Despicable Me 4
Despicable Me 4 is a 2024 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures.[1] It serves as the sixth installment in the Despicable Me franchise and a direct sequel to Despicable Me 3 (2017), directed by Chris Renaud from a screenplay by Mike White and Ken Daurio, with Patrick Delage serving as co-director.[2] The film follows reformed supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), his wife Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), and their three adopted daughters—Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Nev Scharrel)—as they welcome a mischievous infant son, Gru Jr., into the family.[2] Their domestic bliss is disrupted when Gru is targeted by his former school rival, the cockroach-human hybrid Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), and his partner Valentina (Sofía Vergara), forcing the family to flee and embark on a high-stakes adventure with the help of Gru's twin brother Dru (also Carell) and the ever-chaotic Minions (Pierre Coffin).[2][3] Released theatrically on July 3, 2024, in the United States, Despicable Me 4 features returning voice talent alongside newcomers, including Joey King as Gru Jr.'s babysitter Poppy Prescott and Stephen Colbert as undercover agent Perry.[4] The movie emphasizes the franchise's signature blend of family dynamics, slapstick humor, and Minion antics, while introducing new elements like Gru Jr.'s penchant for tormenting his father and Maxime's elaborate revenge plot.[5] Critically, it received mixed reviews, with a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 166 critic scores, praised for its energetic animation and humor but critiqued for a formulaic storyline lacking emotional depth.[6] Audiences responded more positively, evidenced by an 86% audience score on the same platform and an IMDb rating of 6.2/10 from over 73,000 users.[2][6] Commercially, Despicable Me 4 was a major success, grossing $361 million domestically and $599 million internationally for a worldwide total of $960 million against a $100–110 million production budget, making it the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2024 and the fourth-highest-grossing entry in the franchise.[7][5] The film's strong performance during the July 4 holiday weekend, where it earned $122.6 million in its opening five days, underscored the enduring popularity of the Despicable Me series among family audiences.[8] It also spawned merchandise tie-ins and a soundtrack featuring original songs, further extending the franchise's cultural impact.[9]Synopsis
Plot
The story opens at a class reunion at Lycée Pas Bon, Gru's former school for villains, where he arrives with three Minions to be honored for his service to the Anti-Villain League (AVL). During the event, Maxime Le Mal—a classmate of Gru's with the ability to transform into a cockroach-human hybrid—escapes from AVL custody with assistance from his girlfriend Valentina and declares his intent for revenge after Gru testified against him years earlier. At home, Gru and Lucy adjust to life with their newborn son, Gru Jr., who delights in tormenting his father by pulling his nose, while daughters Margo, Edith, and Agnes navigate their daily routines with the help of the Minions. Fearing Maxime's retaliation, AVL director Silas Ramsbottom relocates the family to witness protection in the quiet suburban neighborhood of Mayflower, where they adopt the aliases of the Cunningham family, with the girls posing as their daughters. In Mayflower, the family encounters eccentric neighbors, including the Prescott family, whose daughter Poppy—a budding villain fan—discovers their true identities and coerces Gru into aiding her in a scheme to steal the school's honey badger mascot from Lycée Pas Bon, emulating famous criminals and inadvertently alerting Maxime to their location. The Minions, meanwhile, wreak havoc in the suburb through slapstick escapades, such as turning a neighborhood watch into chaos and experimenting with household items. A parallel subplot follows some Minions, who end up imprisoned at an AVL facility after causing trouble; they orchestrate a breakout and, after exposure to a superpower serum, transform into "Mega Minions" with abilities like flight, laser eyes, and super strength, eventually reuniting with the family.[10] Maxime responds by kidnapping Gru Jr. and attempting to transform him into a cockroach hybrid using his invention. Gru, with help from Poppy and the Mega Minions, infiltrates Maxime's airship to rescue his son. During the confrontation, Gru Jr. breaks free, calls Gru "dada" for the first time, and assists in defeating Maxime and Valentina, who are captured by the AVL.[11] With the danger averted, the family returns to their original home. In a post-credits scene, Gru and Maxime reconcile in prison by performing a song together. Dru makes a brief cameo at the family gathering. The Minions resume their disruptive antics, restoring normalcy to the household.[12]Cast
The voice cast of Despicable Me 4 includes a mix of returning performers from the franchise and new additions, with several roles recast or introduced to accommodate the story's progression.[13]| Actor | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Carell | Felonious Gru Sr. | Returning; reformed supervillain and Anti-Villain League (AVL) agent. |
| Kristen Wiig | Lucy Wilde | Returning; Gru's wife and fellow AVL agent. |
| Pierre Coffin | Minions / Additional Voices | Returning; voices the ensemble of yellow, mischievous Minions who serve as Gru's loyal assistants. |
| Miranda Cosgrove | Margo | Returning; Gru and Lucy's eldest adopted daughter. |
| Dana Gaier | Edith | Returning; Gru and Lucy's middle adopted daughter. |
| Madison Polan | Agnes | New; recast from Nev Scharrel due to the character's young age requiring a fresh voice. |
| Joey King | Poppy Prescott | New; inventive teenage neighbor girl with a penchant for supervillain gadgets and schemes. |
| Steve Coogan | Silas Ramsbottom | Returning; head of the AVL. |
| Sofía Vergara | Valentina | New; Maxime Le Mal's glamorous accomplice. |
| Will Ferrell | Maxime Le Mal | New; cockroach-themed supervillain and Gru's former classmate with the ability to transform into a giant cockroach hybrid. |
| Stephen Colbert | Perry Prescott | New; father of Poppy Prescott and neighbor in Mayflower. |
| Tara Strong | Gru Jr. | New; provides vocalizations for Gru and Lucy's infant son, primarily baby sounds and cries. |