicable Me 4.
Editor’s Note: This piece was updated on August 06, 2025.
Despicable Me 4
Gru and his family are back, welcoming a new member, Gru Jr., who causes chaos at home. Facing a new nemesis, Maxime Le Mal, and his partner Valentina, Gru and his family go on the run.
Does ‘Despicable Me 4’ Have a Release Date?
Back in February 2022, it was officially announced that aDespicable Me 4release date had been set forJuly 3, 2024.
Where Can You Watch ‘Despicable Me 4’?
Just like its predecessors,Despicable Me 4will be getting a full theatrical release on the aforementioned release date. There is not yet any news of a streaming release for the film but, consideringUniversal films usually stream on Peacock, it is highly likely we may seeDespicable Me 4streaming there sometime after its release. So, whether you’re a fan of heading to the theater or staying at home, there will hopefully be the perfect viewing option for you, or perhaps,likeQuentin Tarantinoand his son, you’re just a fan ofDespicable Mein any viewing capacity.
Is There a Trailer for ‘Despicable Me 4’?
The first trailer forDespicable Me 4aired during the AFC Championship game on June 21, 2025. The two-and-a-half-minute trailer shows us that Gru’s family is expanding. What can this mean for him and the kids in the future? We can’t wait to find out.
Despicable Me 4also appeared in the Jon Hamm-narrated Super Bowl LVIII trailer featuringWill Ferrell(Anchorman) andSteve Carellmaking AI-assisted cameos. The trailer was released by Universal Pictures during the Superbowl on Sunday, February 11th, 2024.
The most recent trailer forDespicable Me 4was released on May 7and is available to watch above. More than ever before, this trailer gives lovers of the franchise their first full taste of the plot of the fourth outing, with the dastardly Maxime Le Mal, voiced by the iconic Ferrell, having escaped prison.The peace achieved thanks to the previous three movies will be put into disarray by Le Mal, with the minions fighting back, as seen in the trailer, with a new secret weapon - “the mega minion”. Bursting at the seams with jokes aplenty, and the sort that will please both the kids and parents, this newest trailer promises aDespicable Meinstallment that will bothstick to the successes of its predecessors and not be afraid to innovate, a combination that so often equals Box Office triumph.
Who’s In the ‘Despicable Me 4’ Cast?
One of the many factors to the enormous success of theDespicable Mefranchise has been its casting, with a long list of Hollywood legends already having applied their craft to the series. Of course, Steve Carell returns as (arguably) the most beloved movie villain of all time, Gru. Alongside him are the likes ofKristen Wiig(Bridesmaids) as Gru’s wife Lucy Wilde,Miranda Cosgrove(iCarly), as their eldest adopted daughter Margo,Dana Gaier(On My Block) as their middle adopted daughter Edith, andSteve Coogan(Tropic Thunder) as Silas Ramsbottom, the former director of the Anti-Villian League. NewcomerMadison Polanwill voice Agnes, the youngest of Grue and Lucy’s three daughters, taking over fromElsie Fisherwho voiced the character in the first two films, andNev Scharrelwho voiced her in the third film.
Joining theDespicable Mefamily are the likes of the aforementioned Will Ferrell as the new supervillain Maxime Le Mal, which translates into English from French as Maxime the Evil, with his femme fatale girlfriend, Valentina, voiced bySofía Vergara(Griselda).Joey King(The Act) is voicing aspiring supervillain Poppy, with the likes ofStephen Colbert(The Late Show),Chloe Fineman(Saturday Night Live), andChris Renaud(Ice Age) all currently having been cast in undisclosed roles. Of course, there have been many more wonderful performances in the series, and fans will be hoping that their favorite characters and actors will be returning, including the likes ofWill Arnett(Arrested Development) as Mr. Perkins, andJulie Andrews(The Sound of Music) as Marlene Gru.
What’s the Plot of ‘Despicable Me 4’ About?
Topping the incredible narratives of the previous movies is certainly no mean feat, and one left in the wonderfully capable hands of writerMike White(The White Lotus). With the most recent movie in the franchise,Minions: The Rise of Gru,Despicable Me 4will have to follow on from the third installment, which came out in June 2017.Despicable Me 3, the most recent film in the series chronologically, ends with Gru’s twin brother Dru (also voiced by Steve Carell) taking charge of the minions whilst Gru and Lucy are back in the Anti-Villain League, suggesting these positions will provide the starting blocks forDespicable Me 4. It is fair to expect that some dastardly world-conquering scheme is being planned for a new super-villain, with Gru and the gang saving the day by any means necessary.
The official synopsis forDespicable Me 4reads:
Following the 2022 summer blockbuster phenomenon of Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru, which earned almost $1 billion worldwide, the biggest global animated franchise in history now begins a new chapter as Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carrell) and Lucy (Oscar® nominee Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.
Who Is Making ‘Despicable Me 4’?
Joining the aforementioned writer Mike White in the crew for the film are the likes of co-directorsChris Renaud(The Lorax) andPatrick Delage(Sing 2), andRachel Levy(Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw) who heads up the music department, which this franchise is famous for.Pierre Coffin(Minions),Ken Daurio(Horton Hears a Who!), Chris Renaud, andCinco Paul(Bubble Boy) all receive executive producer credits, with producer credits going toJanet Healy(Jurassic Park) andChristopher Meledandri(Sing).
How to Watch All the ‘Despicable Me’ Movies in Chronological Order
Here is a helpful guide for those of you who fancy doing a full binge of all theDespicable Memovies, in chronological order and in time for the release ofDespicable Me 4. Of these movies, most of the movies are available for rent and purchase on Amazon (and other online video stores), whileMinions: The Rise of Gruis also available on Netflix. Here’s the chronological list, with the relevant links to watch each movie:
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Minions: The Rise of Gru is the second Minions film and the fifth movie overall in the Despicable Me franchise. The Minions sequel again stars Steve Carell as an eleven-year-old Gru who wants to become a supervillain. The only problem is that there’s a new group in town called the Vicious 6 that puts a wrench in his plans.
Despicable Me
Despicable Me 2
Despicable Me 3
