The Olympics are officially underway in Italy and on the 2026 TV schedule. This means two weeks' worth of fantastic sports that you rarely, if ever, get to watch otherwise. Competitors work tirelessly for this experience once every four years, and one figure skater who thought he had lost out on the Olympic experience he wanted has been saved, thanks to, among others, Pharrell Williams.

Tomás Guarino is a Spanish figure skater who has performed a short program in international competition this season that included music from the Despicable Me and Minions franchises, and even had him dressed in the trademark yellow and blue of the popular Minions characters. He recently announced that, despite submitting his music months ago, he was only recently informed that copyright rules were going to prevent him from using the music at the Olympics. However, in an update on Instagram, Guarino says the rights issues have been worked out. His statement reads in part…

Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy” was written for Despicable Me 2 and received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. The piece is one of several pieces of music from the franchise that appeared during Tomás Guarino’s program. As such, Williams assistance was needed to clear any potential copyright issues.

Figure skating is already underway, and the Milan Winter Olympics and the Men’s Short Program is scheduled for February 10. There wasn’t a lot of time to get the approvals needed to make the program happen, and large corporations aren’t necessarily known for moving quickly, so it says something that Universal Pictures and Sony Music were able to mobilize to clear the way for the music to be used.

Universal also owns NBC, which is broadcasting the Olympics in the U.S. It’s unclear if that helped smooth things over. One has to believe that a Minions-themed figure skating routine might be something people would tune in to see, so it’s possible that people airing the Olympics wanted to see this happen.

I’m not even a big Minions fan, but I do love watching figure skating as part of my two-week binge of all things Olympics. I’ll be looking forward to seeing this routine. Figure skating is at its best when the participants are having fun, and this sounds like it will be a blast.

Most sports fans are probably looking forward to the Super Bowl this weekend, but for me, the big sporting event worth celebrating is a little bit closer. The Winter Olympics get underway on Friday, which means two weeks of a lot of great winter sports that don’t normally get TV time. Unfortunately, one moment that was looking like a highlight, now won’t be happening at all.

A Minions-Themed Olympic Performance Just Got Canned

Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté is a Spanish figure skater who, one can imagine, was looking forward to competing on the Olympic stage. This will be his first Olympic competition, so he was surely looking forward to showing what he can do. Unfortunately, he just informed fans on Instagram that he can’t use his planned short program because the music is from the Despicable Me/Minions franchise, and it runs afoul of copyright rules. He wrote…

Needless to say, it’s got to be a little frustrating to discover now that you have to switch the plan for your short program at the last minute. Especially considering he’s been using the program, which has him dress in yellow and blue overalls, looking like a very tall Minion, all season. He looks great…

Considering the music was submitted months ago, it’s all the more infuriating that this fell apart now, as Sabaté would have had time to change things or come up with a new routine if he’d been told months ago that the music didn’t work. Does anybody know anybody at Illumination or Universal who can get this approved?

Considering that Comcast owns both Universal, which owns Illumination, and NBC, which is broadcasting the Olympics, this seems like something that could be worked out. Of course, since we're dealing with international law, there could be all sorts of weird things going on.

A Dune Themed Skate May Still Happen

While a Minions skate is apparently cancelled, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be other skating routines done with a bit of movie magic. It turns out Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan does a short program to music from Denis Villeneuve's Dune movies, and he does it wearing a stillsuit.

Honestly, I need to see both of these performances at the Olympics. Hopefully, the Dune skater didn’t have the same problem and recently discovered he’s lost his music. Copyright issues are important, but nobody is profiting from the use of this music. Using music people know and like, and creating entertaining skates, will only increase the popularity of both skating and the music being used.

Considering all the best kids movies released within the past couple of decades, there's no denying the staying power of the Despicable Me franchise. The Steve Carrell-led franchise keeps on thriving, thanks in part to the little yellow Minions now firmly ingrained in pop culture. Bad movie reviews be damned, the films continue to generate buzz and big box office receipts, though one little kid's reaction to a Minion seemingly indicate that the characters aren't for everyone.

Little kids can be unpredictable, which seems to make them the perfect subjects of viral TikTok moments. I certainly think this mom was surprised when she decided to show her daughter a "Minion" that came to her door and the little girl reacted in a visceral way:

I honestly haven't enjoyed a Minion video so much since I watched the original Despicable Me with a Netflix subscription. Based on the comments, it seems a lot of viewers were surprised by the child punching what I assume is another child in that Halloween costume.

I do want to know what was going through the child's mind though, and why they punched the Minion. If I had to guess, they weren't fooled that it was an actual character at the door, and saw the child's silhouette clearly through the costume. Obviously, not every kid thinks fictional characters are real. (My daughter made that especially clear to me seconds after we waited an hour in line for her to hug Minnie Mouse at Disney World.)

Honestly, I love the idea of this kid remembering all the ways Minions can cause trouble and punching it in response. After all, their antics cause chaos for Gru and almost all others they interact with, so I can imagine how scary it would be for a kid seeing one in real life. Assuming this child thought she saw a live Minion, I would even be so bold to say she had an under-reaction.

That aside, it's great to see Despicable Me costumes are still a hit (no pun intended) with the kids over a decade after the first movie. Honestly, we're now reaching the point where kids who grew up watching the franchise are reaching young adulthood, so I'm half expecting Halloween Horror Nights to roll out an attraction for it in the future. This year's festivities featured some attractions that focused more on spectacle than scares, like Five Nights At Freddy's for example (it's also very popular with kids). So I think there's a definite possibility Minions could be added in some shape or form in the future.

Despicable Me aside, though, I'm excited to see all the Halloween costumes people will be wearing for the new year. I've already seen KPop Demon Hunters is a popular costume choice, but I have a feeling I'll see a few Minions as well.

The following contains minor spoilers for all the Despicable Me and Minions films.

While Disney is still king of theatrical animation, and Pixar now has the highest-grossing animated film of all time, with Inside Out 2, the most successful animated movie franchise of all time, is actually from neither studio. It's Illumination's Despicable Me films. The four films in the main series, combined with the two Minions films, have made more than $5 billion at the global box office.

The six movies in the series jump around chronologically, so trying to follow the complete story can get confusing. If you’re a Despicable Me fan who wants to rewatch the films in their chronological order, or somebody new to the franchise who just wants to follow a sequential storyline from origins to the current era, here’s a look at how to watch all the movies in the Despicable Me franchise in order, from the beginning of the story to the end,, at least until the next one comes out.

Minions (2015)

Minions is the true start of the franchise, and you can’t go much further back, considering it's the prequel that explains the evolutionary beginnings of the bumbling yellow characters, and how they have existed since the dawn of time, complete with the desire to serve the most evil humans. Three of the Minions —Kevin, Stuart, and Bob — go in search of a new master to serve, leading them to Villain-Con, where they are first hired by Scarlett Overkill (an absolutely hilarious Sandra Bullock) and her husband Herb (John Hamm).

Minions is an interesting one, as it's actually the most successful release of the franchise to date when accounting for the global box office, while conversely being viewed as one of the worst in the franchise by critics. It all comes down to just how much of the Minions and their gibberish speech one can take in a single sitting.

Stream Minions On NetflixBuy/Rent Minions on Prime Video

 Minions: The Rise Of Gru (2022)

Minions: The Rise of Gru takes place in the mid-1970s, and while the movie may be frontloaded by the Minion branding, it is more of a direct Despicable Me prequel story that sees Gru (Steve Carrell) as a young boy who dreams of becoming a supervillain, with the Minions as his hired…minions. After auditioning to become a member of the antagonist squad the Viscious 6, Gru gets kidnapped by one of their former members, causing the Minions to come together to rescue their master.

The Minions: The Rise of Gru cast is the biggest draw for this entry for older viewers. The various villains comprise a who's who of Hollywood stars, making it easier for even the biggest Minions skeptics to enjoy.

Stream/Buy Minions: The Rise Of Gru On Prime Video

Despicable Me (2010)

The first proper Despicable Me movie introduces Gru as an adult supervillain whose rival steals one of the pyramids in Egypt, causing Gru to up the ante by trying to steal the Moon. His plot to battle rival supervillain Vector causes Gru to team up and bond with three orphaned girls, leading to the discovery that even this big bad isn’t entirely evil.

The original Despicable Me is still widely seen by fans and critics as the best of the franchise, which makes sense, since this was the movie that had to be good enough to launch an entire franchise. It's certainly got the strongest heart.

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Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Having retired as a supervillain to be a full-time father, Gru is drafted back into the world of crime by the Anti-Villain League and a woman named Lucy (Kristen Wiig), who wants the former supervillain to help them stop a new supervillain. He agrees, and his new crimefighting partner may turn out to be even more important for Gru on a personal level.

Despicable Me 2 proved to be a strong follow-up to the original, both in the eyes of fans and critics. It was clear from here that we had Illumination's first true franchise on our hands.

Stream Despicable Me 2 on PeacockBuy/Rent Despicable Me 2 On Prime Video

Despicable Me 3 (2017)

In Despicable Me 3, Gru and Lucy are as happily married as former antagonists get, but after an Anti-Villain League mission goes south, both are fired. Gru and his family are then contacted by Gru’s previously unknown twin brother Dru, where we discover that villainy definitely runs in the family, as their father was once a supervillain himself.

Despicable Me 3 was the first film in the main franchise not directed by Chris Renaud, which may explain its somewhat lackluster response from critics. While it's the global box office champ of the flagship film series, it's generally not seen as the best of those releases.

Buy/Rent Despicable Me 3 On Prime Video

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

In July 2024 we got the newest entry in the franchise, and the first Despicable Me movie in seven years. Despicable Me 4 refocused the story on the adult Gru, continuing his adventure with his job working for the Anti-Villan league and her personal life, with an increasingly large family.

Despicable Me 4 saw a former school rival of Gru's declare vengeance on the former villain after he became the latest bad guy captured by the Anti-Villain League. This led to Gru and his family, which now includes baby Gru Jr. going into hiding and taking on new identities. Despicable Me 4 opened strong at the box office, so this franchise is not losing any steam yet.

How To Watch The Despicable Me Movies In Release Order

If you want to watch all of the Despicable Me movies in chronological order, the above is the way to follow the story from beginning to end. If however, you want to watch all the films as you would have seen them in theaters, then the proper order would be.

• Despicable Me (2010)
• Despicable Me 2 (2013)
• Minions (2015)
• Despicable Me 3 (2017)
• Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
• Despicable Me 4 (2024)

There are now six films in the massive franchise, but it's far from done. Minions 3 was recently announced for a 2027 release. Clearly, this franchise is still massively popular. With Universal Orlando Resort opening an entire Minions Land recently, and another planned for upcoming Universal Kids Resort in Texas, it seems unlikely the movies are planning to stop anytime soon, so long as supervillains aren't running the studio.

How are there some movies out there that genuinely changed the game and the face of a particular movie genre for years to come? Yeah, one of those films happens to be Despicable Me.

I know, at first, you’re probably wondering, “That stupid little movie with the minions that my grandmother, for some reason, loves to post on Facebook all the time?” Yes, that movie. And trust me, I feel you, I hear you – I stand in solidarity as someone who has been barraged by Minion memes time and time again. The Despicable Me movies have reigned supreme.

But at the same time, the Minion-hype and everything else came from somewhere, right? It didn’t just pop up overnight and become a sensation. It came from the first Despicable Me film. So, since it’s been fifteen years since the first one was released, I decided to rewatch it – and I have to admit, I really think this series was ruined by its later films. Let’s get into it.

I Know That The Despicable Me Franchise Has Sort Of Become A Joke Now

So before I get into this, I know that the Despicable Me movies have become a joke now.

I don’t just mean in the “wow, they are so bad they’re good” kind of way. It’s more like the characters themselves have become memes over the years. And, I mean, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I seriously think that, due to the rise of meme culture, Shrek ended up earning a whole new slew of fans in the 2010s, which led to the upcoming Shrek 5. Meme culture can be good.

However, because the Despicable Me movies are not particularly well-received, the jokes are made worse, and the memes begin to spread more and more. Not only that, but with the rise of Minions online and how often you see them all over social media platforms, those little monsters have become a joke now, too – and not in a funny way. More like a “I want to drop-kick them over my fence” kind of way.

Either way, the movies aren’t known to be the best, but there’s something about the first film that I didn’t realize – and that it’s actually good.

The First Movie, However, Is Really Well-Done

Scratch that, it’s not just good – this film is great. Amazing. I seriously think Illumination had a good thing going with the first Despicable Me film, because this movie really does have a lot of heart that I wasn't expecting.

I’m not entirely sure how to approach this without diving too deeply into the story and spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it. But since it’s been fifteen years since its release, I’m going to feel relatively better about it. So spoiler alert.

In the film, Gru (the main antagonist/protagonist) seeks to adopt three girls in order to use them for his villainous schemes and against his nemesis. But as time goes on, he starts to care for the girls that he didn’t expect, as the battle between who will steal the moon first heats up between him and his nemesis, Vector.

That, in of itself, is a fun plot – and filled to the brim with ideas that I’m sure so many people will latch onto. But how they deliver it is what makes it fun. Steve Carell’s voice-acting of Gru is obviously excellent, and I think that even in the later films, he kills it too. But I believe him in this film just hit so much harder because he truly shows so much emotion in this relatively emotionless man. And that’s something that we all love.

However, other aspects also make this a great movie.

The Trope Of A Grumpy Man Taking On Three Girls And Growing A Heart Never Gets Old

I don’t need to be the first one to tell you that the idea of a grumpy man becoming a father figure/mentor to someone younger is a trope that everyone loves. We’ve seen it time and time again. HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us is a great example. The Mandalorian is one of the best Disney+ original shows. Heck, you could even point out Tony Stark and Peter Parker in the MCU. It’s a trope that many people, including myself, lean towards. And to have that in a kid’s movie is practically screenwriting gold.

What makes it work so well here is that it feels organic. We know for a fact that Gru adopted this girl with ill intentions from the start. Seeing that moral code shift within his mind as the film progresses, and those slow, little transformations that fully reveal how much they have affected him, makes it that much better.

When he finally saves the girls towards the end, you feel like you’ve earned it – because you’ve seen that change in his own heart. It’s like watching the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes, and when it’s so big it’s overflowing out of his chest, that’s when he saves the town, and you root for him.

That’s what it was like watching this trope fully take form – and what a way they did it.

The Minions Weren't Overdone And Were Actually Funny

This is the biggest thing that gets to me – the fact that the Minions were actually funny in the first film. It makes me remember why we all fell in love with them. Even me! I had a Minion plushie at some point.

But you want to know what makes them good? They weren’t overdone. They had their funny moments for sure, but there weren’t whole sequences dedicated to just following them and their strange noises as they messed up something from Gru. They were an integral part of the story and didn’t overstay their welcome – unlike many of the other films and their movies.

The memes really began from there. But it’s a shame that at one point, they were great, but now, I couldn’t even imagine them going back to how they once were. And hopefully we never see the Minions in live-action form.

I Wish That Each Film Was Made With This Much Care, But Guess Not Anymore

I don’t know if there will be any more Despicable Me movies. The franchise remains successful for Illumination. Despicable Me 4 killed the July 4th box office in 2024, and overall earned nearly a billion dollars at the box office. So it would honestly be surprising if somehow, it didn’t earn another film – or, at the very least, another Minions movie.

However, it’s a shame that the original film, which is so well-written and scripted, has been tarnished by its successors. I think everyone often overlooks how much the Minions have permeated pop culture, or the memes that we usually forget about, where it all began. And to me, that’s a shame, because I really do love the first film.

Honestly, I would recommend you go back and watch it, because I do think it’s one of Illumination’s best – even if the later films aren’t nearly as great. I think it might be time for another movie marathon – or perhaps just this one.

The great thing about fiction is it allows people to temporarily suspend their disbelief for the sake of entertainment. Many of the most beloved movies of all time have strange and downright ridiculous premises if you try to explain them out loud, but their strangeness is a part of their charm. Here are 32 films with absolutely ridiculous plots.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

This movie was a critical and commercial darling, and its plot is utterly bizarre. A disillusioned laundromat operator traverses the multiverse, battles soldiers masquerading as IRS office workers, and dances with hot dog fingers in order to save her estranged, nihilistic daughter. It is, by far, one of the best and zaniest Best Picture winners that we’ve seen in a very long time.

21 Jump Street (2012)

On the surface this film seems relatively normal: it’s the classic tale of an awkward nerd and a dumb, handsome jock forming an unlikely duo while navigating the trials and tribulations of high school. Only this time, they’re also buddy cops going undercover as high school students in a sting operation to arrest the dealer of a new illicit drug. And, fittingly, the movie’s visuals are just as trippy as its premise.

Legally Blonde (2001)

In many ways, Legally Blonde was ahead of its time due to how it disrupted harmful stereotypes about hyper-feminine women. Its plot is still a bit goofy though, as it involves a popular, blonde sorority girl working her behind off to secure a spot at one of the most competitive law schools in the country, just to prove to her pretentious ex-boyfriend that she’s worthy of him taking her seriously. Thankfully the film ends with her ditching the loser and discovering a true penchant for law.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

One of the highest-grossing films of all time has one of the most convoluted plots of all time. A billionaire, retired superhero and his team invent time travel so that he and his fellow superheroes can travel to different timelines and capture magical, rainbow-colored stones so that they can reverse the devastating effects of a purple villain’s success in eliminating half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers. Don’t worry, though: you only have to watch 21 films to understand it.

Poor Things (2023)

This colorful, quirky science fiction movie earned Emma Stone her second Oscar, and by just listening to its plot, it’s clear to see why. Stone portrays a woman whose brain has been replaced by that of an infant, and in the beginning of the film she cannot even properly pronounce the word “blood,” but by the end, she is studying to become a doctor. The dramatic transformation she undergoes, while traipsing around Europe and learning philosophy, is equally strange and impressive.

Back To The Future (1985)

Back to the Future is widely thought of as the quintessential time travel movie, and the implications of its time travel are seismic. A teenager accidentally travels 30 years into the past after meeting his eccentric science friend, and while stuck in the past, he inadvertently interferes with the relationship of his teenage parents, which threatens his very existence. Now he has to ensure that the couple stays together before he is erased from history, while dealing with the uncomfortable fact that his teenage mother has taken a liking to him.

The Mask (1994)

Back in the ‘90s, Jim Carrey was arguably the King of Ridiculous Movies, and his turn as Stanley Ipkiss in the mask not only allowed him to show off his excellent comedic sensibilities, but also his amazing face acting and physical capabilities, as his character quite literally turns into a cartoon come to life with a neon green face after donning a magical mask. The bad CGI stretching and morphing only adds to the zany enjoyment of the movie.

Happy Death Day (2017)

There is no worse birthday present than death, and this film forces its protagonist to endure it every birthday. The protagonist, a mean sorority girl, dies on her birthday, and she is forced to relive the tragic day every single day until she figures out who the person responsible is. Also, she has limited time to figure out who the person is before she dies for real (as in, she stops coming back to life).

The Boss Baby (2017)

A lot of animated movies lean into the fact that they are marketed towards kids, and there are few better examples than The Boss Baby. This zany movie’s plot involves the existence of an absurd baby-making corporation in the clouds that delivers a baby with hopes of rising the corporate ladder to a family with a disgruntled former only child, and the unlikely brother duo must work together to stop puppies from becoming the most loved creatures in the world.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

Speaking of absurd animated movies, the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise as a whole is pretty bizarre with its takes on marine life, but its movie definitely pushes the boundaries of what’s believable. In this movie, Plankton steals King Neptune’s crown and frames Mr. Krabs for it, just so Neptune will punish Krabs and give Plankton a chance to steal his coveted burger recipe, sell those burgers at his restaurant, and become dictator of Bikini Bottom. And it’s up to SpongeBob and Patrick to retrieve the crown while driving in a car made out of a Krabby Patty.

Home Alone (1990)

The ridiculousness of Home Alone’s plot likely comes from the fact that such a scenario happening in real life would be deeply sad. A young boy, who already feels like an outsider in his own family, is left behind by said family when they go on a Christmas vacation. And if this minor being left unattended isn’t bad enough, he is forced to set up elaborate, dangerous traps to ward off persistent, home invaders.

Divergent (2014)

The Divergent movie was just one of a multitude of young adult, dystopian franchise films that became massively popular during the 2010s, and it, by far, has the most head-scratching premise. In its future, what’s left of humanity after a cataclysmic war has divided itself into factions based on rudimentary personality traits, such as kindness and honesty. In this reality, you are seen as a massive threat that must be eliminated if you dare to be intelligent, honest, and selfless at the time.

Barbie (2023)

Stereotypical Barbie spends most of her life in an idyllic, woman-ruled, plastic paradise until one day she begins to experience existential dread and the horrible tragedies of cellulite and flat feet. She must then embark on a journey from her perfect Barbie Land to the Real World and discover the meaning of life and womanhood in a male-dominated world. And Ken’s also there, but he’s just Ken.

Cocaine Bear (2023)

The ridiculousness of this movie’s plot can really be summed up with its title. After sacks of cocaine fall into the woods, a bear accidentally becomes addicted to it and attacks the residents of a small town. While this sounds like the plot of a horror movie, it’s actually quite hilarious in the stupidest way possible, because the amount of opportunities these people are given to escape from or incapacitate the bear are numerous, and yet they choose idiocy every single time.

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Harry Potter’s story has become such a classic by now, that it’s hard to think that at one point it was another strange idea that had to be marketed to the world. In the first movie, Harry is an orphaned boy that is neglected and mistreated by his foster family, only to be politely kidnapped by a gentle giant who tells him he’s a wizard and sends him off to attend a magical boarding school. Also, a fully grown wizard has hated him since he was a baby, because that’s normal.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

It’s normal when starting a new relationship with someone to not want to think about or compare yourself to their exes. Now, imagine that not only did you have to meet all seven of their exes, but you had to battle them to the death too, preferably in video game combat style. Those are the insane lengths Scott Pilgrim goes through to be with Ramona Flowers.

Twilight (2008)

It’s a tale as old as time: a teenage girl who hates the cold and rain moves to the Pacific Northwest to live with her distant father to allow her mother to travel the country with her new husband, and, while in the Pacific Northwest, said teenage girl meets and falls in love with a sparkly, 108-year-old vampire that not so secretly wants to drink her blood. And then, they live happily ever after or something like that.

The Princess Bride (1987)

The best part of The Princess Bride is its ridiculousness. There’s such a warmth to the film due to the fact that it obviously does not take itself seriously, exemplified by the princess herself being named “Buttercup,” she pushes the man whom she believed took the life of her former lover down a hill, only to realize said man is her true love, and rolls down the hill with him. And this is all after he incapacitates the three men who kidnap her. And that's just the beginning!

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The most-seen film in movie history also has the most beloved, ridiculous plot in movie history. A young girl and her dog get caught in a tornado, and the storm transports them to a faraway land where there are good witches, bad witches, flying monkeys, talking lions and scarecrows and more. And in order for her to get home, she has to follow a yellow brick road in ruby red slippers.

Despicable Me (2010)

In this silly tale, a villain, seeking to earn more respect in the villain community, plots to steal the moon, which is simple enough. So, obviously, the best way to go about doing so is adopting three orphaned girls and sending the girls to sell cookies at his villain competitor’s house, so that he can infiltrate said house and steal the competitor’s shrink ray to successfully steal the moon. At least, that’s what Despicable Me tries to convince its admittedly very young audience makes sense.

White Chicks (2004)

It’s common to look back at media from decades again with a modern perspective and assess whether said media from that earlier time would be made today. This movie is a clear example of one that is a product of its time, not only because of its crass racial humor, but also because of its dumbfounding plot: two Black, male FBI agents masquerade as blonde white women to protect two social heiresses from being kidnapped. Hijinks ensue, and lewd jokes abound.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

When your movie is being led by comedic genius Robin Williams, it’s likely to have a ridiculous plot, and Mrs. Doubfire is no exception. In this family-friendly flick, Williams portrays an unemployed voice actor going through a difficult divorce. After he is only granted supervised visitation rights to his kids, he comes up with an outrageous plan to spend more time with him: pose as an elderly, female nanny named “Mrs. Doubtfire.”

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

In this film’s universe, all major, commercial holidays coexist with one another and have their own lands which can be accessed by secret, tree-encased portals. The Pumpkin King of Halloween Town becomes disillusioned with his life there, stumbles across the Christmas portal, and falls in love. He does everything in his power to introduce his own, twisted form of Christmas to his macabre home, to limited success.

The Parent Trap (1998)

In yet another case of questionable parenting, a British woman falls in love with and marries an American man, and she gives birth to twin daughters. The couple divorced shortly after the girls are born, and instead of trying to work out a joint custody situation, the parents decide to keep one daughter each and raise her in their respective home countries and pretend the other daughter does not exist. This eventually leads to the girls meeting each other and learning of each other’s existence for the very first time at summer camp, and after a period of rivalry, they decide to join forces to get their parents back together.

13 Going On 30 (2004)

This is another movie that shows you how weird its plot is just with its title. An awkward, 13-year-old wants to skip the uncool parts of life and live life as a successful, 30-year-old woman in New York. And on her birthday, she gets her wish, waking up in the body of a rich, stylish magazine editor with a not-so-great personality. The most bizarre, yet impressive part of this movie is watching Jennifer Gardner portray a 30-year-old woman with the brain of a 13-year-old girl who’s trying to pretend like she’s a 30-year-old woman.

Shazam! (2019)

If you were to ask a child what their dream superpower is, becoming an adult probably wouldn’t be their tenth choice, let alone their top choice, but Billy Batson in Shazam! makes it look super cool. After being chosen by an ancient wizard, the foster kid, can now morph into a fully grown man at will by yelling “Shazam!” and he gets a suite of cool powers.

Central Intelligence (2016)

Few Hollywood best friends are more endearing than Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, and their on-screen chemistry comes to life in this silly buddy cop action movie. Johnson’s character is a formerly obese nerd turned jacked CIA agent who needs Hart’s character’s accounting skills, even though the latter hasn’t seen the former since his days as a star athlete. Of course, they save the world in the campiest, most hilarious ways.

Spy Kids (2001)

Surely many kids have wondered what their lives would be like if their mild-mannered, suburban, if a little boring, parents were actually top-secret spies. Well for the brother-sister duo in this movie, that lifestyle is anything but fun as it leads to them being captured by a villain with giant, sentient thumbs for minions. And, that’s not even the weirdest part.

Matilda (1996)

A young, precocious girl is neglected by her family, so she finds solace in reading a lot. Unlocking so much of her brain’s potential at a such young age grants her telekinetic abilities, which she uses to enact revenge on her parents and awful principal, Ms. Trunchbull.

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971)

A mysterious, eccentric chocolatier, invites a select group of children with accompanying guardians to his famed chocolate factory, only to discover that there are horrors at every turn, including chewing gum that can turn you into a human-sized blueberry and fizzy drinks that cause you to float, which is fun, until you’re dangerously close to a whirring ceiling fan. The only reason this film is thought of as cheerful and child-friendly, and not downright terrifying, is because it hams up how utterly ridiculous it is.

Alvin And The Chipmunks (2007)

A live-action movie with talking animals will always necessitate some suspension of disbelief, but when those talking animals are chipmunks that also sing, and quickly become the world’s biggest pop stars, at some point a line is crossed and any semblance of realism has flown out the window. The only thing more ridiculous than the rodent singers themselves are all the times their manager, turned adoptive father Dave screams “Alvin!”

The Nutty Professor (1996)

In this movie, Eddie Murphy portrays a brilliant, obese professor who develops a groundbreaking weight-loss formula. Insecure about his size and eager to impress the girl of his dreams, the professor tests out the drug on himself, and he successfully slims down, only for the thin version of himself to develop an evil alter ego and fight to take over the professor’s life permanently. Not only are the performances of this film hilarious and outlandish, especially with Eddie Murphy playing multiple roles, but the visual gags of the professor switching between his thin and large self are something to behold.

Once the first Despicable Me movie was released in 2010, it didn’t take long for this Universal Pictures and Illumination property to become one of the most popular animated franchises. 14 years later, six movies comprise the Despicable Me film series, including two Minions spinoffs, and now it ranks as the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time. With such popularity having been achieved, one wouldn’t be faulted for wondering if we’ll ever reach a day when the Minions could be adapted into live action. Director Chris Renaud has given his blunt answer on if the humorous yellow creatures will ever be handled this way, and I agree with him on this.

Ever since 2010’s Alice in Wonderland, Disney’s been regularly churning out live-action remakes/re-imaginings of its animated movies, and many of Disney’s upcoming Disney movies will keep that streak going, including Snow White, Lilo & Stitch and Hercules. When Film Hounds asked Renaud if the Minions and the Despicable Me franchise as a whole could follow suit, he first said, “God, I hope not. That’s any answer.” He followed that up with the following:

Look, I won’t say that I’m completely against Disney having churned out so many live-action remakes. Do I think these versions are better than their animated predecessors? Usually not, but I’ve nonetheless enjoyed fare like The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. But do I think the world of Despicable Me should be envisioned through the same kind of lens? Absolutely not, and it really only boils down to one reason: “live-action” Minions would be horrifying.

Ok, much like how 2019’s The Lion King and its follow-up Mufasa: The Lion King, which opens on the 2024 release schedule in December, the Minions in a live-action Despicable Me movie would obviously be realized through CGI and be operating in a live-action world. Nevertheless, I have no interest in learning what a “realistic” Minion would look like, because I have no doubt that image would haunt my dreams. All that being said, Chris Renaud does make a good point that the antics that unfold in the Despicable Me movies are best suited for animation. If you try to recreate them for live action, they just won’t look as good, and thus won’t be enjoyable.

For now, Despicable Me is still comfortably raking in the big bucks in an animated setting thanks to Despicable Me 4’s continuing theatrical run, and Minions 3 is set for release on June 30, 2027. You can stream the main Despicable Me movies with a Peacock subscription, but you’ll need a Netflix subscription to access Minions and an Amazon Prime Video subscription to access Minions: The Rise of Gru.

There’s no denying the popularity of Illumination’s Despicable Me franchise, with worldwide box office earnings for its combined offerings in the multi-billions. It’s safe to assume that many kids and their parents will be rushing to the theaters over the long Fourth of July weekend to see the animated comedy Despicable Me 4, which hits the 2024 movie calendar on Wednesday, July 3, but will mom and dad enjoy the experience as much as their little ones? That’s up for debate, as some critics are railing on the newest installment, while others are perfectly fine with more Minion antics.

Two years after Minions: The Rise of Gru, Steve Carell’s villain is back for the animated comedy Despicable Me 4, and you know he’s brought along his little yellow henchmen. Let’s get to the critics, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Despicable Me 4. Our own Dirk Libbey rates the movie just 1 star out of 5, writing that when the movie inevitably finds success at the box office, it won’t be because of its compelling story or hilarious jokes, because those don’t exist. He continues: 

Matt Donato of Paste agrees, rating the film a 2 out of 10 and warning that however bad you think Despicable Me 4 is going to be, it’s worse. The plot feels like a collection of shorts Scotch-taped together, Donato writes, and the low-hanging fruit of children’s animation fails to even achieve the simple formula of “Gru + Minions + Cute = Haha.” The critic says: 

Leigh Monson of AV Club grades it a D+, calling the movie a “bore,” though it will inevitably be “good enough” to become yet another mainstream blockbuster for Universal and Illumination. However, Monson says, “good enough” is the enemy of “good.” The critic continues: 

Other critics, however, think the sixth franchise feature far exceeds “good enough,” as Dominic Griffin of Looper says it’s an “unassailable success” as far as a way to kill time with the kids, even if that is a low bar. To Griffin, the Minions do the heavy lifting, and all forthcoming films should focus on them. In the critic’s words: 

Neil Pond of Neil’s Entertainment Picks agrees, saying it’s hard to not to love the little mayhem-making sidekicks, who in this movie threaten to steal the comedic spotlight from Steve Carell and Will Ferrell. Pond applauds the infectiously clever comedy, writing: 

The critics seem to be thoroughly split on Despicable Me 4 — it holds a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing — though their opinions might not have much bearing on parents’ decision to see the film, with many kiddos likely calling the shots when it comes to revisiting the world of Gru and his Minions. So throw some bananas in your bag, grab your weird Minion souvenir cup and catch Despicable Me 4 in theaters starting Wednesday, July 3. 

In the last 14 years, the Despicable Me movies have been franchise gold for Illumination. It's no wonder we've seen direct sequels alongside the Minions spinoffs/prequels. And yet, all franchises run their course, and Despicable Me 4 seems to be proof that this one has done so, as it has nothing of substance to add.

Despite its name, Despicable Me 4 is actually the sixth film in an ongoing franchise. While it will in all likelihood continue the box office success that the previous installments have seen , that won't be because the film tells a deeply compelling story or is full of hilarious jokes – because it doesn't.

Former supervillain Gru (Steve Carrell) would seem to have it all. He’s a hero to the Anti-Villain League, in which he has successfully captured a former boarding school rival, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell). However, when Maxime breaks out of prison and promises revenge, Gru and his family, which now includes baby Gru Jr., must go into hiding, taking on new identities and learning to live as “normal” people.

Despicable Me 4 has too many plots and not enough story. 

I’m afraid that in summarizing the plot of Despicable Me 4 I may be giving a wrong impression that the movie is in any way coherent or that it has some sort of linear narrative, as that’s not exactly the case. While the film is less than 90 minutes long when you discount the credits, it still doesn’t have enough story to justify even its minimum runtime. As such, there is not so much a story here there are multiple subplots that occasionally intersect with each other. Most of them are irrelevant to the “main” plot and are not the least bit interesting, but the filmmakers have to keep the characters busy somehow!

If plot one is Gru and his family hiding from a supervillain, plot two is the family trying to live their new lives with assumed names, new jobs, and new schools. Each member of the family gets exactly one scene showing them trying, and failing, to live their new life, and that’s that. 

Plot three deals with a group of everybody’s favorite little yellow Minions gaining superpowers, ostensibly to battle the impending supervillain threat, but such a battle never happens. Instead, it just seems like an excuse to give the Minions new stuff to do so that the real franchise moneymakers won't be left out of the story entirely. 

Plot four deals with Gru’s new neighbors, specifically their daughter Poppy (Joey King), who sees herself as a future supervillain and recognizes Gru as somebody who can help her. This plot at least leads into something that could be called a story. Poppy has something that looks like it could be a character arc if you were to squint. Maybe this could have been a whole and better movie. We'll never know.

The ever-popular Minions feel even more tacked on than usual. 

There were opportunities here. Gru’s oldest daughter (Miranda Cosgrove) is, based on a single scene that is never followed up on, having a difficult time making friends in her new school. Gru’s youngest daughter (Madison Polan) is having trouble adjusting due to having to leave her pet goat behind for… reasons. Gru himself is challenged by his nemesis that he is incapable of being successful alone, always needing the Anti-Villain League to help him. None of these potentially interesting stories are ever dealt with after being mentioned. 

Some of these plots do intersect with others, making them technically necessary to the main plot, but only in the most tangential ways. Each scene is just a setup for a new series of gags that could have made for a series of interesting animated shorts that could have been placed in theaters in front of better movies. 

With so much going on and so little time for any of it to happen, none of it is given the slightest focus or ability to breathe. Instead, it’s just one joke after another. For what it’s worth, the gags are fine. Some of the jokes are funny; the kids in attendance at my advanced screening laughed in all the right places.

But even kids who find some of the antics funny will likely be disappointed. The Despicable Me movies are largely a Minion delivery device at this point, which is fine, but even the Minions get the short end of the stick here. While the diminutive yellow sidekicks are everywhere, they don't do anything. It's hard to imagine that younger audiences who are actually fans will be happy with the lip service the characters get here. They could have been axed entirely and the main thrust of Despicable Me 4 would not change. 

Despicable Me 4 has no reason for being and probably shouldn’t be. 

Casting Will Ferrell as the villain this time around surely seems like a good idea on paper, reuniting him with his Anchorman castmate Steve Carrell, but in practice, he doesn’t work. His particular non-specific accent makes him only slightly easier to understand than the Minions. Sofia Vergara also appears as the supervillain's girlfriend/sidekick, and her job is to mostly look like she doesn't want to be there, making her the most relatable character in the movie. 

All theatrical releases exist to make money, but Despicable Me 4 feels like a film that was given a release date before anybody bothered to come up with a reason to make it. There clearly wasn’t a compelling story to tell here, but rather than just wait until somebody actually had an idea, Illumination moved forward regardless, putting together a collection of the best ideas they had at the time.

Despicable Me 4's lack of quality will have no bearing on the film's box office success. If previous results are any indication, the movie will continue the franchise's overall success, likely setting us up for Minions 3 and Despicable Me 5. Perhaps by the time we get there, somebody will have found a story worth telling with these characters again. 

Since the feature arrived in early 2020, the Netflix Top 10 bar has been an interesting way for those with a Netflix subscription to see what people are watching the most of the streaming platform. While often it’s what is new on Netflix that most often appears at the top of the list, recently a beloved animated franchise has been dominating the site. 

Just about all the Despicable Me movies have been trending on Netflix’s global top 10 recently, with Despicable 2 particularly standing strong having been on the list for 13 weeks straight! Check out the top ranking Netflix titles below: 

Per Netflix’s own reporting, four out of five of the Despicable Me movies are doing incredibly well on the streaming service right now – especially considering most of these movies are quite a few years old! 

Now, you’ll have to check if these movies are available in your country (because in the United States for example, most of them are exclusive to Peacock), but overall, many of Illumination’s animated films are especially popular right now all over the world and ranking in top ten lists in anywhere from over 30 to 60 countries at the same time. 

For the many families who are bingeing the Despicable Me movies right now, it’s a good time to do so considering the next installment is part of the upcoming 2024 movies lineup. This summer, just in time for 4th of July weekend in the United States, Despicable Me 4 is coming to theaters. The new animated movie will see Steve Carell’s Gru raising a baby for the first time alongside his wife Lucy (voiced by Kirsten Wiig) along with being an Anti-Villain League agent. 

Despicable Me 4 is a long-time coming, considering there hasn’t been a movie to come out of the main franchise since 2017. In 2022, Minions: The Rise of Gru gave fans a sense of what Gru’s childhood and Minions origins was like. Although critics were not into the movie, including CinemaBlend’s Minions: Rise of Gru review getting 1.5 out of 5 stars, it went on to earn $940 million worldwide at the global box office, proving the Despicable Me takeover is very much alive and kicking. Last year, Universal Orlando Florida also opened its very own Minion Land over the summer. 

Aside from binging all those bananas Minion-filled Despicable Me movies, you can mark your calendar for Despicable Me 4, heading to theaters on July 3, 2024. 

When you think of Kristen Wiig’s funniest moments, either from her days as a Saturday Night Live cast member or from her best movies, it might not be what she says that makes you laugh, but how she says it or the expression she makes as she speaks. Regardless of what it is that makes the following Kristen Wiig quotes so memorable, we certainly found them hilarious.

"I Learn Something Every Day At Target. Yesterday, I Learned That Coca-Cola Is Dark Brown" - SNL (as Target Lady)

Arguably the single funniest SNL sketch starring Kristen Wiig sees her playing the aptly named Target Lady, who likes to converse with her customers while ringing them out even if they don’t ask to. One such example is when the grocery store checker revealed something relatively obvious about a popular brand of soda that she, somehow, did not realize until recently.

"Are You An Appliance?" - Bridesmaids

Perhaps the one scene from Bridesmaids — the 2011comedy that made co-writer Kristen Wiig into an Oscar-nominated SNL star — that sees the actor at her most brilliant is when an overly relaxed Annie causes a ruckus on a flight in first class. After a flight attendant named Steve (Mitch Silpa) tries to get her back to coach, she intentionally calls him “Stove” instead, leading to this cleverly taunting question.

"I Got Shot In Nicaragua!" - MacGruber 

In one of the best movies based on an SNL character, 2010’s MacGruber, Will Forte’s bumbling titular operative tries to calm Vicki’s (Kristen Wiig) nerves by comparing their mission to a job they did in Nicaragua. When she reminds him how things ended up for her then, he immediately recants the statement.

"Someone Threw A Box Of Dictionaries Out Of A Four-Story Window, Crushing Everything Below My Waist... So, I Think I Know A Little Something About People Throwing Words Around" - SNL 

In an underrated SNL sketch from Season 32, Kristen Wiig and host Alec Baldwin play colleagues who end up offending each other with literally every single thing they say while carpooling to work. For instance, when Baldwin’s character tells Wiig to be more careful about the "words you throw around,” it reminds her of an oddly specific incident that has left her metal from the waist down.

"It's Just, It's The First Time I've Ever Seen You Look Ugly And That Makes Me Kind Of Happy" - Bridesmaids

In Bridesmaids, while searching for Lillian (Maya Rudolph), Annie (Wiig) cannot help but smile when she sees an upset Helen’s (Rose Byrne) “ugly crier” face and lets her rival know exactly how this sight makes her feel. However, the socialite refuses to accept that her face could possibly bear an unfavorable expression.

"James Bond May Go By 007, But I Give This Film a Double ‘Oh, Brother!’” - SNL 

Kristen Wiig appeared on “Weekend Update” a few times as Amy Poehler’s Aunt Linda, a film critic who is impossibly hard to please. At least she has a clever and even punny ways of rating movies, with her review of 2006’s Casino Royale being one of the best examples.

"Ohhhh Myyy Goddddddd!" - SNL

One of the best examples of how Kristen Wiig can turn just about any phrase into comedy cold comes from one of her most memorable recurring characters, Sue. When someone announces a secret that they want to keep for a surprise and you hear her say this in her signature, rousing tone, you know that she is about to get out of control with excitement.

"He Looked Like Jesus... He Was Wearing Sandals" - SNL 

Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis appeared in several sketches as a gum-chewing, air-headed couple who are impossible to talk to, which makes them the worst crime witnesses imaginable as a detective (played by host Kevin Spacey) discovers. When Wiig’s character mentions that the car thief “looked like Jesus,” the detective assumes she means he has a brown beard, only for her to clarify she was referring to his footwear.

"Oh, How Romantic! What Woman Gives Another Woman A Trip To Paris?" - Bridesmaids 

Annie’s rivalry with Helen reaches its peak at Lillian’s bridal shower in Bridesmaids, when the upstaging socialite reveals she is taking the bride to France as her pre-wedding gift. To tries to back up her reaction by pointing out that such a getaway is typically something that couples do together.

"... Just Kidding..." - SNL 

Arguably, Wiig’s funniest recurring “Weekend Update” guest is Judy Grimes — a travel expert whose extreme nerves cause her to compulsively make things up, ending just about every sentence with an assurance that she is “just kidding.” It’s truly a wonder to watch her spout out these falsehoods (or are they?) in such an intense rapid-fire momentum.

"I Do Believe In You. I Just Know You're Gonna Fail" - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story 

One of the many music biopic cliches explored in 2007’s Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is that the subjective artist’s first marriage tends to fall apart due to a lack of support from their spouse (and vice versa). John C. Reilly’s titular soon-to-be rock star experiences this when his first wife, Edith (Wiig), reveals that, while she does want to be supportive of his music career, she can’t feign her faith in his talent.

"And I Burnt My Arm In The Oven. It Hurts Pretty Bad, But I Didn't Even Scream, 'Cause I Keep The Pain Inside Of Me" - SNL 

Kristen Wiig hosted SNL’s Season 46 holiday episode, which features a “Christmas Morning” rap music video starring her as a mother whose only gift was a robe. The song takes her family’s ignorance a step further with a lyric that reveals her reluctance to announce a kitchen injury while the rest are preoccupied with their truckload of presents.

“I Apologize For Screaming At The Top Of My Lungs” - Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar 

Quite a few of Kristen Wiig’s funniest movie moments happen to take place on airplanes, such as in Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar, starring Wiig as Star and her co-writer, Annie Mumolo, as Barb. We only see the middle of the duo’s flight to their titular vacation destination, but the takeoff must have been pretty intense if Star felt the need to apologize to a passenger for her behavior.

"I've Already Been Working On My Accent. Wallaby. Didgeridoo. Hugh Jackman" - Despicable Me 2 

Illumination’s Despicable Me 2 sees former supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) partnered with Anti-Villain League agent, Lucy (Wiig), whom he starts to fall for, only to learn she is being relocated to Australia. She demonstrates how she has been preparing to move down under by practicing some local phrases, including the name of a certain Academy Award nominee and X-Men movies star.

"Have Fun Having A Baby At Your Prom" - Bridesmaids 

Annie (Wiig) loses her jewelry store gig after a teen’s (Mia Rose Frampton) request for a “Best Friends Forever” necklace leads to a heated verbal sparring match. The single most biting (but not so-R-rated) insult in this classic Bridesmaids scene implies that one of the customer’s “four boyfriends” is going to be the father of her child.

"At This Time Of Dayee? It's Gonna Be Jahmed" - SNL 

In the first edition of the recurring SNL sketch, “The Californians,” Stuart (Fred Armisen) catches Devin (Bill Hader) kissing his wife, Karina (Wiig), and tells him to "Get back on San Vicente, take it to the 10 then switch over to the 405 North and let it dump you out onto Mulholland where you belong!" What makes Karina’s response such a gut-buster is not just her over-the-top West Coast accent, but Wiig’s struggle not to break character.

"I'm Hoping For Some Mauling. Like, On My Shoulder Or Lower Back" - How To Train Your Dragon

In How to Train Your Dragon, the younger members of the Viking village called Berk prepare for dragon fighting class by discussing the anticipation for the pain they are likely to experience in this next brawling session. Wiig’s character, Ruffnut, easily has one of the funniest expressions of this in the DreamWorks animation favorite.

"Can't Say The Pledge Of Allegiance Or I'll Burn My Hand, So I Guess My Heart's A Little Warmer Than Yours" - SNL

One of Kristen Wiig’s most ridiculous recurring SNL characters is Penelope, who tends to make a competition out of literally everything, such as when she volunteered at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. When one person (played by Kenan Thompson) mentions how seeing how many people are volunteering “really warms [his] heart,” she can’t help but embellish just how much warmer her heart is.

"Haven't You Ever Wondered If The Real Ocean Sounds Like Our Noise Machine?" - Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar 

There are so many hilarious Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar moments and quotes to choose from. One of the funniest to come from Wiig’s character, Star, comes when she compares the sound you hear from inside a seashell to the sound of her noise machine from home.

"Instead Of Using Paper Money, I Think We Should Pay For Things With Clouds" - SNL

Kristen Wiig has portrayed various celebrities on SNL, but one of her funniest impersonations is that of eccentric Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Björk. When Seth Meyers brings the Iceland native onto “Weekend Update” to discuss her ideas to save her country from financial ruin, he quickly realizes that she is not qualified to tackle this issue.

"It's A Good Tub. I Slept In There On My 30th Birthday, Remember?” - Bridesmaids 

Annie finds the missing Lillian at her apartment, where she reminisces about all the things that she is going to miss about living there after she gets married and moves out. Among them is her bathtub, which Annie mentions also has a special place in her heart for serving as a bed the night she entered her 30s.

"Hey, That Pollo Is Loco" - Despicable Me 2 

In Despicable Me 2, Gru and Lucy break into a restaurant that they discover is guarded by one erratic chicken. After incapacitating the fowl foe, she makes a pun regarding its behavior that calls to mind a famous food joint called El Pollo Loco.

"Okay, Were Britney Spears And Christina Aguilera The Same Person?" - Girl Most Likely

Out of context, this quote from Girl Most Likely — a 2013 dramedy starring Wiig as a failed playwright forced to live with her mother (Annette Bening) after suffering a meltdown — sounds like someone exposing how out of touch they are with pop music history. In reality, it comes from a scene when her character, Imogene, goes to a ‘90s pop music tribute show where the same woman performed as both Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

"He Looked Like A Rabbit" - SNL 

Only some of Kristen Wiig’s recurring SNL characters have catchphrases, such as her half of the ignorant and infantile couple she portrayed alongside Jason Sudeikis in several episodes. Nearly each of their segments ended with Wiig’s character declaring that the person they just drove mad resembled a hare.

"God, You're Noteworthy!" - The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

In star and director Ben Stiller’s The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Kristen Wiig’s character, Cheryl Melhoff, makes frequent appearances in the title hero’s many fantasies.  In one, after Walter rescues Cheryl’s dog from a catastrophe, she expresses her gratitude by calling him “noteworthy,” reflecting his fear that he has never done anything noteworthy in his life.

"If Your Man Likes Chicken, He Might Like Chicken Man" - SNL 

In a fun SNL game show sketch, Kristen Wiig and her fellow Bridesmaids cast member Maya Rudolph play models presenting a showcase of prizes a contestant could have won, including a lifetime supply of chicken from a company called Chicken Man. The way Wiig delivers this line — in an unusual accent and whilst struggling to contain her laughter — is one of the more potent examples of her ability to make even the simplest lines such classics.

"No One Can Get Anywhere In Three Seconds. You're Setting Me Up For A Loss Already" - Bridesmaids 

In Bridesmaids, during the wedding party’s flight to Las Vegas, Flight Attendant Steve is at wit's end with an overly relaxed Annie, who refuses to leave an open First Class seat. When he gives her a measly three seconds to get back to coach, her acknowledgment of just how unfairly brief that is makes for a good point.

"I Almost Hit A Horse Once With My Smart Car. I Ended Up Driving Right Under It! It Left A Brown Racing Stripe On The Hood And I Loved It!" - SNL 

Sometimes, when trying to make conversation with her customers, Target Lady shares a personal story that just ends up alienating them more. For instance, when she references the time a new paint job for her small car more than likely cost the life of an animal.

"Last Night A Bird Chased Me Home, And I Wished It Was You" - Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

In Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) finds the love he has been waiting for with a woman he shares a lot in common with named Chani Lastnamé (Wiig). She has an appropriately bizarre way of expressing her feelings for the absent-minded weatherman. 

"I Mean, What Are We Gonna Say, 'Dear America, Remember That Astronaut We Killed And Had A Really Nice Funeral For? Turns Out He's Alive And We Left Him On Mars. Our Bad. Sincerely, NASA'" - The Martian 

As NASA’s director of public relations, Annie Montrose (Wiig) has a real challenge on her hands when it is discovered that Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is alive and trapped on the Red Planet in The Martian. Wiig’s character is not quite the comic relief of Ridley Scott’s 2015 space movie favorite, but the comedian still gets one of the funniest quotes of the movie, and fittingly so.

"Do You Consider Yourself A Moderate Republican, A Conservative Republican, A Tea-Partier, A Crazy Whack-A-Doodle, Or A Democrat Voting Sarcastically?" - SNL 

In an SNL sketch set during the months leading up to the 2012 Presidential election, Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe plays a voter stopped by a surveyor (Kristen Wiig) whose questions go quite off-topic. Before then, however, she asks him to identify his political affiliation in five increasingly ridiculous ways.

"And Also, I Did Purchase A Spanish Dictionary. I Didn't Like What You Said" - Despicable Me

Kristen Wiig plays a couple of different characters in the Despicable Me movies — the first being abusive orphanage owner Miss Hattie, to whom Gru says, “You have a face” in Spanish when he first meets her. She later reveals that she was able to translate it with a Spanish dictionary that she hits him with in retaliation. 

These are just some examples of the hilarious things Kristen Wiig has said over the years. In reality, we might laugh at anything she says.

It feels so good to be bad – well, bad-ish, and that's what Despicable Me 4 will bring to theaters. This is what we know so far. 

The Despicable Me franchise has changed quite a bit over several movies. How much change can one little movie series do? But when did you last go to an Illumination movie and not see those pesky little minions? They have taken over the world. 

Either way, with three movies in the franchise, it was only a matter of time before we got a fourth one. And now, Universal and Illumination are bringing Despicable Me 4 to the big screen. But when is this new film coming out? And what could it be about? Here is what we know so far for all your questions about the movie.  

What Is The Despicable Me 4 Release Date?

According to Universal, Despicable Me 4 has a set release date of July 3rd, 2024, just in time for the 4th of July weekend in 2024. It'll come out as part of our 2024 movie release schedule. 

The summer holiday is a great time to release a new Despicable Me movie. Since the third film's release in 2017, we have had both the Minions movie and Minions: The Rise of Gru. And while it's great to see the story of these little yellow creatures get expanded even more so than we already know, I'm missing the characters I fell in love with in the first place.  

Check Out The Despicable Me 4 Trailer

The Despicable Me 4 trailer is finally here, and shows everything we could expect to see including a BABY GRU. 

That’s right, Gru had a little baby that looks just about as grumpy as him and is adorable as you would expect. Be sure to check out the trailer – and all the craziness this family is going to get into – up above. 

Steve Carell Is Returning As Gru

It wouldn't be Despicable Me without Steve Carell returning to voice Gru. Thankfully, according to Deadline in February 2022, it was confirmed that Carell would return to voice the famous villain-turned-sort-of-an-anti-hero. 

Truthfully, the Despicable Me movies are some of Steve Carell's best films, and I can't wait to see him come back to this franchise after voicing Gru a little bit in Minions: The Rise of Gru. He's had quite the career since the last official Despicable Me movie. 

Carell has appeared in several dramas, including Vice, Beautiful Boy, and the Wes Anderson film Asteroid City. He also appeared in Irresistible and Welcome to Marwen and is set to be a part of the IF cast, a new movie by John Krasinski. It was only a matter of time before he came back to voicing Gru, though, and I can't wait to see what shenanigans he and his "gurls" get into this time.  

Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Sofia Vergara, Will Ferrell And More Are Co-Starring

Another essential part of any Despicable Me movie are the side characters, and thankfully, we have plenty of confirmation on who is going to be back thanks to the YouTube Despicable Me 4 trailer and the official logline for the film, which reveals the entire cast: 

Kristen Wiig as Lucy

Kristen Wiig will be back to voice Lucy, Gru’s wife and the stepmother of Gru’s kids. Wiig has since appeared in movies such as Wonder Woman 1984, Mother!, and the How To Train Your Dragon franchise. 

Miranda Cosgrove as Margo

Miranda Cosgrove will return to voice Margo, the eldest of Gru’s children. Miranda Cosgrove reprised her role as Carly on the Paramount+ original series, iCarly for three seasons, a reboot of the popular children’s TV show of the same name. 

Dana Gaier as Edith

Dana Gaier is back as Edith for Despicable Me 4, the middle child of the three girls. Gaier has primarily stuck to voice work, but also appeared in The Ice Cream Truck in 2017. 

Madison Polan as Agnes

Madison Polan will voice the youngest sister, Agnes, in Despicable Me 4. This will be her first major role.

Will Ferrell as Maxime Le Mal

Will Ferrell has joined the Despicable Me 4 cast as Maxime Le Mal, the main villain. Ferrell has appeared in many comedy films such as one of the best Christmas movies ever, Elf, the Anchorman franchise, Quiz Lady, Barbie and more. 

Sofia Vergara as Valentina

Sofia Vergara has also joined the Despicable Me 4 voice cast as Valentina, Maxime Le Mal’s femme fatale girlfriend. Vergara is primarily known for her role as part of the Modern Family cast, but has since appeared in the TV miniseries, Griselda on Netflix. 

Joey King

Joey King was cast in an undisclosed role in Despicable Me 4. She has appeared in such projects like one of the best shows on Hulu, The Act, in the Netflix franchise, The Kissing Booth, and was a part of the Bullet Train cast. 

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert was cast in an undisclosed voice role for Despicable Me 4. He is primarily known for his talk show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. 

Chloe Fineman

Chloe Fineman was cast in an undisclosed voice role in Despicable Me 4. The actress is primarily known for her time as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. 

Also returning is Steve Coogan, who voices Sila Ramsbottom, and Pierre Coffin as the voice of the Minions. Talk about a stacked cast. 

Despicable Me 4 Will Be About How The Kids Are Included In The Process Of The Anti-Villain League

Thankfully because of the trailer, we do have an idea of what Despicable Me 4 will be about. This time, we will be following Gru on one of his biggest adventures yet – parenting a baby.

While he is trying to learn how to deal with a child that is new and fresh and is intent on “tormenting his dad,” the family has to go on the run when Maxime Le Mal and Valentina become their new nemesis. 

Previously, Steve Carell had teased a little about what the fourth film will be about in an interview with Digital Spy in June 2022, and said that the plot would involve him and his family, and trying to see how they fit in with the Anti-Villain League: 

This honestly lines up really well with what the actual logline of the movie is, so I can’t wait to see how this unfolds. 

Chris Renaud Directed The Feature

The Deadline article above regarding the announcement of the film confirms that Chris Renaud will be directing the film, with Patrick Delage in the co-directing seat. 

Both directors have had a heavy influence in films of Illuminations past. Not only did Renaud work on both Despicable Me and its sequel, but he also worked on one of my favorite underrated films, The Lorax, and the animated hits, The Secret Life of Pets 1 and 2. 

Patrick Delage is also a great addition to this film. He worked with Renaud on The Secret Life of Pets 2, but he also worked on Sing and its sequel, with the incredible and seemingly never-ending Sing 2 cast. So, if Despicable Me is in the hands of these two, I have hope. 

Mike White Wrote The Screenplay

The last piece of news that we know from that Deadline article is that Mike White wrote the screenplay for Despicable Me 4. If you don't know who Mike White is, you should learn because he has been all over the map lately for his shows and movies.

Mike White has written some movies you might recognize, such as Nacho Libre, School of Rock, Pitch Perfect 3, and the 2023 family film Migration. But White has gained a lot of notoriety lately for creating The White Lotus on HBO, which earned a Season 3 that will hopefully premiere in 2025. He also made Enlightened, another great show like The White Lotus that you should check out.

White is a pretty well-known name, so out of everyone, I'm glad he's the person who wrote the script. I have a feeling we'll be laughing out loud. He also co-wrote the script with Ken Duario, according to Deadline, who is a veteran writer of the past Despicable Me movies.

Despicable Me 4 isn't that far away when updating this in February 2024, so now I'm counting the days until July 3rd. It's time for all of us to do a Despicable Me rewatch. 

There’s nothing quite like the comfort of classic family movies. Tons of new movies from every genre come out throughout the year, such as the packed 2024 movie schedule, but every once in a while, it’s fun to bask in the warmth of revisiting one of these cozy movies. Each of them are timeless in their own ways, whether they’ve actually remained favorites for decades upon decades, or are barely collecting dust on our shelves. 

Classic family movies can come from all sorts of places, from the African Savannah to outer space. The main through-line is all of these are great titles to enjoy with all ages and explore why family is so important to each of us in many different forms. 

Shrek (2001)

One of the best movies of the 2000s that remains a cultural phenomenon to audiences since it was released is Shrek. There have been many movies based on classic fairy tales, but this DreamWorks Animation film took an amusingly modern spin on the whole thing by making its heroes a green ogre and his donkey friend, along with making his love interest Princess Fiona, a glowing parody of the traditional archetype. 

Shrek sees its titular ogre go on a quest to confront Lord Farquaad of Duloc in the kingdom’s palace after he notices an influx of fairytale characters are being exiled to his swamp, where he has long found bliss and solitude. Along the way, he becomes a hero in his own right as he meets and helps beloved literary characters like the Gingerbread Man, Pinocchio, The Three Little Pigs and the Magic Mirror. 

Stream Shrek on Peacock.
Rent/Buy Shrek on Amazon. 

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971)

Ready to step into a world full of pure imagination? All you need is Charlie Bucket’s golden ticket and you’ll be headed straight to the twisted magic of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder adapts Roald Dahl’s 1964 bestseller, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with songs, a colorful vision and mysterious wonder. 

The scrumdiddlyumptious musical fantasy follows a poor paperboy named Charlie Bucket who happens upon one of five golden tickets hidden inside Wonka chocolate bars in light of a contest promising a tour of the factory and lifetime supply of chocolate. Once he and his Grandpa Joe step inside the walls of Willy Wonka’s factory alongside the other winners, a series of unexpected occurrences shake up the tour. 

Stream Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory on Max.
Rent/Buy Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory on Amazon. 

Toy Story (1995)

Pixar’s inaugural film, Toy Story, is an undeniable triumph in family filmmaking, between its innovation in computer animation and laugh-out-loud comedic beats between Tom Hanks’ Woody, Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the Toy Story voice cast. Every kid develops their imagination by playing with toys and imagining the story around them, so the Pixar movie's narrative is easy for audiences of every generation to connect with. 

Toy Story, one of the best films of the '90s, is about a cowboy doll named Woody, who is Andy’s longtime favorite toy and leader of the room’s chest of play things. However, when Andy becomes enamored with the hottest new toy, Buzz Lightyear, Woody has to wrestle with abandonment along with the consequences that occur thanks to his deep dislike and jealousy of Buzz. It's also one of those great movies that's not even 90 minutes long. 

Stream Toy Story on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Toy Story on Amazon. 

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

One of Steven Spielberg’s most iconic ‘80s films, E.T. Extra-Terrestrial, is not only a fantastic classic family movie, but a fantastic introduction to science fiction for all ages. The touching 1982 movie explores the possibility of alien contact by exploring an unlikely connection between a 10-year-old boy and a creature from another world. 

When a young alien gets separated from its family in the San Fernando Valley, Henry Thomas’ Elliott happens upon E.T. and takes him in. The pair begin to develop an empathic connection as they spend time together, but as authorities continue to look for the alien’s presence, Elliott becomes determined to protect his otherworldly friend. 

Stream E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial For Free With Ads on The Roku Channel.
Rent/Buy E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Amazon. 

Despicable Me (2010) 

While many family films resort to the typical maniacal villain archetype as the antagonist of storyline, Despicable Me turned all that on its head and has become a modern treasure for all ages. Not to mention, the 2010 Illumination film introduced the world to those funny yellow Minions! 

Despicable Me stars Steve Carell as the voice of Gru, a veteran supervillain who hatches a plan to steal the moon in order to stay relevant in the profession of evil. In the midst of his devising, he decides to use the likes of three orphaned girls to steal a shrink ray from his key supervillain adversary, Vector. However, as Gru and the girls become acquainted, the four of them become a found family.  It's still the best of the Despicable Me movies we've seen! 

Stream Despicable Me on Peacock. 
Rent/Buy Despicable Me on Amazon. 

Mary Poppins (1964) 

Now here’s a classic family movie that’s practically perfect in every way! 1964’s Mary Poppins is not only one of the most treasured Disney movies of all time, it’s one that Walt Disney’s own fingerprints are on. The fantasy musical is also one of Julie Andrews’ most renowned roles as a nanny with magical sensibilities. 

Mary Poppins is about the Banks family, a household of four living in Edwardian-era London and not necessarily connected with one another. But when the family’s patriarch, George Banks, hires Andrews’ Mary Poppins to watch over his two children, Jane and Michael, the nanny takes not only the children, but the entire family on an adventure that changes them forever. 

Stream Mary Poppins on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Mary Poppins on Amazon. 

Jumanji (1995)

When gathered with family, one popular pastime is diving into a fun board game. 1995’s Jumanji, which is based on Chris Van Allsburg’s children’s book of the same name, explores the idea of a board game having real world consequences. 

In the original Jumanji, a young Alan Parrish, who finds a board game that was buried for a century as a kid and becomes sucked into the game while playing with his friend Sarah. Over two decades later, two kids who’ve just moved into the Parrish mansion come across the game and soon find out the game summons all sorts of creatures, like giant mosquitoes and devious monkeys. They must find adult Alan (played by Robin Williams) and Sarah (Bonnie Hunt), and finish the game together in order to stop the nightmares of Jumanji. 

Stream Jumanji on Max.
Rent/Buy Jumanji on Amazon. 

Paddington (2014) 

After decades of Paddington Bear bringing smiles to children via books first created by Michael Bond, the adorable literary character was brought to the big screen in 2014 with Paddington. This story is as sweet as the marmalade Paddington is so fond of! 

Paddington is a bear whose story begins in the deep jungles of “Darkest Peru,” where his Aunt Lucy encourages the cub to travel to London after their home is destroyed. There, he comes across the Brown family, who take him in while he looks for an explorer with connections with his family. At the same time, Nicole Kidman’s Millicent Clyde, who is a wicked museum taxidermist, hopes to kill and stuff Paddington. 

Stream Paddington on Netflix.
Stream Paddington on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Paddington on Amazon. 

The Lion King (1994)

Across Disney’s fruitful Renaissance Era primarily of the ‘90s came the behemoth that is The Lion King. The spin on Shakespeare’s Hamlet follows the epic journey of a lion named Simba as he deals with betrayal, loss and adversity on his way to become the king of Pride Rock. 

Between Elton John’s unforgettable music, a ton of quotable lines and the movie’s breathtaking animation, The Lion King is one of the great classic family movies. The 1994 movie really encapsulates Walt Disney Animation at its best, along with telling a powerful (and very fun) story. 

Stream The Lion King on Disney+.
Buy The Lion King on Amazon. 

The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

One family movie has transcended over eighty years of time and remained a favorite: The Wizard of Oz. The 1939 musical fantasy from MGM adapted L. Frank Baum’s own classic story of Dorothy Gale’s odyssey to Oz from her farm in Kansas told through this gorgeous transition from black and white to color. 

As Judy Garland’s Dorothy follows the yellow brick road at the direction of a good witch named Glinda, she meets a Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion on her way to the Emerald City. It’s an enduring classic that every generation can appreciate and enjoy. 

Stream The Wizard of Oz on Max.
Rent/Buy The Wizard of Oz on Amazon. 

Cozy with the family with a movie queued up yet? We hope you enjoy one or all of these classic family movies on your next home movie night! 

Everyone has a favorite pop culture villain whom they love to hate. However, I have even more appreciation for the villains who, for one reason or another, opted to change their ways and tried to earn our love by doing the right thing. With that in mind, we figured we would give these vicious bad guys and just plain jerks from some of our favorite movies and TV shows their due by highlighting their moments of redemption.

Anton Ego (Ratatouille)

The only thing threatening the reputation of the world-famous Parisian restaurant, Gusteau’s, is the notoriously picky food critic, Anton Ego (Peter O’Toole), in the underrated Pixar classic, Ratatouille. However, just one bite of the titular dish gives this iconic Pixar “villain” the satisfaction he had been chasing and, upon learning it was a rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt) who prepared his meal, convinces him that, perhaps, anyone really can cook.

Apollo Creed (Rocky III)

Aspiring boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) not only had to contend with the fists of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), but also his cocky, trash-talking attitude, until he finally defeated the champion in the second chapter of the Rocky movies. That appeared to bring the athlete down a peg, and it taught him to respect his opponent, whom he would befriend and help achieve his own redemption moment in the third installment.

Brad Bellick (Prison Break)

Brad Bellick (Wade Williams), a guard who indulged in harassing and abusing inmates at every chance he got, was a primary antagonist for the first two seasons of Prison Break. After receiving a taste of life on the inside, he became an ally to Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), and he even sacrificed his life for them in the middle of Season 4.

Catwoman (The Dark Knight Rises)

Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway in one of the best Catwoman portrayals of all time) is robbing Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) when we first meet her in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. However, the thief comes to fall for the vigilante, and she helps him save Gotham City from a cataclysmic end, making her one of the live-action Batman movies’ most dynamic portrayals of the DC anti-hero yet.

Darth Vader (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi)

One of the most iconic enemy team-ups in pop culture history is that of Anakin (Sebastian Shaw) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), at the end of the Star Wars movies’ original trilogy. The climax of Return of the Jedi sees the Sith Lord otherwise known as Darth Vader (a Star Wars character shared by multiple actors) choose to renounce the Dark Side and save his son from Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), allowing him to help defeat the Empire.

Deckard Shaw (The Fate Of The Furious)

It was easy for fans to write off Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) as one of the Fast and Furious movies’ most loathsome antagonists after he, seemingly, killed Han (Sung Kang) in the sixth installment. However, after forming an alliance with Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) in The Fate of the Furious and later with Han himself in Fast X, I think the rogue MI6 agent has since earned our forgiveness.

Dr. Evil (Austin Powers In Goldmember)

We learned that two of Mike Myers’ most iconic characters — hip secret agent Austin Powers and his nemesis, Dr. Evil — are really twins at the climax of the parody movies’ third installment, Goldmember. This revelation convinces the international criminal to help his brother save the world from the titular villain (also played by Myers).

Dwight Schrute (The Office)

Dwight Schrute (Rainn Willson) is a pompous, over-serious, know-it-all who practically goes out of his way to make most of the Office cast feel alienated by him for much of the beloved series. However, by the final season, he makes amends with his enemy prankster, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), and he gains the respect of his "subordinates" as their new manager.

Eric Northman (True Blood)

When we first met HBO’s True Blood cast, Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) was the kind of vampire who was committed to getting whatever he wanted by whatever means necessary — even murder. Yet, his affection for Sookie (Anna Paquin) inspired him to soften up a bit and, in Season 5, he went full hero after the normally tame Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) was possessed by the evil Lilith.

George Mason (24)

One of Jack Bauer’s (Kiefer Sutherland) worst foils on 24 was actually the Counter Terrorism Unit’s District Director, George Mason (Xander Berkeley) — a poster child for bureaucratic corruption. But after he is exposed to lethal levels of plutonium in Season 2, he redeemed himself by selflessly giving his life for his country by flying a plane carrying a nuclear bomb into the Mojave Desert and succumbing to the ensuing explosion.

The Grinch (How The Grinch Stole Christmas)

Perhaps the most heartwarming redemption tale for the holidays (not counting A Christmas Carol) is one of the best Dr. Seuss movies, 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In the movie, the mean, green, titular curmudgeon (Jim Carrey) tried to ruin the celebration for all of Whoville. Much to his surprise, his heart grew three sizes that day, helping him realize the reason for the season and sharing it with his new friends.

Gru (Despicable Me)

The first (and, arguably, best) of Ilumination’s Despicable Me movies is the story of Gru (Steve Carell) and his transition from ruthless supervillain to heartfelt hero. All it took was becoming the adoptive father of three adorable orphaned girls (Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier and Elsie Fisher).

Harley Quinn (Birds Of Prey)

A key aspect of Harley Quinn’s story is that it was Joker who manipulated the former psychologist into going bad, which is why her DCEU version (Margot Robbie) undergoes a slight change after breaking up with the Clown Prince of Crime. While still pretty bad and quite clownish in Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, the 2020 film sees the Task Force X member do some good by choice, teaming up with a group of vigilantes to save a young girl from the ruthless Black Mask (Ewan McGregor).

Jaime Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

One of the most complex characters in the Game of Thrones cast is Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), who was initially depicted as a smug, merciless psychopath upon introduction. Things seemed to change when he adopted a somewhat nobler attitude after losing his hand. While he redeemed himself at one point, he continued to commit heinous sins that made it difficult to say he was truly redeemed by the end of his life.

Kylo Ren (Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker)

When Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) killed his father, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he seemed too deep into the Dark Side to be redeemed. However, a visit by his father’s ghost helped convince him to fully embrace the light and help Rey (Daisy Ridley) defeat Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) at the end of The Rise of Skywalker.

Lex Luthor (Justice League Dark: Apokolips War)

The Joker to Superman’s Batman is easily Lex Luthor, who is one of the most fearsome and powerful villains in DC history in general. However, in one of the last films of the DC Animated Universe timeline, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, the criminal realized he had no choice but to join forces with his super-powered foes in order to save their world from the tyrannical New God, Darkseid.

Loki (Thor: Ragnarok)

Being the God of Mischief, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) was always destined to be one of the Marvel movies’ greatest villains. Yet, he became a worthy ally to his adoptive brother, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, and he sacrificed his life to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Infinity War soon after.

Meg (Supernatural)

This nameless demon — referred to as “Meg” after the first woman it was seen possessing on Supernatural (played by the late Nicki Aycox) — was one of Lucifer’s most loyal and merciless followers, despite being unafraid to question his authority. This rebellious nature may have been key to her eventual alliance with Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) against enemies they shared and even her romantic attraction with Castiel (Misha Collins).

Megamind (Megamind)

What makes Megamind one of the most unique and best superhero movies not based on a comic is how its main focus is not the hero, but the titular, extra-terrestrial villain (voiced by Will Ferrell). That is, until he defeats his nemesis (Brad Pitt) and creates a new one of his own (Jonah Hill) to reclaim his purpose, only to realize his creation is worse than he is, which leads to him becoming the hero his city needs.

Merle Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Easily the most unlikable character from the original Walking Dead cast was Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker), who never quite progressed past his arrogant behavior and racist tendencies. Yet, the way he selflessly took on The Governor’s army to protect his brother, Daryl (Norman Reedus) and his crew gave us a reason to remember him with some admiration.

Nebula (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2)

While she is not the main antagonist of 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Nebula (Karen Gillan) might be the most memorable and the most sympathetic, especially after you learn her traumatic backstory. She really began to earn our sympathies when she and her adoptive sister, Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), learned to set aside their differences in Vol. 2, and her transition into a hero (and a member of the Guardians’ family) reached full mast by Vol. 3.

Negan Smith (The Walking Dead)

No character had defined The Walking Dead’s “fight the dead, fear the living” theme better than the mercilessly sadistic Negan Smith, played with unsettling, scenery-chewing glee by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. But, in a surprising turn of events, after a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence in Alexandria, Negan developed genuine remorse for his former ways, and he worked hard toward redemption, earning the respect of his The Walking Dead: Dead City co-lead, Maggie (Lauren Cohan), in the process.

Nux (Mad Max: Fury Road)

There was not a single War Boy more eager to serve the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) than Nux (Nicholas Hoult) in 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. That is until the death of Angharad (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) led him to question where his loyalty lied. He ultimately chose to ally himself with Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), Furiosa (Charlize Theron), and the Five Wives. He even sacrificed himself to ensure their safe return to the citadel in one of the instant action movie classic’s most touching arcs.

Otto Octavius (Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: No Way Home)

Prof. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) managed to overcome the manipulative A.I. in his mechanical arms and risk his life to prevent a city-wide catastrophe at the end of Spider-Man 2 in 2004. Seventeen years later, Spider-Man: No Way Home would reset that redemption arc in favor of its own, making him the first returning Spidey villain in the film to become good with help from Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) technical mastery.

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)

Joe Keery’s initial portrayal of Steve Harrington on the Stranger Things cast is not so bad when compared to the Duffer Brothers’ original plans for the character. Still, the bullish, self-absorbed jock that he was then is a far, far cry from the lovable, selfless hero he evolved into in Seasons 2 through 4.

Steve Stifler (American Wedding)

When I think of cinema's most despicable, fictional douchebags, one of the first faces to come to mind is Seann William Scott in the American Pie cast as Steve Stifler, who seems to turn over a new leaf in the third installment, American Wedding. Of course, even though he went out of his way to make up for ruining Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle’s (Alyson Hannigan) impending nuptials, and he developed feelings for Michelle’s sister, Cadence (January Jones), he appeared to revert to his same perverse, foul-mouthed self in 2012’s American Reunion.

Tyrannosaurus Rex (Jurassic World)

Out of all the prehistoric creatures running amok in director Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, the one Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and co. were most wary about was the top of the food chain: the T-Rex. However, in 2015’s Jurassic World, the fearsome beast turned out to be the theme park guest’s savior against a highly intelligent, blood-thirsty, man-made dinosaur called the Indominous Rex.

Wikus Van De Merwe (District 9)

The main plot of Neill Blomkamp’s 2009 debut, District 9, begins when Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) eagerly accepted a leading position in an operation to evict an alien race from the junkyard they were designated to in South Africa for decades. It was not until he became exposed to a chemical and began transforming into a “Prawn” that he began to see things from their perspective and fight for them in this thought-provoking sci-fi flick.

Yondu (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2)

Writer and director James Gunn tricked us into thinking there was nothing more to Yondu (Michael Rooker) than a greedy, ruthless ravager in Guardians of the Galaxy before sweeping the rug right out from under us in Vol. 2. Yondu proved to Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) that he actually cared about him as if he was his real “daddy” before giving his life for him at the sequel’s heartbreaking climax.

Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

For years, Zuko (Dante Basco) was devoted to capturing Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) in order to take back the crown as Prince of the Fire Nation, until he came to detest his people’s oppressive ways. In one of the most pivotal twists on the classic animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Zuko joined forces with Aang — even becoming his fire bending mentor — to defeat the Fire Lord and lead the Fire Nation into a new era of peace.

Everyone deserves a second chance, and we are happy that these characters received their opportunity to go from zero to hero.

You need only look at the global box office numbers to understand that there is very little on the planet earth more popular than Illumination’s Minions. The most recent entry in the franchise Minions: The Rise of Gru, the fourth highest grossing movie of the year worldwide with box office totals just short of $1 billion. This makes it little surprise that Universal Studios Florida is going to be dedicating a section of the park to the little yellow guys, as it just announced that a brand new attraction, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast, will open next year.

The brand new Minions experience will be replacing the Shrek 4D movie that closed down 11 months ago. At the time it was strongly hinted that something Minions related would be replacing it, and rumors and leaks indicated what the attraction would be, and it appears to be exactly what we’re getting. 

The experience will be an interactive experience where guests attend Villain-Con and blast away at targets in an attempt to become part of The Vicious 6, the group of supervillains from Minions: The Rise of Gru. While we’ve seen attractions that offer this sort of interactivity before, including Men in Black: Alien Attack in the same theme park, this one has some unique elements going for it. First and foremost, rather than putting guests in any kind of ride vehicle, it will use a moving walkway. In addition the attraction will use a combination of screens and physical sets. Most attractions tend to limit themselves to one or the other.

Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast will be the second Minions-themed attraction at Universal Studios Florida, following Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. The two rides together will come together in a new Minions Land, which will also include a Minion Cafe, replacing the former Monster Cafe that closed down earlier this year. It’s becoming commonplace to see theme park lands based on particular IP rather than more general concepts, but in most recent cases these lands have been built from the ground up to be that, in this case we’re seeing Minions Land build itself a space in the existing park.

It’s not exactly a shock to see Minions Land become a thing. The Despicable Me/Minions franchise is one of the most successful animation properties ever. Of the five films in the franchise, four of them have grossed over $900 million globally. These characters are incredibly popular not only in America but all over the world. 

Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast is set for a 2023 opening, but nothing more specific has been revealed. We usually see new attractions open in the late spring or early summer, in time for the vacation season, and since this will likely be the major attraction opening for the year, Universal will want to have it ready in time for the busiest season. 

The Despicable Me minions are everywhere these days. They are simply a fact of life and pop culture that are not going anywhere soon – especially given the incredible box office numbers for Minion: The Rise of Gru in its opening weekend. But if you can think back to 2010, when the first Despicable Me came out, it was a brand new concept that immediately took hold of a massive audience. Steve Carell, who has long voiced Gru, the leader of the minion army, has revealed that he didn’t expect the giggly yellow guys to catch on when he first was approached about the animated project. 

If you think about it, the idea of minions may not have translated very well on paper. It wasn’t until the cute henchmen dazzled audiences on screen that they became beloved and viral movie characters.While speaking to The A.V. Club, Steve Carell said of the minions,

Steve Carell got honest about not totally getting the minions concept and then seeing how well they took off. The Office actor also shared more of his opinions on his animated co-stars, and whether he’s jealous they’ve stolen the spotlight:

The minions are not only movie characters, but characters with a major presence in commercial items, including fashion and costuming a lot of people have embraced. And of course Universal Studios has even invested in entire sections of their Universal Studios theme parks to be minion-themed as well. 

Since 2010, there have been three Despicable Me movies and now two spinoff Minions films. In Minions: The Rise of Gru, Carell voices an 11-year-old Gru living in the ‘70s with aspirations to become a supervillain with the minions by his side. The Rise of Gru has been met with mixed critic reviews and overall positive reactions from audiences, with moviegoers giving it an A on CinemaScore. 

The Rise of Gru debuted last weekend to an incredible $108 million domestic debut, and has already made $100 million more overseas. The movie also inspired a viral TikTok trend called “Gentleminions” that has seen audiences dressing up in suits to see the movie. Some of these dressed up fans led screenings to feature mosh pits and disruptive cheering in theaters, leading some establishments to discourage the trend from continuing. 

The Minions sequel continues the minion mayhem around the world as it is among the 2022 movie releases currently playing exclusively in theaters. 

You want to know someone that I’ve come to really enjoy over the last decade? Kristin Wiig. From her time on Saturday Night Live to some of her latest movie releases, she’s always been an actress that has steadily made me laugh no matter what role she’s in. 

But even with everything she’s done, there are surely some roles that stand out amongst the rest. So if you’re looking for the ultimate ranking of Kristen Wiig’s best movies, here are my personal picks. 

10. Whip It (2009)

Whip It is a coming of age sports comedy starring a variety of famous faces like Elliot Page, Drew Barrymore and others. It might be hard to believe that Kristen Wiig was also a part of this film, but she played Maggie, a rollerblader as part of a roller derby team and forms a close bond with Bliss, a young teenager who lies about her age to join the team. 

The reason why I put Wiig’s performance on here versus some of her others is that I really like her role as almost the caregiver. Her scenes are few and far between within the film, but they stand out amongst the rest. I especially love the moments where Bliss (played by Elliot Page) goes to live with her for some time and they have a genuine conversation about the aspects of parenting. 

Wiig’s acting in this film was genuinely really good and showed her skills as a dramatic actor mixed in with comedy. The only reason why it’s so low is because with so many stars, she didn’t get as much screen time as she should have. 

9. Adventureland (2009)

As someone who grew up only twenty minutes away from the actual park this movie was based on, I’m a teensy bit biased, but I love Kristen Wiig in Adventureland. This coming of age flick is all about young adults working at the park over the summer, but boy does she and her regular on-screen co-star, Bill Hader, steal the show. 

Seriously, Adventureland is one of Bill Hader’s best roles, but it’s also one of Wiig’s best roles too. Their chemistry is to die for and they make the perfect pair in running this theme park with an iron grip and yet at the same time creating hysterical moments that stick with you for hours. I genuinely loved the heck out of his movie and trust me, if you’re a fan of these two, you’ll live this film too. 

However, they do have another spot on this list together, so keep an eye out for that. 

8. Mother! (2017)

It might be strange for me to put a Darren Aronofsky psychological horror film down here for Kristin Wiig, but hear me out - she’s actually terrifying in Mother!

She’s barely in the film, which is why it's down here so low, but her few interactions with Jennifer Lawrence’s character chill me. Her line delivery is such a stark contrast from her usually repertoire of movies that it makes me feel really weird. You’d never picture Wiig to be in a situation where they are literally destroying the home of someone but here we are. 

Wiig definitely has the potential to be great in more psychological horrors, and I think that Mother! proves that. It’s a shame she didn’t get as much screen time as she deserved. 

7. How To Train Your Dragon Series (2010-2019)

I’m not the only one who ugly cried when the How To Train Your Dragon series ended, right? This series was such a shining light in the world of animation and the score was phenomenal as well. The voice cast was also stellar, but one that always stood out to me was Wiig’s voice as Ruffnut. 

While Wiig is no stranger to lending her voice to projects, I personally love her in How To Train Your Dragon, considering she was in all three movies. Her character was not smart but damn, was she a warrior and a capable dragon fighter, and Wiig’s voice was perfect for that. She delivered those lines exactly as they should be and made Ruffnut a character to remember. 

It also helps that she was hilarious whenever she would try and get with Eret. You have to love her dedication. 

6. The Martian (2015)

The Martian was a fantastic film with another stellar cast, most of which you all know about, from Matt Damon to Donald Glover to Sebastian Stan, but Kristen Wiig was also a huge part of this film and played the NASA media relations director. 

Again, this film only continues to prove my point that Wiig should be in more dramatic roles. While you can still clearly tell that she delivers her lines with a bit of that comedic flair, she really shined in this role, showing the difficulties of being the head of something as big as the media for NASA.

The Martian was one of 2015's best films, and she, alongside its great cast, was a big reason why. 

5. The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013)

This movie always makes me cry a little because I relate to Walter Mitty so much. He’s someone who just lives in his head and has all these fantasy worlds all painted out, but he’s still a normal human being with normal crushes, and he happens to have a crush on Kristen Wiig’s character, Cheryl. 

This is such an underrated gem for Wiig, because she and Ben Stiller have such great chemistry. Not only is this one of Ben Stiller’s best roles, but Wiig is rocking it here too. Watching them feels like viewing a real relationship. It doesn't feel forced and the pacing is just right. They have their own problems that they work through to find their happy ending. 

I just love them together in this, from the moment their scenes start. 

4. The Skeleton Twins (2014)

While Adventureland was the first time we got to see the chemistry between Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, The Skeleton Twins capitalize on that. The film stars the two as twin siblings who are both going through the worst times of their lives and have to rely on each other to get better somehow.

This was one of the first Kristen Wiig films that genuinely made me cry. As someone who grew up with an older brother and having that special sibling relationship, this movie paints it perfectly how sometimes it’s awesome and sometimes it’s not, and both Wiig and Hader act their butts off to show it - and it works out beautifully. 

If I could, I’d erase my mind and watch this again for the first time just to experience their excellent chemistry, but I can’t do that. However, if you’re looking for a film where both Wiig and Hader are amazing, check this one out. 

3. Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (2021)

This movie is just the best. 

This release not only made me laugh so much but remind me of how great of a comedic actress Kristen Wiig is. 

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is a comedy about lifelong friends leaving their hometown and going on a crazy adventure, running into ridiculous situations that will surely make you snicker. But what really makes this film so great is the comedic timing of both Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who both wrote the film. 

They’re just so funny. I wish this film had been released into theaters instead of going to streaming because it deserved to be a box office hit. While I do think that Wiig is great in more dramatic roles, these comedic ones have always been where she’s showing her prowess as an actress. 

2. Despicable Me Series (2013-2017)

How To Train Your Dragon is a fantastic series in and of itself, but I feel like there are so many characters that a lot of the fantastic voice actors can get overshadowed. In the Despicable Me series, Kristen Wiig doesn't get overshadowed at all voicing Lucy, the love-interest, and later wife, of Gru. 

There’s just something about her voice that makes me smile every time, from how she speaks with the little girls to her action scenes where she kicks butt to her awkward yet cute dates with Gru in Despicable Me 2, she played the perfect badass woman in animated form and showed off how great she is as a voice actor. 

1. Bridesmaids (2011)

You knew this was coming from the beginning, don’t lie. Bridesmaids is the best Kristen Wiig movie, no doubt. While the Bridesmaids cast is iconic in every way, Wiig is the person who starred and made this movie so freaking funny. 

Written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo (who also wrote Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), this film has some of the funniest moments in a romantic comedy, from the breakout performance of Melissa McCarthy to Maya Rudolph’s wedding dress scene to Wiig’s drunk performance on the airplane, it just always makes you laugh. 

But there’s something so compelling about Wiig’s character, Annie, that I relate to on a personal level. She’s someone who was given a crap hand in life and just wants to try and turn that around, but it’s up to her to make that change - in hilarious ways, of course, and still become a better person regardless. The whole entire story is so funny and Wiig only makes it funnier with her acting, leading this to be her best movie so far. 

I’m sure that over time, this list will change and we’ll see Wiig in even more amazing roles, but for now, these are some of the best that you should definitely watch right now. I, for one, am going to rewatch Bridesmaids for the millionth time. 

Despicable Me was a huge break for Illumination Studios as well as Universal Pictures when it first released back in 2010. That’s right. The first movie is going to be a tween this year in 2022 and I can hardly believe it. 

Regardless, after all this time, four movies out, and so much Minion merchandise I think I may be dizzy, the Despicable Me series has been a game-changer for animated movies, creating a franchise that everyone from kids to adults love. If you’re looking for a cute movie night and want to binge through every single one available right now, check out where you can watch the Despicable Me movies, including Minions. 

Despicable Me (2010)

The one that started it all. Released in 2010 and starring the lovable Steve Carell, Despicable Me follows a criminal mastermind in his ultimate plan, using a trio of orphan girls that will help him move it along. But what he doesn’t know is that as soon as he adopts them, they truly begin to change his life for the better. 

There’s something so sweet about the first Despicable Me movie, and I for one adore watching it every single time, whether that’s with my own father or just by myself. You can’t not love a father’s love for their daughters - especially ones that are so cute here. 

Stream Despicable Me on Netflix. 
Rent Despicable Me on Amazon. 

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Looks like the little girls want to give Gru some love. In Despicable Me 2, Gru is recruited by super spies to try and fight against villains after becoming the world’s best super-dad - but his mission is complicated when his little girls start to scheme and get him to be with another agent, Lucy. 

Everyone needs to find love eventually, whether that’s with someone else or yourself, and Gru meets his match in this movie. But, I mean, when Kristen Wiig is voicing the character, it’s hard not to love them. 

Stream Despicable Me 2 on Netflix. 
Rent Despicable Me 2 on Amazon. 

Minions (2015)

In Minions, we find out the origin story behind those little yellow monsters that Gru employs, specifically following three of them called Stuart, Kevin and Bob, as they try to serve Scarlett Overkill, who is meant to be the evilest villain ever (voiced by Sandra Bullock).

Look, I know that the minions are everywhere. They haunt my nightmares with their bananas and one-eye stares, but at the end of the day, they’re still pretty dang cute and their origin story is actually a lot of fun. For those who haven’t seen this film, check it out. I love the little Easter Eggs they put in there that reference the Despicable Me films.

Rent Minions on Amazon.

Despicable Me 3 (2017)

The latest entry in the Despicable Me series. Despicable Me 3 follows Gru after he is fired from the Anti-Villain League, and now has to find a new purpose in life that has nothing to do with crime-fighting or scheming - that is, until he meets his long-lost twin brother, Dru, and teams up with him to take down Balthazar, an evil villain threatening the world. 

I’ve always personally liked Despicable Me 3 just because I love hearing the banter between the different voices of Gru and Dru, both of which are Carell’s voice. Their dynamic is hilarious. 

Rent Despicable Me 3 on Amazon.

Once You Finished Streaming The Despicable Me Movies…

You thought that we weren’t getting any more Despicable Me movies? Think again. It’s finally been revealed that Despicable Me 4 will be coming to theaters in 2024, so you better catch up on this family beforehand. What exactly will happen in this movie? We don’t know for sure yet, but we bet it’ll be good. 

Can’t wait that long? Don’t worry, Minions: The Rise of Gru is coming to theaters this summer as part of all the new movie releases in 2022, where you’ll get to see young Gru get to know the minions we all know about now. 

Something else you might enjoy is that there are plenty of Minion short films that are available to rent, so if you could possibly want to watch more Minion mayhem, be sure to check out these shorts for your viewing pleasure:

Rent Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness on YouTube. 
Buy The Despicable Me 2: 3 Mini-Movie Collection on Amazon.

This series has truly changed the world of animation and I can’t wait to see it return. But I’m sure that no matter what, you’ll enjoy re-watching these classics whenever you please. Happy watching!

If you can believe it, we’re inching on it being five years since Universal and Illumination released a new movie starring the Minions and their villain-with-a-soft-side Gru. But have no fear Minion fans, this summer they’ll be back for Minions: The Rise of Gru. Plus, now we know when Despicable Me 4 is hitting theaters. 

Universal and Illumination have announced that the fourth Despicable Me movie is going to hit theaters on July 23, 2024. The cast will once again include Steve Carell as Gru, Kristen Wiig as Lucy, Miranda Cosgrove as Margo and Steve Coogan as Fritz. Chris Renaud, who directed the original Despicable Me along with its first sequel, will return to helm. 

The last Despicable Me movie from the main film series, Despicable Me 3, was co-directed by Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin and Eric Guillon, and did not completely measure up to the other films. CinemaBlend's Eric Eisenberg gave Despicable Me 3 a one star out of five in his review, which he called “poorly made, tired, insultingly simplistic, and a real solid waste of the talented people who are involved.” However, that didn’t represent moviegoers as a whole, who gave the movie an A- Cinemascore rather than an A on the other two. 

At this time, we don’t know the plot of Despicable Me 4 or whether it will be the last in the franchise. Back in 2017, Cosgrove shared with CinemaBlend that she’d like to see one of the three girls take on Gru’s supervillainy in the fourth installment. The animated franchise has certainly proved numerous times how popular it is. Collectively, the franchise has earned $3.7 billion worldwide, with Despicable Me 3 earning $1.03 billion on its own in the summer of 2017. 

With Despicable Me 4 over two years away, at least fans of the franchise can look forward to its return in just a few months for Minions: The Rise of Gru. The spinoff sequel was delayed by COVID multiple times. Due to the pandemic, Illumination was forced to temporarily close down its studio in Paris. This led to a year shift in its release date from 2020 to 2021 before it was moved down to this summer, which looks like it will finally stick. 

Minions: The Rise of Gru will take its audiences back to Gru’s childhood and track the villain’s origin story to become the world’s greatest supervillain at the age of 12. Steve Carell is reprising his voice role, along with Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Julie Andrews, Russell Brand and Alan Arkin among the voice cast. 

Minions: The Rise of Gru will open in theaters during Independence Day weekend on July 1. Check out what other 2022 movie releases are on the way here on CinemaBlend. 

There are some iconic faces in Hollywood that I think anyone could recognize, like maybe George Clooney or Audrey Hepburn, but one that always pops up for me is Dame Julie Andrews. This actress, whose career has spanned decades, basically shaped my childhood, starring in several of my favorite films, and only continues to do so now.

From Disney hits like Mary Poppins to amazing soundtracks like The Sound of Music, many of the best Julie Andrews movies are available to stream right now. Here are some of her most notable, and how you can watch them as soon as possible.

The Princess Diaries 1 & 2 (2001, 2004)

In this adaptation of the novel of the same name, The Princess Diaries follows Mia Thermopolis, a shy teenager from America who suddenly learns that she is heir to a European kingdom. Now, with her grandmother’s help, Mia has to figure out if she wants to abandon her life for a throne, or stay a normal teenager and renounce her title.

I remember, this was actually the first film I ever saw Julie Andrews in, ironically. I’m not entirely sure why it wasn’t Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music, but I wouldn't want it any other way. The Princess Diaries cast is full of talent, but Julie Andrews is truly one of the standouts among the rest. Besides that, it’s a great coming of age story with a royal twist.

The second one isn’t as monumental as the first, with more of a focus on love rather than royalty. But Julie Andrews also surfs down the stairs in that one, and who doesn’t want to watch that?

Stream The Princess Diaries on Disney+.

Stream The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement on Disney+.

Rent The Princess Diaries on Amazon.

Rent The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement on Amazon.

Mary Poppins (1964)

In this classic Disney musical, Mary Poppins tells the story of the titular character, played by Julie Andrews, who is a sweet and kind supernanny with magical powers, who is able to fly with her umbrella, and helps Jane and Michael Banks with their children, taking them on a great adventure.

Mary Poppins is definitely one of Julie Andrews most iconic roles, and most likely one of the many that you know her from. Her character is beloved by all for her kind nature and beautiful singing voice. The whole Mary Poppins cast has plenty of shining stars, including the lovely Dick Van Dyke who appeared in Mary Poppins Returns, and the plot is filled with magical moments, beautiful scenery, and awesomely animated dancing penguins. It’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. I mean, Andrews even won an Academy Award for her performance - that’s how you know it’s good.

Stream Mary Poppins on Disney+.

Rent Mary Poppins on Amazon.

The Tamarind Seed (1974)

In this featured film drama, The Tamarind Seed follows Judith Farrow (Julie Andrews), a British Home Office assistant, who meets a handsome Soviet Colonel Sverdlov while on vacation in Barbados, but their relationship doesn’t go unnoticed by the British, and their surveillance teams.

If you’re looking for a romantic drama with a bit of a twist, try The Tamarind Seed, especially if you’re a fan of Julie Andrews. There’s plenty of twists and turns, but it’s still filled with lots of sweet moments between two lovers in a forbidden romance with a bit of a thriller added onto it.

Stream The Tamarind Seed on Tubi.

Rent The Tamarind Seed on Amazon.

The Sound Of Music (1965)

The hills are alive with the sound of music.

I mean, if you haven’t heard that lyric, I’m quite sure you’ve been living under a rock. In this popular musical, The Sound of Music follows Maria (Julie Andrews), who takes a job as a governess to a large family, while she decides whether to become a nun or not, falling in love with the family and their patriarch.

The Sound of Music has pretty much become one of the biggest classic musicals of all time. The music is beautiful, the acting is great, the love story is believable, and everything else molds together so beautifully. Julie Andrews was nominated for another Academy Award for her performance as Maria in this film, so she’s outstanding, along with the rest of The Sound of Music cast. For fans of musicals, it’s definitely a must-watch, but even if you’re not, the story is enough to make your heart warm.

Stream The Sound of Music on Disney+.

Rent The Sound of Music on Amazon.

Victor/Victoria (1982)

In another musical/comedy, Victor/Victoria tells the story of a down on her luck British soprano, named Victoria (Julie Andrews), who is struggling to find work in the nightclubs of Paris in the 1930s. While she is trying to scam her way out of paying for a meal, she meets Toddy, a cabaret performer, who gives her an idea that might change everything.

Julie Andrews actually received another Academy Award nomination for her role in Victor/Victoria, and it was rightfully earned. Her voice in this film, I feel, even outshines her singing abilities in the last two musicals we’ve talked about. The film is also hilarious as well, with plenty of moments that will make you snort and chuckle, especially in one of the beginning scenes. Let’s just say a cockroach is involved.

Stream Victor/Victoria on HBO Max.

Rent Victor/Victoria on Amazon.

Shrek 2 (2004)

In this popular sequel to the first film, Shrek 2 follows the titular green ogre, Shrek, his ogre wife, Fiona, and their donkey (named Donkey), as they travel to meet Fiona’s parents for the first time. When Fiona’s family is less than pleased at Shrek being an ogre, he makes a hasty decision with a sketchy fairy that might change the course of their lives forever.

Shrek is definitely one of the most known animated characters of all time, in my opinion, and Shrek 2 is the best sequel to the original film. Julie Andrews plays Queen Lillian, Fiona’s mother, in this film, but the whole Shrek cast is outstanding. Mike Myers is always amazing as Shrek, Eddie Murphy is awesome as Donkey, Cameron Diaz is wonderful as Fiona - and the star, I believe, of this film (next to Julie Andrews, of course), is Jennifer Saunders as the Fairy Godmother. She’s amazing. She can sing “I Need A Hero” to me any day.

Andrews also reprises her role in both Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After, but I personally will always love her role the most in Shrek 2.

Stream Shrek 2 on Hulu.

Rent Shrek 2 on Amazon.

Eloise At The Plaza (2003)

In this made-for-television film, Eloise at the Plaza is based on the children’s book of the same name, telling the story of Eloise, an impressionable young six-year-old girl who lives at the penthouse at the top of the Plaza Hotel in New York City with her nanny.

Eloise at the Plaza is adorable. I’m usually not one for kids movies to watch on any given day, but this film is one I would willingly watch if I was feeling down or sad about something. It’s so ridiculously sweet, and the chemistry that Julie Andrews (who plays the nanny) has with Eloise (played by Sofia Vassilieva), makes me smile every time. They also did a film not that long after called Eloise at Christmastime, featuring the two of them again, and it’s just as cute, if not with a holiday twist. This one is great for the whole family, folks.

Stream Eloise at the Plaza on Amazon Prime.

The Americanization Of Emily (1964)

In this dark romantic comedy, The Americanization of Emily tells the story of an American Naval officer, who has a talent of living the good life in wartime, and is challenged when he falls in love and is sent on a dangerous mission.

On first watch, this definitely wasn’t my favorite film that Andrews had ever done, just because I had never been a huge fan of war films. I liked to escape into different world and realities and war felt too real. But luckily, The Americanization of Emily doesn't focus too much on the war and really centers in on the main couple, played by Julie Andrews and fellow classic Hollywood actor, James Garner. And their chemistry together works wonders.

Rent The Americanization of Emily on Amazon.

Hawaii (1966)

In this epic drama film, Hawaii tells the story of a Yale University divinity student, who, accompanied by his new bride, becomes a missionary for the Calvinist in the Hawaiian islands in the 1800s.

I know at first that this sounds like a strange premise, but Hawaii is actually a really interesting film with a lot of themes behind it, including do unto others what you would do unto yourself. It’s a great exploration in the world of helping one another, and trying to fight for what is right. Both Julie Andrews and Max von Sydow, who plays her husband, were amazing in their roles, and the music was fantastic as well.

Rent Hawaii on Amazon.

Despicable Me (2010)

Last but not least, we take a look at Despicable Me. In this popular animated film, Steve Carrel stars as Gru, a hardworking villain who wants to be the best bad guy of all time by stealing the moon. However, when his plan ends up involving three little orphan girls that he slowly grows attached to, he starts to wonder - is being bad really that good?

Okay, say what you want about how this series has blown up a ridiculous amount, or how the Minions have become oversaturated in the media - the first Despicable Me film is unmatched and freaking adorable. Gru and his girls are amazing, and the story of him trying to adapt to actually becoming a father and learning to love is surprisingly heartwarming with a lot of depth.

Julie Andrews plays Marlena Gru, his mother, and let’s just say she has some of the funniest moments in this film, by far, but the whole movie itself is a worthy watch any day of the week. Honestly one of the best movies on Amazon Prime right now.

Rent Despicable Me on Amazon.

Honorable Mention: Bridgerton

Bridgerton is all about who is courting who - and the drama that enfolds while Lady Whistledown documents everything in her newsletter that she releases to the public all the time, telling the secrets of everyone to the world.

While this is a TV series, and Julie Andrews doesn't physically appear in the show, she is the narrator of Lady Whistledown and performs the role perfectly. Vague Bridgerton spoiler alert: We find out who Lady Whistledown actually is by the end of the first season, but no-one can deny how amazing her voice fits the character. With Season 2 coming out soon hopefully, I pray we get to hear her wonderful voice again on the Netflix hit.

Stream Bridgerton on Netflix.

From musicals to comedies to dramas, there's truly so much that Julie Andrews can do. You really can't go wrong with any film that you pick from this talented actress. Now it’s my turn to figure out how to surf down a flight of stairs on a mattress - wish me luck.

There are a ton of great movies on Netflix. No one is left out when browsing the massive library of one of the best streaming services, including kids, as there are hundreds (if not more) of family movies worth checking out.

Take it from someone with a house of kids who are starting their cinematic journey. As they grow older, Friday night family movie parties have become the perfect way to kick off the weekend with a Sunday matinee thrown in for good measure. However, with so many great kids movies from yesterday and today, deciding on one to watch can be no easy task. Fear not, because we have put together a list of the best family movies to watch with your Netflix subscription right now.

Wonder (2017)

Stephen Chbosky’s 2017 coming-of-age drama, Wonder, centers on a young boy named August “Auggie” Pullman” (Jacob Tremblay) born with a rare facial deformity that has resulted in him spending much of his life sheltered at home or wearing a space helmet when going out in public. The movie follows Auggie, his mom and dad (played by Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson), and the rest of his family, as the 10-year-old starts a new school and a new life experience.

Emotional, uplifting, and charming, this family-friendly drama is full of great lessons for children, parents, and everyone else, and will surely have an impact on those who watch it for the first time or after all these years.

Stream Wonder on Netflix.

The Lego Movie (2014)

In February 2014, Phil Lord and Chris Miller directed The Lego Movie, one of the most successful movies of the past decade and a game-changing theatrical experience that helped usher in a new era for animated movies. Centering on Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) as he goes from a seemingly normal construction worker to “The Special” and tasked with saving the world, the movie explores a vast number of worlds, Lego setpieces, and pop culture references.

Parents and children alike will find something to enjoy in this awesome animated film, and this is especially true for anyone who grew up playing with Lego sets.

Stream The Lego Movie on Netflix.

Shrek (2001)

If you’re looking for a movie with hilarious Mike Myers quotes, some off-color humor (especially for a kids movie), and one of the funniest Eddie Murphy performances this century, now is the perfect time to revisit Shrek. Both paying homage to and poking fun at the classic fairy tale tropes, this 2001 DreamWorks Animation classic follows Myer’s titular ogre as he sets out to save a princess (played by Cameron Diaz) with one heck of a secret.

There’s a reason Shrek has gone on to spawn multiple sequels, spinoffs, and a successful Broadway adaptation: everything about the movie just works. 

Stream Shrek on Netflix. 

Big Fat Liar (2002)

Many of us probably saw Shawn Levy’s Big Fat Liar as kids when the 2002 revenge comedy opened in theaters, and so now is the perfect time to revisit it, especially with our kids. The movie follows Jason Shepherd (Frankie Muniz), a 14-year-old who teams up with his best friend, Kaylee (Amanda Bynes), to get back at Marty Wolf (Paul Giamatti), a Hollywood producer who steals the boy's essay and treats it as his own.

Hijinks, pranks, and life lessons are aplenty in this hilarious family-friendly comedy. It’s short, sweet, and it’ll have the whole family laughing, especially the “Blue Marty Wolf” scene.

Stream Big Fat Liar on Netflix.

Jumanji (1995)

Though there are some admittedly terrifying moments throughout, Joe Johnston’s 1995 adventure film, Jumanji is a thrilling experience the whole family can enjoy. It doesn’t matter how many times you watch, it never gets old watching a young Alan Parrish (Adam Hann-Byrd) being sucked into a board game and returning decades later as a grown man (played by Robin Williams) to complete what he started. 

The poorly aged CGI elements may get a chuckle from your kids (this is a nearly 30-year-old movie we’re talking about), but they’ll certainly love the story, sense of adventure, and thrilling action sequences.

Stream Jumanji on Netflix.

Rango (2011)

Released in 2011, Gore Verbinski’s Rango follows a chameleon (voiced by Johnny Depp) as he is thrown from his life of luxury and into the inhospitable desert where he quickly finds himself becoming the sheriff of a small town called Dirt. When a battle over water turns into a life-or-death situation for the townsfolk, they turn to Rango to save the day, which proves to be no easy task.

This movie has some great animation, but what really makes it such a gem is the talented ensemble cast, which sees Depp’s Rango cross paths with desert iguanas voiced by Isla Fisher, tortoises brought to life by Ned Beatty, and a gunslinging rattlesnake played by Bill Nighy.

Stream Rango on Netflix

Hotel Transylvania (2012)

If you’re trying to sink your teeth into a great vampire movie but want to avoid straight-up horror because you’ve got kids in the room, this 2012 animated gem is going to get the job done. Hotel Transylvania, which introduced one of the best Adam Sandler characters with Count “Drac” Dracula as well as a successful franchise, follows the iconic vampire and owner of a getaway for monsters as he prepares for his daughter’s (played by Selena Gomez) 118th birthday party.

All kinds of complications follow, but all pale in comparison to the major upheaval that is caused when a human (played by Andy Sandberg) ends up at the party and falls for the birthday girl. The rest, well, it’s animated movie history.

Stream Hotel Transylvania on Netflix.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023)

You could say 2023 was one of the best years for animation, and one of the biggest reasons for that was Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. This DreamWorks Animation release tells the story of the titular 16-year-old (voiced by Lana Condor) as she balances school, friends, crushes, family life, and the fact that she’s actually the latest in a long line of fearless warrior queens.

Combining ancient mythology and modern teenage issues, this fun and heartwarming animated adventure is something everyone in the whole family will enjoy. Youngsters, teenagers, and even the young at heart will get a kick out of this one.

Stream Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken on Netflix.

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (2022)

One of the top films of 2022, as well as one of the most surprising, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On takes the painfully adorable book and short film character created by Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer Camp and creates an unforgettable cinematic experience. The basic premise is that Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate) becomes a viral sensation as he tries to find and reconnect with his long-lost family.

Despite its simple nature, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a heartwarming and unforgettable emotional thrill ride that will have you laughing one moment and crying hysterically the next. 

Stream Marcel The Shell With Shoes On on Netflix.

Annie (1982)

Whether you’re looking for one of the great Carol Burnett performances or a classic musical to watch with the kids, John Huston’s 1982 film adaptation of Annie will have you covered. Much like the musical and comic strip from which it was based, this beloved musical follows the iconic red-headed orphan (played by Aileen Quinn) as she is welcomed into a life of leisure and luxury after being taken in by Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks (Albert Finney).

What follows is a charming, moving, and classic movie experience that’ll have humming, singing, tapping, and dancing through your next family movie night.

Stream Annie on Netflix.

The Land Before Time (1988)

If you’re looking for a movie that is going to give a great sense of adventure, make you cry, and show off some great animation in a little over an hour, then The Land Before Time is going to be your best bet. Released in 1988, this cherished classic follows Littlefoot (voiced by Gabriel Damon) as he tries to discover the Great Valley, a legendary and idyllic place where he can live a better life.

Though the road is full of danger (and hungry carnivorous dinosaurs), Littlefoot finds some help along the way with a ragtag group of young dinos who become not only his friends but his family as well.

Stream The Land Before Time on Netflix.

Leo (2023)

If you have kids in your house, there’s a good chance you’ve already seen Leo or at least heard about it since its December 2023 release. This surprisingly great animated feature follows Leo (Adam Sandler) an aging lizard who tries to escape an elementary classroom after becoming obsessed with his mortality. However, his plan to live his final days in the wilderness is thrown for a loop when he starts to bond with the students.

Stream Leo on Netflix.

Orion And The Dark (2024)

Orion and the Dark, an animated film from DreamWorks and Netflix, follows a young boy (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) with a wild imagination as he embarks upon an epic and dangerous journey through the dark of night. But he isn’t alone, as a massive and kind-hearted giant (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser) helps him along the way. At just a little over 90 minutes long, this wonderfully animated and heartwarming film could be a hit with the whole family.

Stream Orion and the Dark on Netflix.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

Nearly a quarter-century after we last saw Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) escape the Tweedy Farm, the fearless rooster and hen are forced to break into a processing plant to rescue their daughter (voiced by Bella Ramsey) in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. This hilarious, heartwarming, and action-packed stop-motion animated film has all the charm of the original Chicken Run plus a new sense of adventure that makes a wild time for the whole family.

Stream Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget on Netflix.

Family Switch (2023)

There have been some great body swap movies over the years, and in December 2023, Netflix gave viewers another addition to that list with Family Switch. This family-friendly comedy starring Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms follows a dysfunctional family of five (plus a dog) as they try to grow closer only to end up switching places with one another in the process. With a short deadline to make things right before they are trapped in each other’s bodies for good, the family has to work together for a change. 

Stream Family Switch on Netflix.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

The biggest animated movie of 2023 and one of the best video game adaptations ever, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has all the charm and history of the iconic Nintendo franchise with the visual style of Illumination, creating a one-of-a-kind experience. Kids and parents, non-gamers and gamers alike, will find something to enjoy here, even if it’s finding all those Mario Easter eggs hidden throughout. 

Stream The Super Mario Bros. Movie on Netflix.

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)

Undoubtedly one of the best Spider-Man movies, as well as one of the most inventive comic book films in recent memory, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse came into theaters as a tour de force in June 2023, leaving audiences of all ages entertained. It has stunning visuals, imaginative top-notch action sequences, and a lot of heart. And while we wait for an update on the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, now’s a great time to revisit this incredible sequel.

Stream Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix.

Paddington (2014

After all these years, Paddington, the first entry in the live-action animation hybrid adaptation of Michael Bond’s beloved children’s books, is still a gem to watch. Watching the adorable bear with a certain fondness for marmalade find a place in the Brown family never gets old and still brings so much joy to the heart of anyone who watches. It has heart, humor, and so many classic moments.

Stream Paddington on Netflix.

Minions (2015)

Released in 2015, Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda’s Minions follows those adorable yet destructive creatures years before they became the trusted henchmen of Gru in the Despicable Me series. In search of a master (they go through quite a few), the minions find Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock), a sinister supervillain with an ingenious and over-the-top plan to take over the world. There are laughs galore (for audiences of all ages) in this animated feature that made over $1 billion at the box office.

Stream Minions on Netflix.

Nimona (2023)

Though there are some major differences between the movie and graphic novel, the Netflix animated movie, Nimona, is something audiences of all ages can enjoy. The 2023 book-to-screen adaptation, which was nominated for an Oscar, follows framed knight, Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), as he and the titular Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) set out to prove his innocence. This turns out to be no easy task on the long and winding road to redemption.

Stream Nimona on Netflix.

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021) 

The Mitchells aren’t the perfect family. Heck, they aren’t even a functional family. But when they discover that a rogue A.I. has taken over the planet and is holding the rest of humanity hostage, they have to put their differences aside and save the world in the incredibly hilarious and emotional The Mitchells vs. the Machines.

Stream The Mitchells vs. the Machines on Netflix.

Trolls (2016)

Who says you have to be a kid to enjoy the Trolls movies, because that’s far from the case. Before Trolls Band Together opens in theaters in November 2023, now would be the perfect time to go back and see how things started for Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) on their first adventure to save their fellow trolls from the evil Bergens.

Stream Trolls on Netflix.

A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019)

Fans of stop-motion animated movies (and quirky British humor) will feel right at home with the 2019 feature film, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon. This short and sweet romp of a good time follows the titular farm animal as he and his flock meet an alien who has recently crashed on the planet. With the help of his friends (both old and new), Shaun sets out to help the alien escape before a nefarious government agency gets their hands on him.

Stream A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon on Netflix.

Yes Day (2021)

One of the more notable movies to come out in March 2021, Yes Day stars Jennifer Garner and Édgar Ramirez as two parents who give their children the ultimate gift: one day where the kids are in charge. With scenes loosely based on Garner’s own experience with her kids, especially after 2020’s quarantine, the family comedy is filled with good times, humor, and a lot of heart. Just be careful what you ask for when you recommend this at movie night.

Stream Yes Day On Netflix.

Benji (2018)

There have been various incarnations of the Benji franchise over the years and to the delight of grandmothers around the world, the 2018 Netflix version is just as wholesome and fun as the 1974 original. Set this time in New Orleans, the lovable terrier finds his new home with a young family and the sights and sounds of the Big Easy. When Benji’s new kids bite off a little more than they can chew, it’s up to the iconic pooch to save the day. And don’t worry, Benji is one of the movies in which the dog doesn’t die.

Stream Benji On Netflix.

John Mulaney And The Sack Lunch Bunch (2019)

Then there is John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch, a 2019 musical variety show that pays homage to children’s programs of the ‘70s and ‘80s while also touching on modern topics and situations. This hilarious collection of songs about everything from your grandma’s new boyfriend to entertaining your parents and their friends at their next party is remarkable in its premise and execution. Watch out, because Mulaney’s jokes and songs are contagious here.

Stream John Mulaney And The Sack Lunch Bunch On Netflix.

That’s a lot, but should be more than enough to hold you and your kids on family movie night (or family movie week with all of these titles). If you want to know about all the upcoming Netflix movies (not just family movies), don’t worry, because we have you more than covered.

About twenty years ago at the start of the 21st century, the name “Steve Carell” was unknown, and the world had yet to know about the comedic legend that blew up cinema screens in the early 2000s. Now, Steve Carell is a household name that people use to describe feel-good movies, as well as hilarious TV shows, such as The Office. He built his career from comedies, with roles in famous comedic classics such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and he has only just begun to expand his range, and show that not only can he make us laugh – he can make us cry.

But with how many projects Steve Carell has been in, there has to be a certain ranking of the best movies to watch that feature everyone’s favorite newsman. And you’ll find that there’s actually plenty of options to pick from, depending on what your favorite genre is. From animated films to Oscar-nominated films, Carell has shown that he has range, and is going to be bringing a whole lot more to the big screens in the future. So take your pick, and sit on down for a good hearty laugh.

10. Vice (2018)

I know, for people who are probably big fans of Steve Carell, some might wonder why I’d be putting a movie like Vice on this list, but honestly, it’s because of how great Carell is within the film, and in the character he plays. The fact that this one is only number 10 just shows how amazing he is at the range of these movies. For those who don’t know, Vice is about the former Vice President of the United States under George Bush’s presidency, Dick Cheney. Steve Carell portrays Donald Rumsfeld, who at the time was the U.S. Secretary of Defense until 2006.

While this wasn’t the first time Carell has stepped into the drama world (as seen with some of the other entries on this list), it shows how much he had changed as a dramatic actor in just a short span of time. Keep in mind that this film is entirely for people who enjoy politics – it’s solely about that and covers the timespan of George Bush’s presidency, while also showing a bit of time beforehand. Carell doesn’t come into the film until a little way in, but the wait is worth it to see him pull-off the usually sour face of Donald Rumsfeld, and actually add some life and light to him.

9. Battle of the Sexes (2017)

I told you, this list is all over the place. Now we’re stepping into the sports genre, where Carell plays Bobby Riggs, an American tennis champion who was the number one player in the world in the 1970s. Emma Stone stars alongside him as Billie Jean King, and the story covers the 1973 tennis match between the two – a battle of the sexes, which had never been done before in the game of tennis.

You might not believe that a man who made a living making silly jokes and starring in movies that constantly make fun of his own characters would show so much skill in something like tennis, but he does. And not only that, but the storyline is amazing as well. Carell (as well as Stone) provides parallels to today’s sports standards, where women are paid much less than men in the same sports. It’s worth a watch if you’re really into sports and drama, and Carell plays the role well.

8. The Big Short (2015)

I never thought I would ever get into money or finance films, but that changed the moment I saw the cast for The Big Short, which of course included Carell in a starring role as Mark Baum, a leader of FrontPoint Partners. The whole entire film is about the collapse of the stock market during the American recession from 2007-08. Carell performs the role perfectly as a man who is absolutely disgusted with the American banks and doesn’t quite know what to do once everything begins to fall apart.

I know, the very idea of diving deep into the economics of the world can sound daunting – it was for me at first too – but it’s not completely about that. It’s more about the interactions between the characters, and what grows from that, and how each little step leads to what we now know as the 2008 Recession. The direction makes this sort of movie engrossing and the stars alongside Carell only add to the interest that develops when you watch this film (pun intended).

7. Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

I’m not a huge romantic comedy girl. Never have been and probably never will be. But damn it if I didn’t fall for Crazy Stupid Love the moment I watched it because it just makes sense. Carell’s starring role as Cal Weaver feels so freaking relatable and makes me feel like even when love doesn’t seem to be working out, there’s always a way to find a way back to it.

Not only does this movie give great insight about love in general, but it also proposes other themes such as family values, love, and loss, heartbreak, self-esteem – really the whole nine yards. Although I don’t consider this Carell’s first drama movie (which is later on down this list), I do think this is one of the films that lead him into taking more assertive film roles that weren’t completely related to comedy. I mean, who doesn't want to watch Steve Carell get made over by Ryan Gosling?

6. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Another big hit that really started to set Carell off in the right direction was Anchorman. While it didn’t directly star Carell (Will Ferrell was the leader of this film), his side character of Brick Tamland was laugh-out-loud hilarious and rained down immediate joy onto audiences whenever they watched him.

Not only did he have great chemistry with Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner as the ultimate newscasters, he proved that he could be a side character in a movie and still show that he was funny and could share the light. And I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want to watch a film with a character whose name is Brick? That’s just a recipe for comedy. He may not be the smartest man out there, but Brick Tamland has us wrapped around his fingers.

What makes it even better is that Steve Carell is down for a third movie - now wouldn't that just be amazing?

5. Despicable Me Series (2010-present)

I know. I’m bloody tired of the minions as well. Sometimes I quite literally turn off my TV anytime I see a commercial of theirs come up. But let’s go back to a simpler time, before minions – when all we really knew about this upcoming movie was Steve Carell's Gru, the supervillain that didn’t seem so super, and was going to capture the moon until three little girls came into his life.

I feel like I don’t even need to talk up this movie. If you haven’t seen this adorable animated feature, go and pop a squat and enjoy it. I absolutely love every single second, from Gru’s character development from evil man to loving father, and even at first the minions making their appearance – but god, please stop the minion movies. Just stop.

4. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

This movie is sad and adorable at the same time.

It’s so hard to pick a favorite actor in this because Steve Carell, along with everyone else, does such an amazing job of showing just how a family can be. How a family can look completely fine on the outside but everything is falling apart on the inside. The truly tragic moments of life. But there are also these moments that make you laugh out loud and say aww at the screen, and you just don’t know how to feel. Carell is completely a part of that, portraying Frank, a gay man who has recently tried to commit suicide.

If that doesn’t pique your interest, the classic ‘Super Freak’ scene will.

3. The 40-Year-Old-Virgin (2005)

I know that as soon as you hear the name ‘Steve Carell,’ this is one of the things you think of. And rightfully so. Steve Carell’s performance as Andy Stitzer is a classic, if not for the famous “Kelly Clarkson!” scene, then for the story that it all holds in our hearts. Another classic love story that is seated with comedy to make us all think ‘hey, at least I’m not him.’

But if you are then that’s alright too. We all need those friends to get us out of our basements sometimes.

2. Foxcatcher (2014)

Now, this is the film that introduced me to the dramatic Steve Carell. Again, I never thought I would be interested in sports movies but this one took the cake in terms of Carell’s acting. The sheer amount of talent that this man has - along with the cast as well - while playing John Eleuthère du Pont is absolutely astounding. Not only is it a fresh breath of air compared to many of Carell’s other performances, but it opens up a whole new set of films for him, most of which are on this list.

Who would have thought wrestling of all things could be dramatic? Well, if you’re into WWE, maybe. But even with all the drama, this was the first movie where Carell was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, which shows the the recognition he got for this performance.

1. The Office (2005-2013)

Did you really think I’d make a Steve Carell list without including his most iconic character of all time? When everyone thinks of Carell, we automatically think of Michael Scott, the quote-unquote “World’s Best Boss” while most of his workers seem to think otherwise. From his more cringe-inducing storylines such as Scott’s Tots to famous quotes like “I am Beyonce, always,” Michael Scott is the man with a plan – unless the plan is to get work done.

Carell was nominated for multiple awards for this role for good reason, and it’s because of his time on The Office that he was able to secure such amazing roles as the ones on this list. While he did leave in Season 7 for his character to go off and have a family, he will always be in our hearts as our favorite yet problematic TV boss.

There are plenty of streaming platforms to turn to when looking for animated movies, but there are few that have as large of a library of the latest and greatest in the world of animation than Netflix. In addition to having an ever-expanding collection of reality television, original movies, and some of the best sitcoms in the history of the format, Netflix also boasts a robust list of animated features like the eye-catching Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, the criminally underrated Batman: The Mask of the Phantasm, and Academy Award nominees like The Breadwinner. And that's barely scratching the surface…

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

Two years ago, who would have thought that an animated Spider-Man movie not in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would become one of the most highly decorated depictions of the friendly webslinger? Well, that's exactly what happened with 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which featured not one, but a half-dozen different versions of the character teaming up to save the multiverse from total collapse. Add some amazing writing, an animation style that seems like a strange mashup of stop-motion, computer-generated, and comic-book animation, and some of the best performances in a Marvel movie yet, and you have a recipe for success. And let's not even get started about the hyped-up sequel and its wild visuals coming out in the next couple of years.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Song Of The Sea (2014)

The art of hand-drawn animation seems to be lost a little more with each passing year, but the studio behind the Academy Award-nominated Song of the Sea not only paid tribute to the great animation houses of the past with their 2014 fantasy epic, but they also paid tribute to their ancestry. Centered around a 10-year-old Irish boy who discovers his mute sister can do some pretty remarkable things, the story follows the pair as they set out to find her missing voice. If the touching story and meaningful cultural references aren't enough, the painstaking animation that went into this feature should hold anyone's attention. And plus, it also happens to be one of the best movies on Netflix right now.

Stream it on Netflix here.

The Little Prince (2015)

The 2015 animated film The Little Prince isn't the typical film adaptation of a beloved children's book, and that's part of what makes this ambitious feat in animation so extraordinary. There are two animation styles utilized throughout the movie with traditional CGI being used for the main narrative revolving around a young girl and her new neighbor who reads about a "Little Prince," and then stop-motion for what happens in the book. By mixing these two very distinct styles, The Little Prince offers something new for audiences, even those who grew up reading Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's timeless novella.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Lupin The Third: The Castle Of Cagliostro (1979)

Before Hayao Miyazaki made a name for himself with gems like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, or any of his other projects with animation house Studio Ghibli, the acclaimed director got his start with Lupin The Third: The Castle of Cagliostro, a 1979 film adaptation of the iconic manga series. Centered around legendary thief Lupin III, the film follows the crook as he tracks down the source of counterfeit money that he stole from a casino, only to find himself part of something much larger. Full of thievery, action, and some light romance, this classic Japanese animated movie is as fun as it gets.

Stream it on Netflix here.

The Princess And The Frog (2009)

Disney doesn't make nearly as many hand-drawn movies as it used to, but that doesn't mean that the studio's efforts are for nothing when its animation team goes back to the basics. That's exactly what happened with the 2009 release of The Princess and the Frog, a reimagining of the classic fairy tale set in the swampy marshes of southern Louisiana. Everything from the depiction of New Orleans and its surrounding areas to the culture (all that gumbo) and even the songs made this an instant classic. It's just a shame that there haven't been any sequels or spinoffs from this breath of fresh air.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Despicable Me (2010)

There are few films that have had as much of an impact on animated movies as Despicable Me, and it's not just because of the Minions (though they don't hurt). Since the release of the 2010 animated juggernaut, Illumination has gone on to release some of the most successful franchises, but it all comes back to Gru and his army of tiny yellow Minions. With clever writing, an impressive voice cast led by Steve Carrell as the evil genius, and some of the best revolutionary animation practices outside of Pixar, it's no wonder this little movie because one of the hottest properties in show business.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)

Since Batman: The Animated Series, aka, the greatest version of the Dark Knight, isn't streaming on Netflix, the next best thing is the 1993 theatrical release from the iconic franchise, Batman: The Mask of the Phantasm. The movie essentially plays like an extended episode of the classic 1990s cartoon series, which should be enough for any diehard fan of the series to enjoy. There are some darker elements to the story which centers around Batman taking on the mysterious Phantasm (as well as The Joker), but those familiar with The Animated Series should be used to that by now.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Mirai (2018)

This next movie probably isn't one that too many people have heard about despite it being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2018, but the Japanese film Mirai is one that you should watch. Centered around a young boy who feels forgotten by a family, the story picks up when he runs away and stumbles into a magical garden with the power to transport people through time. Add in some emotional elements about connecting with your family through space and time and you have yourself a new way of seeing the world.

Stream it on Netflix here.

All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)

There are few movies that pull on your heartstrings more than the 1989 animated fantasy All Dogs Go to Heaven. This funny, yet emotionally grueling story about a canine casino owner who sets out for revenge against his killer after returning from the afterlife makes you wonder how this was passed off as a children's movie when it was first released. Nonetheless, this true classic has withstood the test of time and remains just as enjoyable and poignant as it was on that worn-out VHS tape back in the 1990s.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018)

Anyone who thought Wreck-It Ralph was a one-hit-wonder for Disney was in for some bad news when the film's 2018 sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet stormed into theaters, bringing in a ton of cash and stellar reviews for the video game baddie and pint-size sidekick. The movie packs a similar punch as its predecessor in terms of cultural references but it turns it up a notch with the embodiment of the internet which looks like a sophisticated civilization on crazy pills. The varying styles of animation for each of the core characters is a nice touch and the movie has plenty of eye candy to keep even the most jaded parents entertained.

Stream it on Netflix here.

The Breadwinner (2017)

There are a lot of funny and exciting animated movies on Netflix, but there are also poignant and emotional explorations of the human spirit like 2017's The Breadwinner. Despite its basic animation style, this feature is rich and full of life in its depiction of a young Afghani girl who resorts to cutting her hair and dressing up like a boy in order to support her family after her father is arrested by the Taliban. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2018, The Breadwinner is a raw, yet empowering story of the bond shared between a family and how far a family will go to protect their own.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (2009)

Since we started with a movie from the minds of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, why not end it with one of their first projects, the 2009 big-screen adaptation of the 1978 beloved children's book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Watching how Lord, Miller, and their animation team translated the story about a strange event where food fell from the sky like rain and snow. In the film version, the event is caused by a failed science experiment, which does nothing but help push the plot forward and provide for some highly entertaining and inventive situations. Seriously, this movie is a lot of fun, even for those who lost touch with the wonder of their childhood.

Stream it on Netflix here.

That is just a dozen of the great animated movies available for streaming on Netflix. With more titles getting added each day, there is surely something for everyone (well, at least everyone who likes to have a little fun). If there was something you think I should have included, make sure to drop the title in the comments below.

Earlier this month, Despicable Me celebrated its tenth birthday. It's hard to believe that a whole decade has passed since Illumination's first feature-length animated movie made its way into theaters, but it's safe to say that the studio's brand has been ubiquitous with pop culture these past 10 years. Once an unlikely success, Despicable Me fostered a company that produces some of the most profitable movies — animated or otherwise — of our modern times. It has also resulted in many, many, many Minions sightings.

It hasn't seemed that long since the Steve Carell-led movie made its way into theaters, but it has certainly remodeled animation as we see it today. Here are some key ways in which animation has changed since 2010.

It Proved You Could Make A Flashy Animated Movie With A Relatively Low Budget, Quick Production, And Big Returns

When it came to major animation studios like Pixar and DreamWorks Animation, there was an influx of high-budget productions, notably starting in the mid-'00s, that went well above $100 million. For Pixar, every production from Ratatouille onward to, well, Onward has cost between $150 to $200 million (and that's not including marketing materials). Likewise, DreamWorks Animation (which Illumination at least somewhat emulated in their business model) has primarily made movies around $130 to $175 million since 2006. With the exception of some 2D animated features, nearly every Disney animated movie has cost anywhere between $100 to $260 million. Entirely CG-animated features certainly aren't cheap to create, though Illumination proved you can do it for a fraction of the cost.

Despicable Me cost $69 million to make, which isn't necessarily "small budget" but it's considerably cheaper compared to its contemporaries. Since then, even as their profile rises, Illumination keeps their budgets within the $63 to $80 million range. Their emphasis on marketing results in the brand's heavy, sometimes obnoxious promotional materials, but it's hard to argue with the results.

Only one Illumination movie has underperformed since 2010. While the movies themselves aren't always praised, the studio knows how to make movies both cheaply and quickly, producing fast turnarounds and high profits. As a result, we've seen more animated movies made on tighter budgets with heavily marketing strategies. Last year, for instance, Abominable came out from DreamWorks Animation with a $75 million budget. Likewise, The Addams Family cost a mere $24 million.

They Smartly Market Their Movies To Their Core Demographics, Resulting In More Kid-Centric Animation Than Ever Before

While one could argue about the quality (or perhaps lack thereof) of Illumination's output, the studio rakes in a lot of money. As noted before, this is the result of clever, inspired marketing tactics, with the company spending as much time and effort promoting their movies as they do making them. When it comes to the teasers, TV spots, and other trailers and promotions for Despicable Me and Minions, for instance, the ads have a Looney Tunes-esque short film quality that entertains the children and leaves them wanting more. It might seem simple, but it's ingenious in its approach. If you want to get kids to see your new animated movie, instead of simply showing them clips, get them endeared to the characters and their silly, childlike hijinks.

This approach has resulted in other studios making more cutesy, attention-grabbing movies and shows that smartly market their core concepts. One of the biggest recent examples is DreamWorks Animation's The Boss Baby, which combines the rambunctious, near-villainous antics that you might see in Despicable Me or Minions combined with the marketability of a big-eyed baby wearing an adorable little business suit. It seems simple, but it ultimately relies on the studio being smart with their materials and knowing who their target demographic is and how to appeal to them.

They're More Focused On Characters And Jokes Opposed To Strictly Narrative-Based

While this trend didn't start with Illumination, the animation company harkens back to an older age of animation — particularly older animated shorts from Disney and Warner Bros. — that focused more on characters, jokes, and set pieces opposed to strictly narrative-based. Every Illumination movie pays great attention to vignette-esque sequences that keep young audience members enticed and entertained throughout the course of their jubilant, bubbly runtimes.

While it doesn't result in the same rich, intricate plots as Pixar's finest films or Laika's well-crafted movies, these family films tend to be consistently amusing and enjoyably goofy, providing some high-energy bits of entertainment with just enough emotional undercurrents to win over audiences by the masses. The results aren't necessarily the most original movies or the most imaginative stories, but they can carry their own charm.

In an effort to capture this balance of fast-paced electricity, several animation movies seem to have borrowed from Illumination's template of focusing on jokes and characters with the same intensity as other studios might focus on their story and spectacle. Some recent examples that seemed at least partially inspired by Despicable Me's rapid success include Hotel Transylvania, The LEGO Movie, The LEGO Batman Movie, Storks, The Boss Baby, The Emoji Movie, and Illumination's own The Secret Life of Pets, which copy-and-pasted Toy Story's template but focused more on the cutesy day-to-day antics of household pets. The model doesn't guarantee success, but several of these movies found their audiences — and a few have seen great acclaim.

A Greater Insistence On Catchy Pop Songs In Movies

While one could argue the inclusion of pop songs in animated movies gained more prominence in the 2000s, notably with once chart-topping rock and pop songs informing Shrek's soundtrack and the title green ogre's irreverence to the classical fairy tale storytelling, Illumination's interest in capitalizing on their brand and their most marketable aspects came into play with Despicable Me 2's soundtrack. Pharrell Williams served as a musical consultant on the original Despicable Me, but we really saw the fruit of his labors in the sequel when his single, "Happy" soared to the top of the charts and earned him an Oscar nomination, as well as greater notoriety and fame. It was a win-win for the studio and the musician. The latter gained more exposure and listenership while the former only continued to find their audience.

Pop music was at the core of Illumination's 2016 animated feature, Sing and other studios were also bringing tunes to the forefront of their features. The vibrant infusion of poppy animation and pop songs played a big hand in creating DreamWorks Animation's Trolls and this year's Trolls World Tour. Inspired by the success of both Despicable Me and The LEGO Movie, the animation company found a way to bring back a once-popular toyline and incorporate the sugary, high-energy cotton candy sweetness of Illumination's brand and make one of their most financially successful new franchises, notably as the company struggled to find its footing in the 2010s, box office-wise, outside of a few major hits.

Creating earworm songs that get stuck in your head and get your booty shaking certainly isn't new, but Illumination found a way to make it work in their favor. It's easy to see how other animation studios can and will copy off their homework in this lucrative fashion.

The Influx Of Minions (And Studios Trying To Make Their Own Minions)

Whenever you think of Despicable Me (or even Illumination in general), the first thing that might come to mind is the minions, the plushy yellow ... err ... things that steal the show from Gru and his daughters. This isn't incidental. From their cutesy antics in the animation company's logo to their pop culture bombardment, from merchandise to memes, Illumination clearly followed the money, and they're not stopping until the gravy train reaches its final stop. The minions were the central focus of Despicable Me 2 and 3's promotional materials and received their solo short films, commercials, and more in the interim. Not only that, but they also got their own spin-off movie, 2015's Minions, which easily became one of the studio's biggest, most profitable box office successes.

From there, the message became clear: the minions aren't the sideshow anymore. They're the main attraction, and that's why they'll get another movie, Minions: The Rise of Gru, next year. This sequel bridges the gap between the Despicable Me trilogy and its spin-off prequel, which will likely prove to be another astronomical hit. Certainly, Hollywood took notice. While there have been Minion-like hits before, from Care Bears to Smurfs to Muppet Babies, this spin-off movie demonstrated the cultural dominance that these former supporting characters hold on pop culture when given the main stage.

We've already seen animated movies copying off its success. Most recently, Scoob! featured a bunch of tiny robot henchmen who were notably similar in size and design to the minions, with the villain, Wacky Races' Dick Dastardly, modeled more off Gru than his Hanna Barbara origins.

What do you think of Despicable Me's modern influence on animation? Let us know in the comment section!

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Throughout the past 20 years, Steve Carell has gone from a recognizable standout to one of our biggest leading men in comedy. This transition didn't happen overnight, though it has allowed the actor to challenge himself and take on different roles throughout his career. Some of them were entirely lighthearted affairs. A few others were very serious, even jokeless, by design. And quite a few of them found humor and tragedy in equal measures.

It is a credit to Carell that he has allowed himself to try different things and explore different layers of comedy and drama throughout his career. His best projects tend to be smaller, more refined works, which includes The Office, though he has also succeeded in making some broader comedies shine. If you are a fan of Steve Carell, you should know that a number of his movies and shows are available to stream right now.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - Starz

A dysfunctional family lead by patriarch Richard (Greg Kinnear) takes a cross-country road trip when their young daughter (Abigail Breslin) enters the finals of a beauty pageant.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: Following years of scene-stealing supporting roles, Steve Carell finally found his leading man status in 2005. When he returned the following year to play a supporting role in Sundance darling Little Miss Sunshine, it wasn't to prove his comedy chops, but rather to demonstrate his understated potential as a dramatic performer — a side of the newly-minted star that's since been seen in a few roles we'll mention later in this article. While this indie drama is often uproariously funny, there's a soft melancholy to its presentation that helped it stand out compared to other, more mainstream comedies. The results are as hilarious as they are heartfelt.

Stream it on Starz here.

Last Flag Flying (2017) - Amazon Prime, IMDB TV

Former Navy Corpsman Larry "Doc" Shepherd (Steve Carell) reunites with his Vietnam War friends, Marine Sal Nealon (Bryan Cranston) and Reverend Richard Mueller (Laurence Fishburne), to bury his son, who died in the Iraq War.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: By most measures, Last Flag Flying flew under the radar, which is a shame because it's a terrific little movie and it features one of Steve Carell's best performances to date — dramatic or otherwise. Under the commendable helm of Richard Linklater, we get one of Carell's most nuanced, understated performances, which tend to be the roles where the actor excels. While he's known to play things big and hammy in a few recent performances, including Battle of the Sexes and The Big Short, these gentle roles oftentimes bring out his best work.

Stream it on IMDB TV here and on Amazon Prime here.

Despicable Me (2010) - Netflix

Criminal mastermind Gru (Steve Carell) uses a trio of orphans (Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher) as pawns for his latest grand scheme, only to discover that their unwavering love for this unlikely father figure melts his ice-cold heart.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: It's weird to think that we're now 10 years removed from Despicable Me. The rambunctious animated comedy from once-unknown Illumination Entertainment has notably impacted modern family movies. The springy, goofy trilogy inspired many studios to remodel their movies into jokier, more cartoonish affairs, attempting to go toe-to-toe with the money-making animation house. Whether you like it or not, it's not terribly hard to see why Despicable Me made an impact. With its warm mix of Looney Tunes-esque goofiness and its big beating heart, Despicable Me became an instantly lovable new addition to many family movie collections.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Crazy Stupid Love (2011) - HBO Max

A recently divorced middle-aged man (Steve Carell) gets advice from a charming young bachelor (Ryan Gosling) on how to reclaim his manhood and pick up women at the bars.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: Before the screenwriter became the showrunner behind NBC's This Is Us, Dan Fogelman wrote another interwoven ensemble piece with its own unexpected family twist. But this studio dramedy is notably much more lighthearted in its approach, with Steve Carell's character written with him in mind and playing to his charmingly awkward strengths as a lead star. Playing off of Ryan Gosling's charismatic confidant, these two actors. make for an enjoyable pair, with Carell, in particular, providing a nice balance of comedy and drama to this comfortable look at the complexities of relationships. It's not a must-see, but it's worth watching on a casual afternoon.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Foxcatcher (2014) - Tubi

Based on the true story of Olympic wrestlers Mark (Channing Tatum) and David Schultz (Mark Ruffalo), who joined Team Foxcatcher, led by the elusive, eccentric millionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell), to train for the 1988 Olympic Games, with dire consequences.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: Unquestionably one of Steve Carell's darkest, bleakest performances, the comedy actor sheds his warm demeanor and personable charm for this chilling portrayal of the late John du Pont, an heir to the E.I. du Pont with an unhealthy investment in Mark, played with chiseled-jaw determination by Channing Tatum. The results are a coldly compelling tale of fixation and obsession, paving the way for somber reverberations. Hidden under layers of make-up, Carell's moody, intense portrayal of Du Pont captures the psychopathy of this character to haunting results. It earned him his first and only Oscar nomination.

Stream it on Tubi here.

The Dana Carvey Show (1996) - Crackle

A short-lived sketch comedy show centered around SNL's Dana Carvey.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: Through its irreverent attempts at counterculture humor, The Dana Carvey Show didn't find its audience on the air, only showing seven of its 10 intended episodes (an eighth was made but not released until later on), but it eventually became a cult favorite. Though its topicality prevents it from aging gracefully (it's also a product of the '90s in other ways), the show's wacky, off-kilter blend of absurdist and subversive comedy was better appreciated once it left primetime. The irony-laced show didn't find its crowd on ABC, though it'd fit comfortably with the likes of Comedy Central and Adult Swim. It was also a launching pad for Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert. The show's history was documented in Hulu's Too Funny To Fail.

Stream it on Crackle here.

Vice (2018) - Hulu

A darkly satirical biopic centered around Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) and how he became the most powerful Vice President in U.S. history.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: As a scattershot and broad-reaching dissection of this modern political figure, Vice doesn't hit all of its targets with equal precision. Nevertheless, this vicious, unreserved cinematic attack on Dick Cheney isn't without its ferocious bits of impassioned indignation, particularly thanks to writer/director Adam McKay's liberated filmmaking and Christan Bale's excellent performance as our central focus. It could use another edit, and its reach doesn't always meet its grasp, but its punchy presentation is benefitted by its strong ensemble, including Amy Adams, Alison Pill, and Jesse Plemons. Additionally, Sam Rockwell and Steve Carell won over select critics with their performances as President George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, respectively, particularly with the former's Oscar nomination.

Stream it on Hulu here.

Cafe Society (2016) - Amazon Prime

A starry-eyed young man (Jesse Eisenberg) moves to Hollywood in the 1930s and falls in love with a young assistant (Kristen Stewart) who is in an affair with his uncle (Steve Carell), a powerful talent agent.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: Filling in for Bruce Willis following his departure from the project mid-production, Steve Carell wasn't given the luxury of time when it came to finding his character in this period dramedy. Nevertheless, in a starry cast that also includes Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Corey Stoll, Anna Camp, and more, Carell found his way in the prominent role, playing up the character's brash, pompous demeanor with dry wit and his own brand of arrogant bullishness. The results aren't as memorable or remarkable as a few other roles listed here, but Carell hurdles a tough gig.

Stream it on Amazon Prime here.

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012) - Starz

With the world set to end, a lonely man (Steve Carell) goes on a road trip to reunite with his long-lost sweetheart. Accompanying him along the way is his free-spirited neighbor (Keira Knightley).

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: A darkly funny, earnestly poignant cinematic reflection on humanity and human connection as seen by characters embracing (or, rather, learning to embrace) the world's ensuing demise, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is an assured, morbidly entertaining directorial debut from Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers), aided by its smart screenplay, sharp cinematography, an inspired premise, and strong performances from our intentionally mismatched leads. While never comfortably finding its balance between the humor and tragedy of its story, that mix of hilarity and sadness informs it rather than detracts, giving it a gentle, sympathetic honesty.

Stream it on Starz here.

The Office (2005-2013) - Netflix

The Office is the NBC remake of the acclaimed BBC series of the same name which follows the day-to-day activities of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, located in Scranton, PA, run by the incompetent boss, Michael Scott (Steve Carell).

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: If you're reading this list, it's likely that you're already familiar with The Office. Especially if you're a fan of Steve Carell. Previously serving as a standout in Anchorman, Bruce Almighty, and The Daily Show, Carell was already gaining notice, though it was with the one-two punch of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and The Office in 2005 that Carell cemented his leading man status. The mockumentary sitcom's universal appeal has made it a beloved hit even years after it left the air, sparking some intense streaming service bidding wars, and its continued appeal is certainly tied to Carell's endearing, Emmy-nominated performance.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Beautiful Boy (2018) - Amazon Prime

Based on the memoirs by father David Sheff and his son, Nic, Beautiful Boy chronicles a father (Steve Carell) struggling to cope with his son's (Timothee Chalamet) debilitating drug addiction.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: Though the process of adapting two separate memoirs simultaneously produces some narratively uneven results, Beautiful Boy is a tender, quietly reflective family drama that's appropriately sobering. Guided by its central two performances, we're given an intimate, revealing look at addiction and the consequences it brings for not only the ones afflicted by the disease but those who must watch and/or worry about their loved one's well-being. While Chalamet's performance is ultimately the showier of the two, resulting in the rising star gaining more award attention, Carell's performance is affecting in its remorseful, somber examination of a patriarch who only wants to help his son.

Stream it on Amazon Prime here.

Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

Based on the beloved children's book of the same (very long) name by Judith Viorst, our titular misfortuned character (Ed Oxenbould) wonders why only bad things happen to him, only for the rest of his family to experience their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Why It's A Good Option for Steve Carell Fans: It's hard to compete with the classic source material, but this adaptation has a good cast, including Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Dylan Minnette, and more, and there are plenty of goofy antics found in this family-friendly movie from director Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck, The Good Girl).

Stream it on Disney+ here.

What's your favorite Steve Carell movie or show? Let us know in the comment section below!

This past week, The Willoughbys hit Netflix, providing families everywhere with a charmingly morose new animated movie to watch on family nights. Based on the book of the same name by Lois Lowry (The Giver), the splendidly-animated movie matched colorful animation with a darkly funny tale of a dysfunctional family. The result is an inspired, entertaining animated movie that also harkens back to other morbidly amusing family movies from the not-too-distant past. Therefore, if you're looking for a few family films to watch in the same vein as The Willoughbys, we have a few recommendations. Here are some other streaming-friendly family movies you can watch with your family from the comfort of your home if you loved this animated movie.

The Addams Family

What It's About: Based on Charles Addams' cartoon of the same name, The Addams Family follows an eccentric family of morbid oddities and the con artists who plan to swindle them by using an accomplice who eerily looks like their long-lost uncle.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: As I watched The Willoughbys, the property that came to mind most often was The Addams Family. The long-popular comic characters have a lovably wicked taste for all things kooky and ooky, mysterious and spooky. While The Willoughbys doesn't fall into that same exact Halloween-esque vibe, its love for bombastic mischievousness makes it an easy companion. While The Addams Family were given a new look this past fall, the 1991 live-action movie remains superior. With fantastic casting, excellent production design, a fabulously kooky screenplay, and some delightfully twisted antics, it's a delightfully deprived good time.

Stream it on Starz here.

Despicable Me

What It's About: A criminal mastermind uses a trio of orphans as pawns for his plan to steal the moon, but his heart softens by their small company.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: If you like animated comedies about dysfunctional families with vibrant colors, punchy animation, slapstick violence, and a great deal of heart and humor, you'll find a good double feature with Despicable Me, which is also currently available on Netflix. This 2010 animated movie turned Illumination Entertainment into one of the biggest animation studios of the past decade. Through this enormously successful critical/commercial smash, we saw a wave of wackier, zanier animated films — not the least of which includes The Willoughbys. While the latter doesn't center around evil characters learning to be good, it does have a similarly warm, loving look at adoptive parenting. It's also lots of fun.

Stream it on Netflix here.

James and the Giant Peach

What It's About: A lonely orphan who lives with two wickedly cruel aunts befriends a group of anthropomorphic bugs who live inside a gigantic peach. Together, they go on an adventure to New York City.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: James and the Giant Peach is based on the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, and the author's cheekily twisted sense of humor is similar to the one shared in The Willoughbys. The macabre outlook is apparent throughout this Disney production, though for all its morbid tendencies and general weirdness, there's a beaming sweetness to its dysfunctional family story. Centered around a young protagonist living with two horrendously awful parental figures, James eventually sneaks away and finds his own sense of family in these enormous bugs. These similar themes connect these two off-kilter family movies together.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

Coraline

What It's About: A young girl discovers a strange alternate version of her home, but she soon discovers that it holds dark secrets.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: Harry Selick's Coraline is another adaptation that shares similar themes with The Willoughbys. When our title character cannot connect with her demanding parent, she discovers an unconventional world that mirrors her own but in seemingly better ways... until its sincere underbelly grows apparent. Filled with spooky surprises and wondrous visuals, Coraline is a wonderfully dark family film, one that isn't as consistently funny as The Willougbys but shares its similarly unconventional perspective. Children will often accept creepier, even scarier stories when they're presented in an agreeable way. While Coraline can be unsettling for some younger viewers, it's also an oddly accessible movie too, one that's filled with splendid animation and a great big heart.

Stream it on Starz here.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

What It's About: Jack Skellington, the skeleton king of Halloween, wonders into Christmas Town and decides to celebrate the elusive holiday.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: Likewise, if you enjoyed both Coraline and James and the Giant Peach, you should enjoy the director's most famous and recognizable movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Produced by Tim Burton at the height of his fame, this darkly hilarious holiday treat combines the spirits of Halloween and Christmas — in more ways than one — by providing a visually stunning, wonderfully original new take on two of the most popular year-end holidays. It shares a moody, morbid (but never bleak) vision, which should make it an easy companion to The Willoughbys.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

The Rugrats Movie

What It's About: In their first movie, the central babies of Rugrats get lost in the forest — away from their mommies and daddies — shortly after Tommy Pickles gets a new baby brother.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: When it comes to tales of children outwitting their neglectful, absent-minded parents and taking wild, weird adventures, The Rugrats Movie makes an easy point of comparison. The first in a trilogy of movies based on the popular '90s animated Nickelodeon series, The Rugrats Movie doesn't go quite as wild as the sequels, but this emotional, sweet feature-length film adaptation of the series does capture the sense of adventure and thrills at the center of this baby-based show. Filled with heart, humor, and action, The Rugrats Movie is an appealing movie for all ages. It'll win over fans of the show and newcomers alike.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Storks

What It's About: Once known for delivering babies, storks carry packages now. But when an order for a baby arrives, the company's best delivery stork scrambles to deliver the child.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: Family is what you make of it. Learning to change your life for the children introduced later in the game is something that nearly every parent must learn with their first child, and Storks tackles that idea in a clever, vibrant, highly entertaining way. From Warner Bros.' animation studio, there is an undeniably goofy Looney Tunes-esque aesthetic to Storks, one that captures the style and high energy of those older cartoons. The fluid animation, consistently amusing jokes, and bubbly emotions make Storks share several common similarities to The Willoughbys. While it doesn't ever dive into dark humor, its similarly charming ending makes you carry the same sweet-hearted feelings.

Stream it on HBO Go here.

The Croods

What It's About: A prehistoric family set off on a fantastical adventure into undiscovered lands.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: An inspired family road trip comedy with great visuals, passionate voice performances, good laughs, and a wallop of heart, The Croods takes what could've been a fairly conventional family movie and makes it something dynamic, lively, inspired and moving. Similarly, The Willoughbys is another family comedy that could've fallen into familiar traps, but through its kooky sense of humor and its oddball cast of characters, it becomes something more enjoyably off-beat. Both dysfunctional movies are quick to win over your heart, though, by their tender finales.

Stream it on Netflix here.

The Cat in the Hat

What It's About: Based on Dr. Seuss' beloved book, The Cat in the Hat follows two home-ridden kids who are paid a visit by a talking anaphoric cat.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: Admittedly, many folks find 2003's The Cat in the Hat live-action adaptation to be... less-than-worthy of its inspiration. With its inappropriately crude sense of humor, inconsistent tonal shifts, ramshackle plotting, and its oddly mean-spirited tone, it isn't what many readers — young or not — thought this feature-length film would become. While these criticisms hold weight, The Cat in the Hat is fascinating; it almost disdains the work that inspired it. It has a sense of chaos and anarchy that's absurd and genuine, likely due to its unstable behind-the-scenes production. It's a vibrantly weird, off-balance, and morally unhinged adaptation, and it makes an interesting companion piece.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

What It's About: Count Dracula and his monstrous friends and family leave the hotel for a few weeks to take a summer cruise vacation.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: With its frenetic, zany high-energy and slapstick-heavily family antics, The Willoughbys does share a good bit in common with the gleefully juvenile Hotel Transylvania movies. The Adam Sandler-led animated comedies have won over several families and young audiences with their wackily lowbrow looks at these familiar horror characters, but the beating heart of those movies ultimately resides in the emotional dysfunctional family ties, and the same can be said for The Willoughbys. They both revel in lighthearted dark humor, never letting the darkness get too intense, violent, unsettling, or mean-spirited for young audiences. The third Hotel Transylvania film is, in my view, the best, and it's available on Netflix.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Meet the Robinsons

What It's About: A brilliant boy inventor meets a stranger who whisks him into a time machine with life-altering implications.

Why The Willoughbys Fans Will Like It: Made just a few short years before Disney would have another animation resurgence, Meet the Robinsons can be forgotten in terms of '00s cinema, though its kooky plot, wacky sense of humor, biting bits of oddball eccentrics, and warm dysfunctional family plot make it an easy comparison to The Willoughbys. Meet the Robinsons takes more of a sci-fi/futuristic bend, and it also doesn't get quite as dark as The Willoughbys, but they each have a beating heart amid their goofiness. It's easy for audiences to be won over by the emotions presented in their finales.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

Did you love The Willoughbys? Which movies would you recommend? Let us know in the comment section below.

Mindy Kaling can do just about anything: acting, writing, producing, directing, and much more. She carved out her place in Hollywood when she appeared on The Office as Kelly Kapur. Kelly’s obsession with pop culture, her witty lines, and entertaining romance with Ryan (B.J Novak) helped make her one of the most memorable characters on the series. Now Kaling is once again bringing funny, relevant, and unforgettable characters to life with her new series Never Have I Ever.

The series is a fresh coming-of-age romantic comedy series that showcases Mindy Kaling’s brilliant comedic voice. If you’re a fan of The Mindy Project star, then this is a series you need to watch for smart writing and likable characters. Also if you’re a Mindy Kaling fan, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ have plenty of options to start your Kaling binge-fest.

Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

Mindy Kaling acts as creator and writer on Never Have I Ever, a Netflix original series. It follows Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) as she deals with a tragic loss, and typical teen angst, like parents, crushes, and having John McEnroe as a personal narrator. The series debuted in April 2020.

Never Have I Ever is a modern teen comedy with a very enjoyable and quirky main cast. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan gives Devi depth, sincerity, and humor as she and her friends tackle most of the things that modern teens struggle with, like coming to terms with sexuality, grief, how to make a great TikTok, and dealing with a nemesis that will likely become a love interest later down the line.

Stream it on Netflix here.

The Mindy Project (Hulu)

Mindy Kaling created and stars in The Mindy Project. She plays Mindy Lahiri, an OB/GYN who works at a private practice and deals with various romantic entanglements. The comedy aired for six seasons, first as a Fox series and then exclusively on Hulu.

The Mindy Project premiered in 2012, and it was her first TV leading project after appearing on The Office. The cast included Chris Messina, Ed Weeks, Ike Barinholtz, and Xosha Roquemore. The Mindy Project was a great launching pad for Kaling, who had already won viewers over from her role on The Office, but this series allowed her to add her own comedic style and tone.

Stream it on Hulu here.

Inside Out (Disney+)

Inside Out is a 2015 Pixar movie directed by Peter Docter. It follows the inner-workings of young Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) as she deals with the emotions of a major move. Joy (Amy Poehler) acts as the ringleader inside Riley’s mind and tries to keep everything operating as it’s supposed to, but Joy is finding it difficult to keep Riley happy and stop Sadness (Phyllis Smith) from taking over.

Kaling plays Disgust in Inside Out and really captures the general attitude and persona one would expect from Disgust personified. Inside Out is a Pixar movie, and the company rarely makes bad ones, so you can expect all the brilliant animation, unique and fun storytelling, and adorable, merchandise ready characters in this film.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

The Office (Netflix)

The Office fans better watch the series on Netflix while it is still there. The Office focuses on the employees of the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. The cast includes Kaling, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and B.J Novak.

Kaling played Kelly Kapoor for most of The Office’s nine season run (from 2005-2013). She also performed the duties of writer, director, and executive producer on the series. With Mindy’s flare for comedy and love of pop culture, she was able to make Kelly one of the scene stealing characters with a great toxic romance with Ryan. Kelly is one of my favorite The Office characters because she’s just such an entertaining character to watch, which is all credited to Kaling’s comedy and acting skills.

Stream it on Netflix here.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia “The Gang Makes Paddy's Great Again” (Hulu)

Mindy Kaling appeared on the season 13 premiere as a character named Cindy who has now become a member of the gang. Dennis (Glenn Howerton) left the gang to take care of his child. With Cindy, the gang actually excels at their schemes, a new and unusual thing for them.

If you know the gang, then you know an ethnically diverse woman running the gang is totally out of character, and Mindy’s character Cindy feels completely out of place among these lovable trash people, and that’s kind of the point. Kaling doesn’t feel right on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia because her persona is way too normal and civilized for the gang.

Stream it on Hulu here.

Wreck-It Ralph (Disney+)

Two misfit arcade game characters, Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) form a bond and vow to help each other. Wreck-it Ralph is treated as a villain in his game, Fix-It Felix Jr., and Vanellope glitches, so she’s not allowed to race in her game, Sugar Rush. Wreck-It Ralph was released in 2012 and directed by Rich Moore.

Kaling only has a small role as Taffyta Muttonfudge, one of the racers of Sugar Rush who is quite skilled, but also very mean especially to Vanellope. She’s one of the best racers in Sugar Rush and the mean girl leader of the gang. Kaling creates a great antagonist with Taffyta.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

Champions (Netflix)

Mindy Kaling created and had a recurring role on Champions. The series followed Vince (Anders Holm) as he has to learn to take care of his fifteen year old son Michael (Josie Totah). Fortune Feimster and Andy Favreau also star.

This series only ran for ten episodes before being swiftly cancelled by NBC. I always thought Kaling and Anders Holm had great on-screen chemistry when he played one of her boyfriends on The Mindy Project, so I was very excited to see them work together on Champions. Unfortunately, the series got cancelled before it found its rhythm. But for Kaling fans, Champions is a fun, quick watch.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Four Weddings and A Funeral (Hulu)

Based on the movie of the same name Four Wedding and a Funeral follows a group of college friends now in their thirties as they deal with their complicated relationship with each other, and various people in their lives. The main romance of Four Weddings and a Funeral revolves around Maya (Nathalie Emmanuel ) and Kash (Nikesh Patel) as they try to ignore their growing feelings for each other.

Mindy Kaling is great at creating romantic comedies, and this is no exception. Kash and Maya, and their whole group of friends are appealing characters that make you want them to figure it all out. Besides the characters and storyline, another big strength of Four Weddings and a Funeral is the music choices. It had a very good Season 1 soundtrack.

Stream it on Hulu here.

A Wrinkle in Time (Disney+)

In 2018, Ava DuVernay directed Disney’s latest adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. The film follows Meg (Storm Reid), her brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), and her friend Calvin (Levi Miller) as they travel through planets looking for her father played by Chris Pine.

Mindy Kaling plays Mrs. Who, who along with Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey) and Mrs. Whatsis (Reese Witherspoon) guide the three children on their quest. Mrs. Who is known for using random quotes to offer advice and give wisdom to people.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

Late Night (Amazon Prime)

Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling star in Late Night.Kaling also wrote the screenplay to this film. The 2019 dramedy was directed by Nisha Ganatra and focuses on Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson), a late night host on the brink of losing her show, and Molly Patel (Mindy Kaling), the new writer. Both women work to prove themselves, Katherine to her audience and network ready to turn her off, and Molly to Katherine and an all male writer’s room.

Thompson and Kaling both give great performances as opposite personalities who need each other to grow, succeed, and find their way. Late Night is a funny, charming, and insightful movie about finding how to stay true to yourself while altering your voice to match a changing landscape.

Stream it on Amazon Prime here.

Despicable Me (Netflix)

Despicable Me is an animated film starring Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, and Kristen Wiig. It was released in 2010 and directed by Pierre Coffin. The film follows super villain Gru (Steve Carell) as he adopts three girls (Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, and Elsie Fisher).

Kaling has a blink and you might miss it appearance in the opening of Despicable Me. She voices Justin’s mom, a mother whose rambunctious son falls into an inflatable pyramid. This isn’t a major role for Mindy Kaling, but it’s just an overall great animated film if you feel like adding something else to your watchlist.

Stream it on Netflix here.

No Strings Attached (Hulu)

Remember 2011 when both No Strings Attached and Friends with Benefits came out? The films basically follow the same premise: friends who decide just to have detached sex, only to fall for each other. No Strings Attached is the one directed by Ivan Reitman and stars Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher.

Mindy Kaling has a very small role as one of Natalie Portman’s character’s friends. Her best scene is alongside Greta Gerwig, Guy Branum, and Ashton Kutcher as they trick Kutcher’s character into being confused who he had sex with. The answer: no one.

Stream it on Hulu here.

It’s a great time to be a Mindy Kaling fan with plenty of options available on your favorite streaming site. With Never Have I Ever being so great, we can’t wait to see her future projects.

2017 hasn't been the greatest year for animation. And yet, for one particular franchise, 2017 has been an amazing year. Specifically, when it comes to box office receipts. Thanks to a remarkable global performance for Despicable Me 3, the franchise has now become the highest-grossing animated franchise in the world bringing in a total of $2.428 billion dollars, just slightly edging out the Ice Age series who previously held the record.

The Despicable Me franchise is probably not the one you would peg as the highest-grossing in the world, and part of the reason for that is that, while the franchise has no problem making money domestically, it's much bigger on the global stage than it is here at home. According to Deadline, Despicable Me 3 has now grossed over $900 million around the world, but only about $250 million came from North America. It's just another example of how global the box office has become.

Despicable Me also has taken the box office crown with fewer films than it took Ice Age to do it. Somehow, there have been five Ice Age movies, while there have only been four in the Despicable Me series (in case you had mentally blocked the existence of Minions). Of course, the fact that either franchise has that many movies is the main reason that either one is even in competition from a crown like this one. While you might expect the granddaddy of animation, Disney, to be in contention, the fact is that, while the Mouse House has been more open to theatrical sequels in recent years, after being against them entirely for decades, there simply aren't very many Disney titles that have more than two movies. The Cars franchise can be counted as having five films only if you include the Planes spin-offs, and nobody does that. Beyond that, you only have the Toy Story series which is sitting at three entries with a fourth planned for release in 2019. Still, that franchise sits at less than $2 billion globally, so it's not going to be competing for the top even if part four sets records.

Domestically the Despicable Me franchise still has a way to go to overcome an entirely different animated franchise. Shrek is the box office champ here with a total take of just over $1.4 billion, while Despicable Me sits at just over $1.2 billion. It may take the planned Minions sequel for the franchise to become the highest-grossing animated series here, though there has been talk of a new Shrek movie too, so perhaps the two will remain in competition for the next few years.

While animated films overall have been more miss than hit this year, the folks of Illumination haven't really noticed.

The Despicable Me franchise is one of the strongest in the world, and it seems to only be getting stronger. The first film was a surprise smash when it was released in 2010, and along with the Despicable Me 2 and Minions they movies have made more than $2.5 billion at the global box office. This success means that the newly released Despicable Me 3 most definitely won't be the last title that the series produces... but what does that mean for the future of Despicable Me 4? Nothing is firmly in stone, but star Miranda Cosgrove has thoughts on what she'd like to see in what would be the third spin-off:

I had the opportunity to sit down with Miranda Cosgrove -- who voices the eldest daughter Margo in the Despicable Me series -- at the Los Angeles press day for Despicable Me 3, and it was at the end of our conversation that I brought up the future of the franchise. I asked the actress if there was anything in particular she would like to see happen in another installment, and without missing a beat she laid out her idea for Gru's children to go bad.

It would certainly be an interesting shift to see Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Nev Scharrel) go evil in Despicable Me 4 if not just because it would essentially run against all of the themes we've been playing out in the movies thus far. The presence of the young girls in Gru's home is one big specific thing that has turned him from a life of crime to a life of fighting crime, so to see Margo and her sisters go bad would cause some serious conflict for the franchise's lead character. In that, it's actually a pretty good idea.

The idea of the girls going evil wasn't the only potential Despicable Me 4 plot point discussed either. Coming up with another possibly big story for the young orphan characters in the movies, I asked Miranda Cosgrove if it was possible that we could eventually see the return of Margo, Edith and Agnes' birth parents, given that we never really found out what happened to them. The actress couldn't confirm anything, but certainly did accept it as a possible avenue of exploration, saying,

You can watch Miranda Cosgrove discuss Despicable Me 4 and the future of the Despicable Me franchise clicking play on the video below!

Despicable Me 3, which stars Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Trey Parker and Jenny Slate, is now in theaters everywhere.

If done properly, animated films actually have a distinct advantage when it comes to storytelling. Not only is there typically a lot more development time that allows for opportunity to ensure narrative strength, but there is also greater flexibility when it comes to making changes when necessary. As such, while many may just dismiss them as "kids movies," there is an argument to be made that animated films actually deserve a higher level of scrutiny to match the presumed attention to detail that went into making them.

Despicable Me 3, however, is an affront to that standard.

In my review of Despicable Me 2 four years ago, I labeled the film as being "more like a first draft than a final product," but it's clear that this issue wasn't seen by Illumination Entertainment as a necessary thing to fix in light of the near-billion dollar box office earnings. Despicable Me 3 doesn't feel like it ever even had a script, but instead a white board with each character's name written down, and individual plots assigned with zero synchronicity. You could easily re-edit the film with any of the four subplots completely removed and find no effect on the narrative flow of the movie -- which also very much says something about their dramatic and entertainment value.

The main thrust of the film finds Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) committing himself to life as an agent of the Anti-Villain League along with his wife, Lucy (Kristen Wiig) -- but finds himself failing to foil the plans of Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), a former child star turned supervillain whose entire presence is dedicated to beating the audience over the head with tired '80s jokes (which I guess is better than its predecessors' assortment of Mexican stereotypes). Failing to apprehend him, Gru and Lucy are both fired, which just so happens to coincide timing-wise with Gru's long-lost twin reaching out to him (I'm not trying to be coy; there is no artfulness to be found here). Liberally ripping off The Simpsons, Dru (also Steve Carell) is the rich, follically-superior sibling, and it's his greatest dream to join with Gru as a villainous duo -- but really Gru just wants to use him and his resources to find Balthazar Bratt and get his job back.

This plot ultimately demands the bulk of Despicable Me 3's runtime, but it's broken up by the series of aforementioned subplots that really add nothing and go nowhere. This random assortment of half-baked ideas includes the Minions going to both Hollywood and prison; Lucy trying to mother Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) and accidentally getting her engaged to a stranger; and the young Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Nev Scharrel) looking in the deep forest alone for a unicorn after following the advice of a potentially-crazy bartender. None of them have anything special or significant to say, or add to larger themes -- and it's easy to imagine each of them being pitched as jokes that got taken seriously by the wrong people.

When Despicable Me 3 isn't being insipid and/or shoddy, it also has the wonderful uptick of also feeling weirdly mean-spirited and unpleasant. A base example of this is the presence of the cartoonishly-ugly new head of the Anti-Villain league (voiced by Jenny Slate), whose presence is limited to just one scene where she berates and fires Gru and Lucy, but even its idea of an Easter egg just reads as nasty (in the opening scene, Gru callously and clearly kills a Finding Nemo-esque clown fish with his submarine). There's nothing wrong with dark humor, but it's usually more effective when it doesn't leave a bad taste in your mouth.

I will admit to not being a fan of the previous Despicable Me movies, but that ultimately has no impact on my feelings about Despicable Me 3 -- which is really just independently awful. It's poorly made, tired, insultingly simplistic, and a real solid waste of the talented people who are involved with it. Naturally, the film ends with a set-up for Despicable Me 4, but hopefully that won't happen before Illumination Entertainment takes a long, hard look at everything that is seriously wrong with this sequel.

The archetype of the "crazy, mad scientist" has thrived for decades, and nowhere has it been better displayed than through the world of animation. Out of the annals of history, 15 figures have emerged as the best mad geniuses we’ve ever seen. But only a select few have the skill and the true moral apathy to truly be named crazy.

Inspired by this weekend's Ratchet & Clank movie, we got to thinking about our favorite loony scientists, in animated form. Behold this crop of mad geniuses, ranked in order of their level of craziness.

The Brain (Pinky and The Brain)

While The Brain, he of Pinky and The Brain fame, is a mad scientist, he really isn’t that crazy. As a matter of fact, he’s probably the most sane out of the entire lot. Sure, his schemes may be rather complicated, but with plots that range from faking an alien invasion a la War of the Worlds to becoming a hypnotically successful Country music phenomenon, The Brain is not as crazy as some of the other people on this list. In fact, if this were a "smartest mad scientists" list, he’d probably be at the top. But alas, his crazy just isn’t that strong, with his most insane accomplishment being the enlistment of Pinky as his assistant.

Professor John Nerdelbaum Frink, Jr (The Simpsons)

Most mad geniuses have a decent failure rate with their various inventions, considering that 9 times out of 10 there’s a hero ready to thwart them at a moment’s notice. With that logic in mind, The Simpsons’ Professor Frink has been fighting against the ultimate hero: Fate. We say this because the Professor’s inventions manage to backfire and fail almost every time John Frink thinks up a new one. Not to mention, one of his most notable "achievements" was creating a machine that labeled the secret ingredient of the Flaming Moe cocktail as "Love." Failure and buffoonery could grant Professor Frink gold medals all around, but he comes in almost dead last at the Crazy Genius Olympics.

Megamind (Megamind)

After defeating their arch-nemesis in a battle of wills, any crazy scientist would turn their genius powers to conquering and consuming the world and its citizens. The most that Megamind’s titular scientist can do when he destroys the goodie-two-shoes known as "Metro Man" is try to create a new nemesis to fight against. Defeating a hero might get any other genius on the list a prime placement on the higher end of the spectrum, but the fact that Megamind is pretty useless as a mad genius once he’s defeated Metro Man is pretty horrible. While he may have found new purpose as a superhero, the field of crazy mad scientists makes Megamind look like a punk.

Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb)

Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated is an outfit that excels at catchy jingles, scientific advancements ending in "-inator," and capturing animal secret agents. And somehow, the menace of the Tri State Area has managed to almost always be defeated by one special Platypus, codenamed Agent P. But the greatest strike against Heinz Doofenshmirtz’ career as a mad scientist is the fact that he had success in his sights during the Phineas And Ferb series finale… and he gave it up in the name of his daughter’s dreams. Heinz may be a great father, and an amicable mad scientist that can get along with his secret agent enemy, but he’s a lousy evil genius.

Gru & Dr. Nefario (Despicable Me)

Smarts are in no short supply on this list, especially when it comes to Gru and Dr. Nefario - the mad scientific geniuses of the Despicable Me universe. Between the two of them, evil deeds such as the shrinking of the Moon, adopting three children for the express purpose of stealing the shrink ray needed to complete said theft, and switching allegiances once their partner has softened to the joys of parenthood are not off limits. Of course, just as easily, both men can become really sweet and loyal to each other’s cause. Still, with Gru’s Moon plot and Dr. Nefario’s temporary alliance with El Macho, these guys are made to be each other’s friends in failure when their evil plots don’t work out.

Doctor Nefarious (Ratchet & Clank)

Trust is something that’s hard to earn, yet at the same time easy to break. Just ask Doctor Nefarious, the villain of the Ratchet & Clank universe, who used to serve Captain Qwark and the Galactic Rangers. But, surprise surprise, the evil genius was playing both sides, and eventually defected to the evil ranks of the slimy Chairman Drek - who wants to create his own perfect, patchwork planet out of pieces from other planets. Something tells us that Doctor Nefarious shouldn’t be trusted by anyone, even the villainous Drek, as his loyalties are only exceeded by his expertise in robotics and planetary destruction.

Dr. Alphonse Mephisto (South Park)

"The Seven-Assed Galopagos Turtle," pretty much sums up the career of Dr. Alphonse Mephisto, the genius of South Park that knows genetic manipulation about as well as the back of his hand. Though knowing Dr. Mephisto, he could grow an exact replica of that hand on the back of a random animal, which is both an ingenious method of cheating, as well as pretty twisted. But his preoccupation with creating animals of varying quantities of buttocks is what makes him such a crazy entry into this list. As if having one ass wasn’t enough, this madman decided seven was a solid number to win a Nobel Prize. That’s pretty damned crazy, albeit only the gateway to the final listing of crazy geniuses in our rankings.

Dexter / Mandark (Dexter's Laboratory)

Dexter and Mandark may be the youngest crazy mad scientists on this list, but throughout the course of Dexter’s Laboratory, both geniuses have shown a passion for defeating each other, and all that stand in their way. Even deadlier still is the fact that the two kid geniuses don’t let things like "morals" or "safety" get in the way of their plans. Their irresponsibility has lead to, but is not limited to, extreme enlargement of a human being, accidental interdimensional conquest via some nasty creatures that crossed into our world, rapid aging, brain swapping, and even petty theft. And somehow, no one’s died because of their reckless behavior, which only makes things seem that much crazier in the world of Dexter’s Laboratory.

Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth (Futurama)

Reading Professor Farnsworth’s accomplishments on his Wikipedia page, all it takes is the contents of the first paragraph to put the doddering old fool on this listing. And yet, reading up on the way he runs the Planet Express is where the really harmful stuff begins, as his legitimate corporation seems to excel at putting its employees in harm’s way. Yet through all of the alien invasions, accidental conquests, and cancellation cliffhangers Futurama has put its characters through, the fact that good old Professor Farnsworth knows the dangers he sends his crew into is what makes him a crazy genius who borders on being a psychopath. Still, who could fault him for doing the things he does after exclaiming an infectiously cheerful, "Good news, everyone?"

Sheldon J. Plankton (The SpongeBob Movies)

The textbook definition of madness is doing the same thing, and expecting a different result. While Spongebob Squarepants’ arch-villain, Plankton, doesn’t use the same plot over and over again, he defines madness in his own special way. Mainly, all he seems to care about is obtaining the Krabby Patty formula from Mr. Krabs, if only to corner the fast food market of Bikini Bottom. Of course, he also dabbles in world domination, but either way you slice it the technology that Plankton is capable of developing would easily put the world he inhabits in a chokehold. But his insane focus on Mr. Krabs and his fast food empire cause him to be impatient, thus losing him the battle in the end.

Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty)

While he’s a devout man of science, and an alcoholic cross between Doc Brown and The Doctor, Rick and Morty’s Rick Sanchez is above all a nihilist. His believes have even rubbed off on his grandson Morty a little bit, as their travels across barriers of time, dimension, and space have left them in a particularly odd viewpoint on life itself. Rick is the type of scientist Ian Malcolm would deplore, as he never stops to think if he should do something, but vaults right into getting it done at all costs. That, and he did kind of set up a sort of a miniature Jurassic Park style theme park inside of a living subject. The fact that Rick puts his family in jeopardy countless times, through direct and indirect action, puts him even higher on the "mad" list.

Dr. Weird (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)

For years, the folks at Aqua Teen Hunger Force opened their show with the exploits of this madman, who set up shop somewhere on the South Jersey Shore. With killer corn, the ability to stuff himself into the confines of a chicken, and even the creation of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force under his belt, Dr. Weird is pretty accomplished as a mad scientist. However, his crazy exceeds even his genius, as only he would want to pay for a real estate transaction with actual flesh and blood. Also, have you seen that "hairarium?" That alone shouts "crazy" to the rooftops.

Syndrome (The Incredibles)

The craziest scientist on this list is the definition of a sociopath, Buddy Pine’s rejection by his mentor, Mr. Incredible, fueled him to become a scientific genius for all of the wrong reasons. The world could use things like Zero Point Energy, impenetrable metal, and advanced robotics of great power and strength for a number of excellent causes. But that’s not what Buddy, now known as "Syndrome," uses them for. In fact, his quest to exterminate all superheroes, including The Incredibles’ main hero, is the polar opposite of beneficial to society. With a superiority complex that matches his technical prowess, Syndrome is the craziest mad scientist in the entire field. Anyone who decides to try and steal a baby in the jaws of defeat, after trying to blow up their enemy’s family and conquer the world, is something that no one else on this list has attempted. Which means that the creepy grin of Buddy "Syndrome" Pine conquers all in our quest to find the craziest mad scientist in animation.

This poll is no longer available.

Minions has already grossed a little over $1 billion worldwide. As if that wasn’t enough of a victory, the film is looking to make a splash in China, and is slated for release on September 13th. So, if you’re a big studio that’s been having a record breaking year, much like Universal Pictures, you’re naturally going to do what you can to put your film out there as memorably as you can. If Kevin, Stuart, and Bob frolicking on the Great Wall of China isn’t memorable, then frankly we don’t know what is.

The Hollywood Reporter tipped us off to this wacky promotional plug for this summer’s highest grossing animated hit. The trio of Minions were spotted parading about on one of the most legendary structures in the history of the world, and this has us asking some major questions. First, is Gru planning to steal the Great Wall of China in Despicable Me 3? Second, and more importantly, is the Great Wall still standing after the world’s three most mischievous Minions have paid an impromptu visit? We’d like to think so, as further photographic evidence has proven that Kevin, Stuart, and Bob found a special surprise.

With a plentiful supply of bananas, our yellow friends seem satisfied with their latest venture into the outside world. And Universal is looking at a very satisfying trip to the bank if China’s love of all things Minion holds true to history. When Despicable Me 2 was on its money making tear back in 2013, China was the second highest grossing territory to rake in the international portion of the film’s $970.8 million total. While the Chinese market only rallied a modest $52.9 million into the film’s coffers, it was still pretty impressive considering the first film wasn’t even released in the country. How’s that for brand saturation?

China is still a burgeoning international film market, and they are even helping less successful movies lift their bottom line to somewhere more desirable. Case in point is Terminator Genisys, which recently opened in the country’s cinemas to a $26.9 million debut weekend. That might not be a lot by domestic standards, but in China that’s an honestly warm showing. Not to mention the fact that while Terminator Genisys isn’t a box office bonanza, it’s done well enough that the Chinese result has helped spark new hopes that the franchise will continue. Which means that the future is looking bright for Despicable Me as well as the Minions side franchise.

Minions is currently wreaking havoc in theaters nationwide, with China experiencing the fun first hand on September 13th.

In the latest rendition of "hard-to-believe stories of the week," a giant Minion was on the loose in Ireland. Seriously. A large, inflatable Minion, one of the beloved characters from the Despicable Me franchise, broke free from its restraints and went on the road in Dublin, causing a traffic jam. In his defense, he was probably just trying to help, knowing how things typically go when Minions try to lend a hand.

The Telegraph reports that a 40-foot-tall inflatable Minion was erected in Santry to liven up a fair. However, strong winds blew the Minion over and into the streets at around 3 p.m. Its tumble caused a 15-minute traffic jam, which was quite a sight. SomeECards tweeted a photo of the Minion in action, originally snapped by Erin Van Londen and posted on Facebook. As she told The Journal.ie, "it’s been very windy in the area."

The Today Show tweeted a similar image, showing a close-up of the culprit. Fans of the franchise will recognize this guy as Kevin, a member of the lead trio in the Minions spin-off movie.

Thankfully, no one was injured and the Minion was soon deflated and carted away in a wheelbarrow. A fitting end for such shenanigans.

Ever since debuting in 2010’s Despicable Me, the Minions have become popular characters among children and the family friendly crowds. These living Twinkies have served the world’s greatest villains over the centuries, including the T. Rex, Dracula, Napoleon, and a tyrannical pharaoh. In the Minions movie, which was released on July 10 of this year, we saw them encounter Scarlet Overkill (voiced by Sandra Bullock) at a villain convention. The movie marked another success for the franchise and acted as a prequel to Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2, both of which feature Gru (Steve Carell) as the Minions’ master.

The Minions will return once again on June 30, 2017 when Despicable Me 3 hits theaters.

In the last five years, movie-goers have seen a sea of the little yellow rascals known as "Minions" hit the big screen, both through two Despicable Me movies and a solo film (which just dropped in theaters earlier this month). One mystery that has persisted about the creatures, however, is why they are all portrayed as male. Well, now the creator of the characters has answered this question, and revealed the very simple truth: he couldn't imagine women being as stupid as the Minions are.

Prior to the release of the Minions movie, The Wrap had the opportunity to interview the film's co-director Pierre Coffin, and it was during their conversation that the filmmaker (who also voices the Minions) revealed why all of the yellow creatures are boys. He explained,

This explains Coffin's approach to the gender decision from a creative standpoint, but the whole subject is still a bit unclear from a biological standpoint. After all, how are there so many Minions and how have they survived as a species for so long if they are all dudes? In the trade piece, it's noted that Coffin has ruled out both reproduction and division as a means of increasing population - though The Wrap notes that there are some fan theories about both cloning and the idea that humans are actually transformed into Minions with a machine called a "Minionizer."

While Pierre Coffin wouldn't reveal the exact biological specifics of the Minions, he did drop some interesting trivia about the origins of the names of the three main characters: Kevin, Stuart and Bob. Believe it or not, a good amount of forethought went into the selection of the names, and their individual characteristics are informed by what they're called (for at least two out of three of them, anyway). The director explained,

Despite not having any small, yellow female characters, Minions has already making an absolute killing at the box office. Critical reception hasn't been super positive, but the film has already made $624 million worldwide -which is enough to already make it the fourth most successful movie of 2015 (behind only Jurassic World, Furious 7, and The Avengers: Age of Ultron). The movie is also only going into its third weekend here in the United States, so there's plenty more money-making potential ahead for the animated franchise.

Do you think that there should be female Minions, or do you think that the franchise is doing just fine without them?

After the chaos that ensued when parents began to ‘hear’ Minions McDonald’s figurines reciting seemingly foul language, it is nice to hear about one toy working in a complete opposite way. Instead of allegedly teaching a child a four-letter word that rhymes with truck, this Minions toy actually helped to save a little girl’s life. A 5-year-old suffered only minor injuries after falling from a third-story apartment window, all thanks to a stuffed Minions teddy bear toy.

The young girl was playing in a bedroom with the stuffed teddy bear when she apparently fell backwards out of an open window. According to a statement from the Colorado Springs police (via Reuters) the girl accidentally fell backwards out the window, and as she fell she continued holding onto the Minion teddy bear, which is believed to have cushioned her fall. The child was quickly transported to a local hospital and was treated for a broken arm. It could have been a lot worse had the toy not cushioned her fall, though. Who would have thunk it? A Minions toy doing good?

With the negative attention Minions toys had previously gotten, this comes as good news for the film, who now can try and stay on good graces with parents. But even after the whole McDonald’s toy debacle, parents were still rushing their kids to the theaters to catch the latest installment to the Despicable Me franchise. Minions absolutely destroyed the box office its opening weekend, and continues to. Seeing those Twinkie-looking henchmen everywhere, in toys, on t-shirts is certainly helping to keep a money-making franchise booming. Minions nabbed the title of the second biggest weekend of all time for an animated film, holding second to Shrek the Third but beating out Toy Story 3. It is one of only four animated features to even cross the $100 million threshold in its opening weekend, and overseas has been increasingly successful as well.

What started as a few quirky little sidekick henchman, desperately trying to please evil masterminds, became a national phenomenon. Even just the fact that these side-characters have their own movie now is incredible, not to mention toys being made of the Minions toys. This plush Teddy Bear is one of the Minions in the film’s favorite toy. Bob, formally known as King Bob is one of the three protagonists in the Minions movie. He is known for carrying around a teddy bear named Tim. Tim is a brown plush bear with yellow buttoned eyes, apparently with special skills (like saving a little girl’s life). So if you want to keep your kids safe, he’s the little guy to buy (oh and maybe keep your windows closed).

When the box office numbers arrived for Universal and Illumination’s animated prequel Minions, jaws dropped. There was no doubt that the little yellow henchmen would do very well opening weekend, but a record breaking performance? Well Sandra Bullock and her minions dominated the box office nabbing the title of the second-biggest weekend of all time for an animated title.

With a $46.2 million debut on Friday, which is the best opening day in history for an animated film in North America, and according to The Hollywood Reporter, the family-friendly prequel quickly rose to a $115.2 million debut. Up against other openers, horror film The Gallows and Self/Less this weekend, Minions left its competition in the dust. And since the studio only spent about $74 million for the Despicable Me prequel (which is a relatively modest number when it comes to animated features) they are seeing quite the success.

Minions still holds second to Shrek the Third which continues to hold the title for the largest three-day debut of all time with a $122.5 million, but beat out Toy Story 3 which had taken in $110.3 on their opening weekend. The only other animated feature to even cross the $100 million threshold in its first weekend was Shrek 2 at $108 million.

Overseas Minions has been increasingly successful too. The title rolled out in select markets two weeks ago and is already a blockbuster earning more than $200 million. Compared to the last installment to the Despicable Me franchise in 2013, Minions still boasted higher results, though comparisons can be difficult considering Despicable Me 2 debuted over a long Fourth of July Weekend, which brought in a high $143.1 million, but only $83.5 million as the three-day take.

The animated feature will undoubtedly continue to grow, as the franchise has become increasingly popular among the younger generations. Critically, Minions is taking in much harsher reviews than its previous Despicable Me installments, but does have star power attached to set it apart. Minions tells the origin of the funny-looking henchmen known to serve many of the renowned villains throughout history from Dracula to T-Rex to Napoleon. But while their dedication to their masters in unquestionable, they are not the best at their jobs, and often their antics result in the demise of their masters. The latest film focuses on three of these yellow creatures, who have headed to a supervillain convention in search of their latest boss. There they meet Scarlet Overkill, voiced by Sandra Bullock, who could just be exactly what the destructive trio have been looking for.

Those pesky little Minions are up to no good once again. But this time, rather than assisting the world’s most evil villains in their attempt to control the globe, they have decided to ruin the lives of the world’s youth with foul language. And they’ve done this all with a McDonald’s toy, which some parents insist utters a rather expletive word.

Parents across the good states of Alabama, Ohio, and Florida have each come out and insisted that the Minions toys that come with a Happy Meal are each uttering a swearword. The toys are relatively simple to use. All you to do is hold it in your hand and then thwack it on a hard surface. However, McDonald’s customers are apoplectic because rather than declaring something family-friendly these toys are allegedly instead stating, "What the fuck."

Several parents from across this trio of states have come out and complained about these crude, rude toys. According to Yahoo, one rather annoyed mother from Alabama told WSFA, "Honestly, the beginning, I don’t know what it’s saying, but the last few words sound like, ‘W-T-F’." As you can imagine, people whose ears were violated by this random declaration of profanity immediately took the opportunity to complain. You can check out an image of one of the mischievous, potty-mouthed toys below.

But McDonald’s are insistent that this entire incident has been blown way out of proportion, and these toys aren’t actually swearing at all. McDonald’s spokesperson Lisa McComb has come out and explained to Yahoo Parenting that these toys are simply speaking Minionese.

If you’re not fluent in Minionese this is the language that the characters have uttered through Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2 and now Minions. McComb explained that Minionese is a "random combination of many languages and nonsense words and sounds."

McComb also took this opportunity to apologise to anyone who has confused the characters’ gibberish and sounds for profanity, but she was insistent that the toy doesn’t actually swear. She helpfully revealed that the Minion Caveman Happy Meal toy that has been accused of polluting the minds of the youth actually says, "para la bukay," "hahaha," and "eh eh."

A psychiatrist also explained that parents are probably hearing this specific sweary phrase because it is suggested that it is there and they are then filling in what they think they’re hearing. Meanwhile kids are just hearing funny noises. Rest assured, Minions, which is out now in cinemas across the US, doesn’t possess any foul language.

There are all kinds of things that illustrate how big a cultural impact a movie has. Maybe dialogue weaves its way into our collective lexicon, perhaps The Simpsons spoofs a film in an episode, maybe it gets a porn parody. Now the Despicable Me movies have found a unique lasting imprint, as the mischievous Minions have inspired their very own color of paint.

You may look at the naughty little buggers and think, "They look yellow," but now and forever more, that precise shade will be known as "Minion Yellow," according to the Pantone Color Institute. This particular hue is Pantone’s first ever character-branded color, and they worked with Illumination Entertainment to create a shade that is "illuminating, energetic, friendly and fun-loving yellow shade that immediately calls out to you.

Pantone’s Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman says:

Admittedly, that might be just a wee bit hyperbolic, but it’s a nice sentiment, and it’s fine bright, festive shade of yellow if you’re into that. It’s like the color equivalent of the song "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, which appears in Despicable Me 2, and then became ubiquitous, showing up in countless commercials for just about every product you can name, and even scored an Academy Award nomination.

Coincidentally enough, Pharrell is at least partially responsible for the development of this color. He noted that people wanted bright, invigorating colors in their lives, and that’s right up Panton Color Institute’s alley. They’re the research wing of the paint company and they study how colors impact human emotion, physicality, and even thought processes, and they track global trends in color and color use. They worked closely with he animation team from the films to find the precise gradation that best represents and personifies the Minions.

We’ll next see the loveable little buggers on screen this summer, when their first solo adventure, the aptly titled prequel Minions, hits. Existing since the beginning of time, with the purpose of serving the most despicable masters, they’ve accidentally destroyed all those they assisted, including T-Rex, Genghis Khan, and even Dracula. After going into hiding in Antarctica, they encounter a villain who might be the perfect fit for them, the nefarious Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock).

Minions opens everywhere on July 10, and some have predicted that it could gross a billion dollars, which is impressive. The voice cast includes Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Allison Janney, Michael Keaton, and Steven Coogan, among others. And if you just need to paint your living room Minion Yellow, Pantone plans to make it available with their next color addition.

Between the Despicable Me franchise and Dr. Seuss adaptations, the partnership between Universal Pictures and the animation house Illumination Entertainment has been quite a fruitful one. Last summer the sequel Despicable Me 2 made nearly a billion dollars at the global box office, while The Lorax made nearly $350 million on a tiny $70 million budget. Both companies surely want to continue riding this wave of success together as long as it will take them, and today it's been revealed that Universal and Illumination will at least be working together through the year 2017 on movies like Despicable Me 3.

According to The Wrap, it's been announced today that release dates have been set for both Despicable Me 3 as well as a new CGI-animated adaptation of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Despicable Me 3, like the series' previous titles, will be coming out during the summer - set for the June 30, 2017 weekend - while the latter will be sneaking into the Thanksgiving season on November 17, 2017.

These are long term plans, obviously, but Universal and Illumination also have stuff set up between now and Despicable Me 3. The next movie they release will be the new spin-off Minions, which will feature the voices of Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm, and that will be coming out on July 10, 2015. The studios also have plans to release two original films in 2016, though those projects are being kept confidential right now.

We first learned that a How The Grinch Stole Christmas remake was in the works last February, and the creative team behind it hasn't changed much since then. Pete Candeland will be making his directorial debut with the feature and will be working with a script from You, Me And Dupress screenwriter Micahel LeSieur. Dr. Seuss' original story has been adapted many times before, but the best known versions are the short film from 1966...

and the live action version directed by Ron Howard in 2000:

Also in the works at Illumination is a new adaptation of The Cat In The Hat, though apparently Grinch wound up jumping ahead of it in line. That project was first announced in 2012 when Rob Lieber (the upcoming Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) was hired to pen the script.

Are you looking forward to the new adaptation of How The Grinch Stole Christmas and/or Despicable Me 3? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

In 2010, Illumination Entertainment made their mark with the zany supervillain-centered comedy Despicable Me. This animated adventure centered on the nefarious Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), who went from criminal mastermind to loving adoptive dad, winning the hearts of critics and audiences worldwide. Its stunning success led to a sequel announcement almost immediately following the first's release. Even the popularity of Gru's yellow, gibberish spouting minions spurred a spin-off, coming in 2014.

After years of waiting, Despicable Me 2 is finally coming this summer. The film's first teaser was funny but revealed little about the sequel's plot. But the latest trailer (which you can see above or watch in hi-res at Apple) is far more forthcoming.

It begins with Gru in suburban bliss, caring for his adopted daughters, Margo, Edith, and Agatha, worrying over boys and giving bedtime tuck-ins. Then, it kicks into full-gear when Gru is confronted by Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig) of the Anti-Villain League. And after a goofy gadget faceoff, Gru is shuttled off (well, kidnapped) to meet with this curious League. Turns out, they need his help facing down a new supervillain. Gru's back in the game and must save the world!

While this trailer is elusive about this new threat to Gru's homelife, previous casting reports (potential spoilers ahead) tell us that Al Pacino will voice this terrible foe, who was at one point called El Macho. Did the name stick after directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud's first choice Javier Bardem passed? We'll find out when Despicable Me 2 opens July 3rd.

Following the upcoming Despicable Me sequel, the Minions will have their chance to shine in all their yellow glory. Of course, where there are Minions, there must be a villainous master to serve. And that's where Sandra Bullock comes in. The Heat star and Oscar winner has been tapped to voice the lead villain voice in Minions, which is expected to arrive in theaters late next year.

Deadline reports that Bullock will voice the role of Scarlet Overkill, "a stylish bad-ass super-villain who is bent on world domination." The story for the 3D CG animated comedy sounds like something of a prequel, as it's set in the 60s, after having established that minions have been around since the dawn of time, working hard to help their evil villain masters. Things pick up around the 1960s, before the Minions were working for Gru (Steve Carell's Despicable Me character)...

Sandra Bullock isn't exactly known for villainous roles, but she is known for her sense of humor, which should come in handy with this part. Her character sounds ambitious and eager to make a name for herself as a villain. Though, it'll be interesting to see where that takes her. After all, Despicable Me was all about a villain, but Gru turned out to prove far less evil than he might have liked to believe himself to be. Perhaps the same will be the case for the glamorous sounding Scarlet Overkill. What is more than likely is that she'll have a few determined Minions scuttling around, attempting to help her achieve her goals.

Given that this is the Minions' spinoff, we should probably expect them to take center stage for this film. Still, considering they don't exactly speak English (or any recognizable language that I know of), it's good to know there's at least one recognizable voice among the cast. And Bullock has a little voice-work experience under her belt, having voiced the part of Miriam in Prince of Egypt.

Minions is scheduled to release December 19, 2014. And we'll see Despicable Me 2 in theaters July 3, 2013.

The Minions are coming! Those goofy, helpful, yellow creatures that provided some additional laughs in Illumination's computer animated comedy Despicable Me are getting their very own film and while the project still doesn't have a title, it looks like Universal Pictures has decided on a date, aiming to get the film in theaters at the end of 2014.

In less than a year, we'll see Steve Carell returning to the voice of the lead character Gru, full-time villain and family man for Despicable Me 2. And if the teaser is any indication, his hard-working minions will be right there at his side to assist him in whatever evil-doing he might have planned. Despicable Me 2 arrives in theaters July 3, 2013. And earlier this summer, we learned that there were plans in the works for the Minions to have their day in the sun. Deadline shared the news this week that Universal has set the date for the Untitled Minions Project In 3D for Friday, December 19, 2014. Just in time for the holidays! Brian Lynch (Puss in Boots) is writing the screenplay, and Kyle Balda (The Lorax) and Despicable Me director Pierre Coffin will helm the project.

Of course, this puts more than a year between Despicable Me 2 and the Minions follow-up, but it does give Despicable Me fans something to look forward to after the sequel hits theaters.

I'm still on the fence about how the Minions will do with their own movie. But it's easy to see the comedic potential in a Minions-focused film. They had some of the funnier moments in Despicable Me, including this scene, in which they took a shopping trip, which led to in-store shenanigans.

Apparently one villainous role is enough for Javier Bardem as of late. While the Oscar-winning actor continues to film the latest James Bond movie, Skyfall -- where he has been cast as Daniel Craig’s chief opponent – THR reports that Bardem has bowed out of the animated sequel Despicable Me 2.

It was reported months ago that Bardem was contemplating voicing El Macho, an evil genius who has sons – in much the same way that Steve Carell’s character, Gru, has daughters. Their parenting problems would pair the evil geniuses, though plot details beyond this bit of character information remains a mystery.

THR doesn’t say why Bardem moved on, just that the part is back up for grabs. Losing Bardem stinks, but vocal talent on an animated feature is a little easier to replace. Heck, if you can find an animator who does a solid Bardem impression, Despicable Me 2 could be back on track. And it’s going to have to rally, as the film has been given a July 3, 2013 release date. Thankfully, the animating team can continue working behind the scenes to create the images that Bardem’s replacement eventually will voice.

As for Bardem, he’ll next be seen in Terrence Malick’s currently untitled project with Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams. Though considering Malick’s tendency to tinker, Sam Mendes might have Skyfall in theaters long before Malick even settles on a name for his latest picture, let alone figures out a distribution model.

Steve Carell probably won't have to worry about paying his mortgage after he departs The Office if he keeps signing on for projects like Despicable Me, which has brought in $344 million worldwide according to IMDb. Carell lent his voice to the lead role of Gru, a super-villain of limited success whose life gets turned upside down when he's saddled with three orphans. He initially plans to use them as part of one of his nefarious schemes, but -- as so often happens in these circumstances -- the lovable orphans cause his heart to grow three sizes and reconsider his evil ways. The voice cast also includes Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, and Jason Segel as Gru's nemesis, Vector.

Despicable Me will arrive on the usual array of formats, including a 3D version, on December 14th. If, like me, you don't have 3D capability in your home or, also like me, you would go out of your way to avoid having 3D capability in your home, you can also pick up a standard Blu-ray combo pack or a double- or single-disc DVD version. Let's look at the specs, shall we?

Bonus Features Available on Blu-Ray and Two-Disc DVD Versions

• THREE ALL NEW, MINI-MOVIES Starring THE MINIONS -- The fun continues with three all-new mini-movies, created exclusively for the Blu-ray Combo Packs and DVD Double Pack! Available for a limited time only! Get more laughs and more minion mayhem with "Home Makeover," "Orientation Day," and "Banana" -- you'll want to watch them again and again!
• THE VOICES OF DESPICABLE ME -- Go behind-the-scenes with Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, Kristen Wiig, and Julie Andrews as they give life to their animated characters. Includes character profiles for each of the cast members!
• SUPER SILLY FUN LAND -- Join Agnes, Margo, and Edith at the Super Silly Fun Land Theme Park and play Feed the Creatures and Freeze the Floating Minions to win super cool prizes.

Exclusive to Blu-Ray 3D Combo Pack and Blu-Ray Combo Pack

• GRU-CONTROL -- Through a picture-in-picture window, see the making of the film with behind-the-scenes footage and cast/filmmaker interviews.
• MISS HATTIE’S TOP SECRET COOKIE RECIPES -- Margo is proud to present the recipes for those wonderful cookies that the loveable orphans under Miss Hattie’s care enjoy so much!
• MY SCENES -- Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie.
• MINION ME -- Exclusively for iPhone and iPad -- Personalize photos of friends and family by turning them into Minions. Pictures can be customized with glasses, bowties, hats, and hairstyles to make it really hilarious! Send it to your friends with a Minion laugh.
• MINION DOMINION APP -- Exclusively for iPhone and iPad -- Control a Minion by turning, tilting, rotating, and shaking your phone. Tap the screen to make him speak, tap it again to hear him laugh. Or do battle with the two-player “minion mash up.” Download to your iPhone and see who can inflict the most damage on the other’s minion.
• Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray player. Users can navigate through menus, playback, and BD-Live functions with ease.
• Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the movie.
• Mobile-to-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray discs to save to mobile devices or to stream from anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
• Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray player with your device’s easy and intuitive keyboard to facilitate such Blu-ray features as chatting with friends and sending messages.

Available on All Versions

• The World of Despicable Me
• Despicable Beats -- Director Chris Renaud talks about the cool factor of renowned music producer Pharrell Williams.
• Gru's Rocket Builder -- In an all-new game, Vector has stolen some of the most famous landmarks from around the world and replaced them with the pieces to Gru’s rocket. Players must return all the stolen landmarks to the correct countries in order to build their own rockets before Vector hacks into the system and steals the rocket plans. The reward for completing the rocket is a launch to the moon!
• A Global Effort -- Learn all about the global effort behind Despicable Me. A director from France and another from the USA, plus an American and English cast, created a movie in France, with artists from all over the world for a truly international movie!
• Commentary with directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, featuring the Minions!

It was a great weekend for animated movies. One enjoyed a solid opening weekend that almost turned it into a one-weekend profit maker and another was launched to highest-grossing movie of the year to date.

Despicable Me is one of those rare computer animated features that came in on a budget of less than $100 million. Its $69 million price tag was almost covered by this weekend's number one spot winning $60 million take. Given the movie's massive marketing effort the actual cost to recover is probably over $80 million, but this one's sure to have executives at Universal plotting a sequel if not an entire franchise.

Meanwhile Toy Story 3 dropped to fourth place but not before edging out Alice In Wonderland as the top selling movie of the year. With $340 million in the bank domestically, at this rate the third and final part in the toy-rific adventure looks to settle out at around $400 million. If it can hold on to the title, it will be a nice book end with the first Toy Story which was the top grossing movie of the year back in 1995.

Predators debuted in third place with $25 million. While that's not bad for a rated R entry in a long suffering franchise, it's not a ringing endorsement that audiences are excited to see the universe's ugliest hunters back in theaters.

For the full weekend estimates, check out the chart below:

With Shrek Forever After released and gone, there remains very little in the way of animation left this summer. Sure, The Last Airbender is due out next week, but M. Night had to go ahead and make that a live-action adaptation. What is left is Universal's Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell as the villainous Gru, and now we've received a bevy of clips that will get you in the mood to cheer for the bad guys.

Featuring grand missions of thievery, karate-training mothers, showdowns with enemies and dog dishes filled with candy, check out nearly 10 minutes of footage from this summer's next big animated film.

Despicable Me has a new trailer and with it a plot that’s starting to make sense. Here it is: Imagine Dr. Evil replacing Vin Diessel in The Pacifier. That’s Despicable Me. Yep, it’s another entry in that never-ending and mostly unwanted genre of wacky babysitter movies. Vin Diesel did it, The Rock did it, Jackie Chan did it, and now Steve Carell is doing it as the voice of Gru. Don’t worry, since it’s animated it’s bound to be less awful than the live-action take on this worn out story. In fact this newest trailer is kind of funny, or at least seems like it might be funny, in all the moments when Gru is engaged in supervillainy without the plot’s obligatory cute kids.

Check out the new Desplicable Me trailer below or in HD on Apple.

For brand new Despicable Me images, just click on the sample still below:

I guess this Super Bowl thing is a big deal or something. But more than being a day when everybody loves seeing dudes beat each other up while chasing a piece of brown leather, Super Bowl Sunday is the one day when it's completely acceptable and encouraged to indulge in all of our worst consumer capitalist tendencies. We all sit in front of the television and dare it to make us buy something. Or more importantly, watch something.

AdvertisingAge has released a list of companies who have purchased commercial time along with the titles they'll be advertising. There's nothing incredibly surprising here. We'll see spot for The Last Airbender, which will likely be the teaser we saw several months back since the official trailer was delayed until February. We'll also see spots for Wolfman and Iron Man 2. Studios will want to cut together the best 30-second spots they can possibly offer, so look for a lot of new footage from this summer's blockbusters.

Check out the current list of movies with Super Bowl time below:

I really want to get excited about the new, Steve Carell voiced animated movie Despicable Me. But their advertising campaign is as confusing as it is weird. Each teaser is stranger than the last and none of them really seem to bear any resemblance to the other. Today there’s a new one, which features none of the stuff or for that matter characters you saw in the first two teasers. Instead it’s two, seemingly unrelated characters standing in front of a blank background engaging in mildly amusing. Honestly they don’t even look like they’re from the same movie, the animation style isn’t all that similar. I’m sure they fit into the movie somewhere, maybe as rival mad scientists for Gru’s character, but there’s simply no way to know what the hell’s going on from the trailer.

Check out the new, weird teaser for Despicable Me in HD on Yahoo or watch it below.

UPDATE! Universal Pictures just emailed us to explain exactly who these strange little buggers in the teaser are. Here's how they describe them:

These little buggers even have their own poster. Check it out:

The trailer for Universal’s next animated movie has arrived and it’s utterly strange. The teaser for Despicable Me is not really like any other animated movie you’ve ever seen. Normally that’s good thing but in this case, I’m not really sure what it all means.

The film stars Steve Carell as the voice of Gru, an evil criminal mastermind (perhaps in the mold of Dr. Evil) who steals the world’s landmarks. His plot to steal the moon is interrupted when a trio of orphan girls convince him to rethink things. Gru appears to be like some sort of evil Alfred Hitchock. But you won’t see any of that in this trailer. Instead you’ll see annoying American tourists. Watch it in HD over at Yahoo or watch it below: