“Minions & Monsters. ” the latest installment in the animated “Despicable Me” universe, opened to $64.5 million from 4,243 North American locations between Wednesday and Monday, according to Variety. That total, which includes the Fourth of July holiday weekend, fell short of the $80 million industry projections and marked the weakest start in the franchise’s history. The film’s global gross reached $229 million in its first 10 days, including $164.5 million from international markets, according to oe24.at.

Competition and Timing Affect Performance

Industry analysts attributed the lower-than-expected turnout to the timing of the July 4 holiday, which landed on a Saturday, according to Variety. This shift in scheduling may have diverted audiences to backyard barbecues and fireworks displays rather than theaters. Despite the competition, Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” remained a strong contender, earning $31 million from 3,975 locations in its third weekend and grossing $366 million domestically and $764 million globally, according to Variety and Animation Magazine.

International Markets Provide Relief

While the North American box office struggled, international markets provided a much-needed boost for the film. According to Animation Magazine, “Minions & Monsters” earned $89.1 million from 49 international markets in its first 10 days, bringing its global total to $585 million. Key markets included Mexico ($48 million), the United Kingdom ($37.8 million), and China ($29.8 million). In Germany, where Bill Kaulitz, Tom Kaulitz, and Christopher Waltz provided voiceovers, the film was expected to attract around 600,000 attendees over the weekend, according to oe24.at.

Franchise Performance and Industry Trends

“Minions & Monsters” is the third film in the “Despicable Me” franchise and follows the success of its predecessors. The 2022 sequel “Minions: The Rise of Gru” and the 2024 film “Despicable Me 4” both launched to $123 million and $122 million, respectively, over the same five-day holiday frame, according to Variety. The drop in performance for the latest entry has raised questions about the franchise’s long-term appeal, particularly as competing films like “Toy Story 5” continue to perform strongly.

Meanwhile, other films such as “Supergirl” and “Jackass: Best and Last” also opened during the weekend but failed to match the success of either “Minions & Monsters” or “Toy Story 5.” “Supergirl” earned $38 million, placing second in the domestic box office, while “Jackass: Best and Last” earned $8.4 million in its third week, according to Animation Magazine. These results reflect a broader trend of strong family entertainment drawing larger audiences compared to other genres.