Universal/Illumination’s Despicable Me franchise is still going strong. After two highly-successful main entries and huge cash piles with a Minions spinoff, Gru and his family are back on a third mission in Despicable Me 3! Now fresh in cinemas, does it match the critical and financial success of it’s predecessors?

[Universal Pictures]

Well in terms of reception, it doesn’t seem to reaching that level thanks to mixed reviews, but that defiantly doesn’t mean the movie is bad. Hovering between “Fresh” and “Rotten” above the 60% mark on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics say that this third instalment continues in familiar waters with the franchise, providing the zany humour and colourful animation you’d expect from a Despicable Me movie. Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter said it best that “It’s an if-it-ain’t-broke-then-don’t-fix-it approach that works just fine if you’re simply looking to take another ride on the rollercoaster.”

As for the box office, it proves that the franchise still has the strong, yet diminishing, global appeal. The film started playing internationally two weeks before hitting North America (Fox attempted this last year with Ice Age: Collision Course, and that fell flat), and was able to gain $95.6 million overseas this weekend from 46 new territories. Domestically, it made $75.4 million on it’s opening weekend, which was $10 million less than Despicable Me 2’s opening.

So to conclude this report, the general consensus states that the third movie should please Despicable Me fans with what they like from the franchise. If you’re a fan, you’ll probably have a good time. If you hate the minion overexposure, then this movie won’t do you any favours. The franchise will continue with Minions 2, set for release on July 3, 2020.

[Universal Pictures]

• Karlamon
   
• Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Box Office Mojo