Illumination’s Minions & Monsters claimed victory over Pixar’s Toy Story 5 in their animated showdown this holiday weekend, but the win came with mixed results. The seventh entry in the Despicable Me franchise earned $36.4 million domestically, edging out Toy Story 5’s $31 million. Yet the figure marks a franchise-low debut, falling $20 million short of the previous weakest opener, Despicable Me in 2010. Adjusted for inflation, that gap widens to nearly $ 50 million.
Globally, the picture looks brighter. The film, featuring voices from Allison Janney, Jesse Eisenberg, and Zoey Deutch, collected $121.4 million worldwide in its first wide weekend, plus $38 million from earlier international launches. With an $85 million budget, the comedy appears on track to profitability, keeping hopes alive for an eighth installment despite the underwhelming domestic start.
Meanwhile, Disney’s Toy Story 5 continues to soar in its third week, now at $366.3 million domestically and $764.3 million worldwide. Warner Bros. faces disappointment as Supergirl plunges 74 percent in its second weekend, scraping together $9.6 million domestically and $19 million globally.
Indie studios delivered surprises. Angel Studio scored $20.8 million with Young Washington, surpassing its previous hit Sound of Freedom. Horror newcomer Curry Barker’s Obsession has amassed $245.3 million domestically on a microbudget, while Kane Parson’s Backrooms has reached $356 million worldwide.
Looking ahead, Disney’s live-action Moana remake looms as the biggest challenger. With past entries opening strong, the ocean-roving heroine could easily dethrone Minions & Monsters. Other contenders include Olivia Wilde’s The Invite, Evil Dead Burn, and Zoey Deutch’s raunch-comedy Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.
The July 4 box office delivered fireworks across franchises, indies, and surprises setting the stage for another competitive weekend.
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