How to Watch the ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Movies in Order

With Despicable Me 4 available on Peacock and set to hit Netflix in March 2025, it’s time to give viewers a proper chronological viewing order of the popular Illumination franchise. Remember, watching a movie franchise in chronological order differs from watching in release order, with the narrative continuity taking precedence over scheduling. Therefore, with at least two prequels in the hit animated film series, tracking how and where each cinematic story fits within the overarching Minions universe is vital.

In addition to gifting viewers the ideal Minions and Despicable Me viewing guide, the aim is to include a trailer for each release and provide information about where each movie can be streamed online. The Minions & More short films notwithstanding, here’s how to watch the Despicable Me franchise chronologically with the whole family this holiday season and beyond.

‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Movies in Chronological Order

Minions (2015)

Despite being the third franchise release, Minions goes back further in time than any to tell an origin story. The plot begins 3.8 million years BC to depict the creation and evolution of the Minions, a race of yellow all-male creatures who do the evil bidding of a supervillain named Felonious Gru (Steve Carell). Although adorably amusing, childlike, clumsy, and impossible to understand, Minions depicts how the species has served the most ruthless predators throughout time, including dinosaurs, dictators, and everything in between.

After tracing the Minions’ historical backstory and evolution, the primary plot of Minions occurs in 1968 as they seek to replace their deceased masters with a viable new candidate. Therefore, beginning the franchise’s timeline by watching Minions first, even before Despicable Me, is crucial to understanding the successful animated movie franchise’s narrative continuity from beginning to end. Minions is available to stream on Netflix.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

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Minions: The Rise of Gru

Release Date

July 1, 2022

Runtime

90 Minutes

Cast

Steve Carr
, Pierre Coffin

Once Minions is completed, fans must watch Minions: The Rise of Gru next. Whereas Minions details the race’s prehistoric origins, The Rise of Gru is a coming-of-age story depicting the tedious maturation of the evil leader, Gru (Carell). The movie’s main storyline occurs in 1976, a decade after the primary plot in Minions, giving fans a ludicrous look at Gru’s time growing up in the era of disco and bell-bottoms.

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Since age 11, Gru has wanted nothing more than to ascend as the world’s most feared and respected supervillain, joining the ranks of the Felonious Five terrorists to build his evil bona fides. What begins as a villainous origin story evolves into a loving search and rescue mission when the Minions set out to capture their master from the Felonious Five’s previous leader, Wild Knuckles. While the story advances the franchise timeline by only eight years, The Rise of Gru is the next destination after Minions, which dovetails nicely into Despicable Me. Minions: The Rise of Gru is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video

Despicable Me (2010)

Release Date

July 8, 2010

Runtime

95

Although Despicable Me launched the mega-popular animated film franchise in 2010, it’s the third chronological entry to be watched. Set well after the events depicted in the two prequels, Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru, Despicable Me occurs in the 2010s. The plot focuses on the adult version of Gru, as he vies for world dominance with a rival supervillain named Vector.

Gru turns to the Minions and adopts three female orphans, Agnes, Edith, and Margo, to defeat his primary foe and become the world’s greatest supervillain. Yet, the more he gets to know and care for the girls, the softer Gru becomes and the more he embraces fatherhood. Since the Minions are all male, the newfound female presence in Gru’s life gives him a fresh perspective that opens the supervillain’s heart and mind and makes him a more loving parental figure. Despicable Me is available to stream on Peacock.

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Release Date

June 26, 2013

Runtime

98 minutes

Released in 2013, Despicable Me 2 occurs in the modern-day. The events occur immediately after Despicable Me, making for an easy and convenient story continuation. Plot-wise, the story focuses on Gru’s acceptance and maturation as a father, continuing to care for Agnes, Edith, Margo, and a host of Minions waiting for their next mission.

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Said mission occurs when Gru is dragged back into a life of espionage, forced to prevent a new threat after being hired by a spy agency. As the minions do their best to assist Gru, he falls in love with a spy named Lucy, further softening his evil heart and sapping his villainy. Without spoiling the details of the spy mission, Despicable Me ends with Gru and Lucy’s lavish wedding ceremony. The timeline occurs 147 days after Gru’s latest mission, as revealed in the epilogue. Despicable Me 2 is available to stream on Peacock.

Despicable Me 3 (2017)

Release Date

June 15, 2017

Runtime

96minutes

Set roughly four years after Gru and Lucy’s wedding, Despicable Me 3 is the next destination in the popular animated movie franchise. While the timeline is somewhat confusing due to Gru’s daughters remaining the same age since last seen, the story concerns Gru and Lucy failing to capture former child star turned supervillain, Balthazar Bratt. During their quest, Gru encounters his distant twin brother, Dru, who also plans on becoming an international supervillain.

With a self-contained story that occurs over a few days, Despicable Me 3‘s timeline and narrative continuity are straightforward to follow. Much of the appeal comes from the playful dynamic between the uptight and mirthless Gru and his hip, stylish brother Dru, allowing Carell to expand his vocal performance in the popular franchise. Regardless of the timeline, Gru’s character arc throughout the franchise makes him more human and sympathetic as he steadily moves away from his evil side to become a father, husband, and now a brother. Despicable Me 3 is available to stream on Fubo TV.

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

Release Date

July 3, 2024

Runtime

95 Minutes

Despicable Me 4 is the franchise’s final destination as of December 2024. While the exact timeline is unclear, the story continues shortly after Lucy gives birth to her and Gru’s first child, Gru Jr. Again, Gru’s adopted daughters do not age, which blurs the timeline a bit. Still, the events occur roughly one year after those of Despicable Me 3 and should be seen as the last movie in chronological order.

Story-wise, Despicable Me 4 portrays Gru struggling to connect with his biological child after years of raising three female orphans and multiple minions. As Gru tries to bolster the connection to his blood relative, he must stop his new enemy, Maxime Le Mal, and his partner, Valentina. The dramatic stakes rise for Gru when the villains target his family, including the newborn Gru Jr.

While Despicable Me 4 is the last movie to watch in chronological order, it’s worth noting that an Untitled Third Minions Movie is scheduled for a June 30, 2027, release. Despicable Me 4 is available to stream on Peacock.

‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Minions’ Movies in Release Order