Halfway through the Super Bowl broadcast, the game basically stopped mattering for a minute. Those silver Minion goggles popped up on screen and everyone in my living room went, “Wait—what?”
Illumination used the spot to quietly drop the first trailer for Minions & Monsters, the next spin-off in the Minions line and technically the seventh movie in the Despicable Me universe. No Gru. No big villain monologue. Just the Minions running the show.
I have been watching these Minion movies since 2010, and this is the first one that actually feels bold. They’re not just running the same gags again.It looks weirder, louder, and kind of unhinged. Honestly, that’s exactly what it needed.
Minions & Monsters (2026) Release Date & Where to Stream
Minions & Monsters hits theaters July 1, 2026.
Universal Pictures actually moved it up a full year to take over the prime holiday weekend that used to belong to Shrek 5. That’s not random — it’s the studio betting that Minions are the safer box-office play right now.
If you don’t catch it in theaters, the streaming rollout is the same deal they’ve been using for everything lately:
- First 4 months → Peacock
- Next 10 months → Netflix
- Then back to Peacock for good
Nothing fancy. Theater first, then it bounces between streamers.
The 1920s Plot: “Old Hollywood Mayhem.”
Forget the swinging sixties or the disco era.. This one goes all the way back to the Golden Age of Cinema
The Minions & Monsters story centers on a new trio-Henry, James, and Ed. The ambitious Minions who have had enough of being background chaos. They don’t want to be henchmen. They want to be auteurs, which is a very funny word to put in their mouths and exactly the kind of joke this franchise thrives on.
The Minions are on a movie set dressed like Vikings. The director yells “Action,” and they immediately treat it like a real raid — swinging axes, tackling actors, wrecking the set. It’s pure slapstick. No clever twist. Just commitment. That’s why it works.
Then they find a sketchy spellbook that’s supposed to make the effects look “more authentic.” Instead, they accidentally summon actual monsters. From there it spirals into chaos — old Hollywood sets, real creatures running loose, and the Minions basically trying to clean up a disaster they caused.
It’s goofy, fast, and a little self-aware, but not in that annoying “look how smart we are” way. It just plays the joke straight.
The Monsters & Characters: Meet the New Crew
Pierre Coffin returns once again as the voice of the Minions, delivering the same frantic, nonsense-heavy vocal performance that has defined the characters from the start.
But the bigger change isn’t the sound — it’s the designs. Everything’s chunkier, weirder, borderline ugly in a fun way. Less “toy shelf cute,” more “this thing might actually bite you.”
The new rogue’s gallery includes:
- The “Bad Bunny” – A giant pink rabbit-like creature that turns a menacing red and fires heat beams from its eyes. Cute for half a second, then pure chaos.
- Monster Kid (Cthulhu-Lite) – A “fun-sized” humanoid squid inspired by Lovecraftian mythos. It has a high-pitched voice that contrasts brilliantly with its terrifying look.
- The Scientist – A mysterious figure, the Minions inadvertently free. Unlike the villains of the past, he promises to lead them to more monsters, fueling their disastrous filmmaking ambitions.
- The Mummy – The Mummy mostly exists so the Minions can treat his bandages like infinite toilet paper, which is exactly as stupid as it sounds.And yes, it’s funny.
It’s basically Universal Monsters if they were directed by Looney Tunes. Nothing makes sense, everything breaks, and that’s kind of the point.
Trailer, Directors & Creative Team
The franchise still feels like itself, but it looks noticeably better this time. The first Minions movie had that loud, cartoony ‘60s color scheme, but the 1920s Hollywood setting here actually feels real. The Art Deco buildings, dusty studio lots, and those clunky old cameras give everything some texture. The slapstick lands harder because it’s happening in a world that feels lived-in instead of just a bright cartoon backdrop.
- Direction: Pierre Coffin and Patrick Delage
- Writing: Brian Lynch (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets)
- The weirdest (and best) surprise is BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That” blasting over these dusty old-Hollywood visuals. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does.The same way Minions: The Rise of Gru used ’70s funk to sneak modern energy into a period setting
- Also worth noting: Minions and Monsters is the first movie in the series with zero Gru. It’s set so far back that he literally hasn’t been born yet.
Box Office Outlook: Will Minions & Monsters Conquer 2026?
Minions & Monsters looks like it has a real shot at dominating 2026 ‘s animation slate with sharper jokes and a fun 1920s setting to play in.Also the franchise already has a built-in audience, and the fresh backdrop helps it feels less repetitive.
Minions & Monsters opens exclusively in theaters July 1, 2026, before moving to Peacock and Netflix.
Which of the new monsters from the Super Bowl trailer stuck with you? Let’s hear it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Minions & Monsters coming out?
Minions & Monsters opens in theaters on July 1, 2026.
Is Gru in Minions & Monsters?
No. The film takes place decades before Gru’s birth, making it the first entry in the series without the character.
Who directs Minions & Monsters?
The film is directed by Pierre Coffin and Patrick Delage.
Who wrote the screenplay?
The script is by Brian Lynch, who previously wrote Minions and The Secret Life of Pets.
What is Minions & Monsters about?
Set in 1920s Hollywood, the story follows three Minions trying to break into filmmaking who accidentally summon real monsters while experimenting with “authentic” special effects.
