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Watch order

Despicable Me movie watch order

Illumination’s Despicable Me / Minions theatrical shelf from Despicable Me (2010) through Despicable Me 4 (2024). Release lists every US premiere—so you meet Gru’s family story before the 1960s–70s Minions prequels. Story follows in-fiction years: Minions (1960s) → Minions: The Rise of Gru (1970s) → Despicable Me 1–4. Animation neighbors: Toy Story and Pokémon films.

Updated August 2026

Release order

When each Illumination Despicable Me / Minions film opened in US theaters—from Despicable Me (July 9, 2010) through Despicable Me 4 (July 3, 2024). Best first path: watch in premiere order so Gru’s present-day family arc still invents the franchise before the period Minions prequels.

  • First watch → Release: Despicable Me → 2 → Minions → 3 → Rise of Gru → 4
  • Gru family core → Despicable Me 1–4 in numbered order (Minions films optional between)
  • Prequel curiosity → Minions and Rise of Gru after Despicable Me 2 still works on Release
  • Shorts / holiday specials → optional—see FAQ
Story order tips

Practical film chronology: Minions (1960s) → Minions: The Rise of Gru (1970s) → Despicable Me → Despicable Me 2 → Despicable Me 3 → Despicable Me 4. Same six films; only the two Minions titles move ahead of the numbered Gru saga.

  • 1960s → Minions (earliest film years)
  • 1970s → Minions: The Rise of Gru (young Gru)
  • 2010–2017 → Despicable Me → 2 → 3
  • 2024 → Despicable Me 4 (latest theatrical)

Timeline

When each season premiered in the US. Expand a row for dates and where it fits in your watch order.

Release order

  1. Despicable Me

    Despicable Me

    TheatricalStreamingMain sagaAnimated

    Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin’s 2010 Illumination debut drops Steve Carell’s Gru into a moon-heist rivalry with Vector—and three orphan girls who rewrite what “villain” means. This tab dates the US theatrical bow, not the 1960s Minions prequel years.

    Overview
    Modern CG family comedy with minion slapstick and a soft-hearted crime boss arc. Correct first watch on Release so the franchise still lands as discovery.
    Related games
    Franchise opener in theaters. Story places 1960s Minions and 1970s Rise of Gru before this present-day chapter. Animation neighbors: Toy Story and Sonic media.
    Where it fits
    Start here on Release. On Story it sits third, after the two Minions prequels. Required before Despicable Me 2 either way.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release July 9, 2010 (Universal / Illumination).
  2. Despicable Me 2

    Despicable Me 2

    TheatricalStreamingMain sagaAnimated

    The 2013 sequel recruits reformed Gru for the Anti-Villain League opposite Kristen Wiig’s Lucy Wilde—purple minions, El Macho, and a family comedy that locks the series’ buddy-spy tone before the Minions spin-offs arrive.

    Overview
    AVL spy comedy and Gru–Lucy partnership that redefine the household stakes after the first film’s adoption beat.
    Related games
    Required middle of the numbered Gru run. Release next jumps to Minions (2015); Story stays on Despicable Me 3 after this title.
    Where it fits
    Second on Release; fourth on Story after the prequels. Watch after Despicable Me; Story keeps the same numbered order once the Minions films finish.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release July 3, 2013 (Universal / Illumination).
  3. Minions

    Minions

    TheatricalStreamingPrequelAnimated

    Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda’s 2015 spin-off—released third—follows Kevin, Stuart, and Bob across decades until a 1960s London villain quest with Scarlet Overkill. It is set long before Despicable Me, even though US theaters played it after Despicable Me 2.

    Overview
    Origin comedy for the yellow sidekicks with period pastiche and almost no Gru until the closing tease.
    Related games
    Earliest story years on this page. Release still plays it after Despicable Me 2; Story continues into 1970s Rise of Gru next.
    Where it fits
    Third on Release; first on Story (1960s). Watch here in premiere order, or start Story with this title for calendar order.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release July 10, 2015 (Universal / Illumination).
  4. Despicable Me 3

    Despicable Me 3

    TheatricalStreamingMain sagaAnimated

    The 2017 third Gru film introduces twin brother Dru and 1980s villain Balthazar Bratt—sibling rivalry, Freedonia estate jokes, and another AVL mission that bridges the first two sequels into the later Rise of Gru / Despicable Me 4 era.

    Overview
    Twin-brother comedy and Bratt’s VHS-era villainy expand Gru’s family mythology without needing the Minions prequels first.
    Related games
    Locks the numbered trilogy before Rise of Gru returns on Release. Story continues into Despicable Me 4.
    Where it fits
    Fourth on Release; fifth on Story. Watch after Minions on Release; after Despicable Me 2 on Story.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release June 30, 2017 (Universal / Illumination).
  5. Minions: The Rise of Gru

    Minions: The Rise of Gru

    TheatricalStreamingPrequelAnimated

    Kyle Balda’s 2022 prequel—released fifth—casts young Gru in 1970s San Francisco against the Vicious 6. It bridges Minions’ 1960s coda into the adult Gru of Despicable Me, even though theaters played it after Despicable Me 3.

    Overview
    1970s kung-fu / heist pastiche that finally connects Minions mythology to Gru’s childhood ambition.
    Related games
    Story’s bridge into present-day Despicable Me. Release next is Despicable Me 4.
    Where it fits
    Fifth on Release; second on Story (1970s). Watch after Despicable Me 3 in premiere order, or after Minions on Story.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release July 1, 2022 (Universal / Illumination).
  6. Despicable Me 4

    Despicable Me 4

    TheatricalStreamingMain sagaAnimated

    Chris Renaud’s 2024 sequel sends Gru’s growing family into witness protection against Will Ferrell’s Maxime Le Mal—and introduces Mega Minions. Closes this six-film theatrical ladder for now.

    Overview
    Family-spy escalation with Mega Minion set pieces after the numbered trilogy and both Minions prequels.
    Related games
    Current theatrical endpoint. Shorts and unreleased sequels stay FAQ extras, not required next rows.
    Where it fits
    Last on both tabs among released films. Watch after Rise of Gru on Release; after Despicable Me 3 on Story.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release July 3, 2024 (Universal / Illumination).

FAQ

Release vs 1960s–70s story path, where Minions prequels sit, Despicable Me 4, and related animation shelves.

Watch order

Release is premiere order (Despicable Me 2010 first). Story follows film years: Minions (1960s) → Rise of Gru (1970s) → Despicable Me → 2 → 3 → 4. First-time viewers should stay on Release so 2010 still invents this continuity.

Years & Minions

Minions is set mainly in the 1960s—decades before Despicable Me. It is third on Release by premiere date and first on Story. It does not replace the numbered Gru films; it is a period prequel.

Minions: The Rise of Gru is set in the 1970s with young Gru. It is fifth on Release and second on Story—after Minions, before present-day Despicable Me. Watch it anytime after you know who the Minions are; it is not required before Despicable Me 4.

What’s included

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.