For most of us at WJ, the “Despicable Me” franchise came at the perfect time in our childhoods and has been a key part of the media we consumed at a young age. The franchise has spawned countless iterations of successful merchandise, and has also produced hit songs such as Pharell’s “Happy.” With the recent release of “Despicable Me 4,” Minion fever has come back in full swing. But this begs the question — which movie is the best in the franchise?
6. Despicable Me 3
This is the only “Despicable Me” movie that I felt disappointed with after watching it. The whole long-lost-identical-twin thing is quite tired at this point, and adding it to a series that already features a great deal of cliches was a poor decision. The villain in this film, Balthazar Bratt, is just … kind of boring. Gru and Lucy getting fired from the AVL (Anti-Villain League) was bizarre. Margo, Edith and Agnes are kidnapped for what feels like the millionth time. The only real bright point of the story is the girls’ acceptance of Lucy as their mother. Otherwise, it’s a boring, repetitive, uninteresting addition to the series.
5. Despicable Me 4
I finally watched “Despicable Me 4” once it came out on streaming in August. My expectations were quite low, as I hadn’t enjoyed “Despicable Me 3,” but my fears about the movie’s quality were mostly unfounded. While the “Despicable Me” portion of the franchise has slightly overstayed its welcome, this movie was much more of a welcome continuation than its predecessor. The movie is full of the usual hijinks, albeit with slightly less Minion appearances than normal. Gru’s son is absolutely adorable, and the series returns to its roots with Gru once again having to figure out how to bond with his kids. Overall, the movie was nothing special, but I still enjoyed it. Its conclusion is the movie’s crowning jewel, with all of the series’ previous villains reuniting with Gru, a moment that might signal the end of the “Despicable Me” portion of the franchise.
4. Minions: The Rise of Gru
I largely disagree with the audience and critical consensus on these movies. Both deem this movie to be largely better than its predecessor “Minions” but this movie fell largely flat with me. It wasn’t bad, per se, but it just didn’t live up to what I envisioned for it. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or my departure from the movie’s target audience colored my impressions. Regardless, this movie is still better than the later two “Despicable Me” movies, largely because of the Minions themselves. I adore Kevin, Stuart and Bob. I’ll probably never get tired of their dynamic. The movie is at its best when it focuses on them.
3. Despicable Me 2
Gru’s reluctant partnership with the AVL produced easily one of the best movies in the series. His forced partnership with agent Lucy Wilde, and their subsequent love story, is incredibly adorable, especially due to Gru’s adopted daughters being heavily invested in the relationship. El Macho is a dynamic and intriguing villain, and the betrayal and eventual redemption of Dr. Nefario is an exciting plot point for returning fans. The purple minions are, of course, absolutely hilarious. I kept on going back and forth between this movie and the next one for second place, but unfortunately for “Despicable Me 2” I have a greater personal attachment to the second-place film.
2. Minions
The Minions are truly the best part of “Despicable Me,” so of course, their first solo movie was incredibly enjoyable. The focus on the trio of Kevin, Stuart and Bob produced countless laugh-out-loud moments but also created a story that pulled at the heartstrings and drew viewers in. Of all the villains the series has showcased (besides Gru, of course), Scarlet Overkill is my absolute favorite. Her design is impeccable, and Sandra Bullock fits the role perfectly. Jon Hamm playing her husband Herb Overkill is simply icing on the cake. Maybe it’s because I was the target age at the time of its release, but this movie has always been one of the most memorable out of the series to me. It’s easy to rewatch, and even though I’ve seen it countless times, it still makes me laugh. Also, corgis.
1. Despicable Me 1
“Despicable Me 1” is an undeniable classic. It’s the movie that introduced us to almost all of the key players in the series: Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes and of course the always-hilarious Minions. “Despicable Me 1” struck an emotional chord that none of its sequels or prequels have managed to achieve. The unlikely story of a supervillain adopting three girls with the intention of using them for his evil plans but then realizing he actually cares deeply about them and wants to raise them as his own? Absolute movie gold. Vector is one of the series’ better villains, and the comical idea of stealing the moon makes the plot dynamic and enjoyable. I would give anything to see the Minions for the first time again. They’re undeniably one of the most influential animated characters out there, and “Despicable Me 1” introduces them in an adorable and hilarious fashion.
