Gru and the Minions are proving unstoppable at the multiplex. Despicable Me 4 earned an estimated $44.6 million in its second weekend at the North American box office, pushing its domestic total to $211.1 million and cementing itself as one of 2024's biggest animated hits.
Despicable Me 4 Box Office: Second Weekend Results
The Illumination Entertainment sequel repeated at No. 1 with ease. A global expansion into major markets — including China, France, Germany, the UK, and Ireland — helped drive worldwide earnings to $437 million after two weekends. That performance puts Despicable Me 4 on pace to challenge the franchise's earlier entries and potentially join the exclusive billion-dollar club.
For comparison, the last spinoff in the series, Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), ended its theatrical run at $990 million globally. With overseas momentum building rapidly, surpassing $1 billion appears well within reach.
Historic Milestone: First Animated Franchise to Cross $5 Billion
The weekend brought an even bigger headline for Illumination. The Despicable Me franchise crossed $5 billion in cumulative global box office, becoming the first animated franchise in history to reach that threshold. The milestone surpasses the previous animated record-holder, Shrek, and places the series alongside blockbuster franchises like Avengers, Avatar, and Jurassic Park.
A third Minions film is already confirmed for 2027, meaning the franchise is now on a credible path toward $6 billion.
Longlegs Opens Strong at No. 2
Horror thriller Longlegs, directed by Osgood Perkins and distributed by Neon, opened in second place with $22.6 million domestically. That figure is four times Neon's previous highest domestic opening and ranks the film sixth on the distributor's all-time chart, just behind Sydney Sweeney's Immaculate.
The film stars Maika Monroe as FBI agent Lee Harker, assigned to an open serial murder case tied to the occult — and discovers she has a personal connection to it. Nicolas Cage plays the elusive killer. The result marks a genuine breakout for the Neon label.
Inside Out 2 Holds at No. 3
Disney/Pixar's Inside Out 2 added $20.7 million domestically in the same frame, holding steadily at third place. The film has been tracking toward overtaking The Super Mario Bros. Movie internationally as one of the highest-grossing animated films ever made.
With Despicable Me 4 still gathering steam and a packed summer release slate ahead, the animated box office remains one of Hollywood's most reliable engines in 2024.
