MinionsMinions is a 2015 American 3D computer-animated family comedy film, serving as a prequel/spin-

off to the Despicable Mefranchise. Produced by Illumination Entertainment for Universal Pictures, it

was directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, written byBrian Lynch, and produced by Chris

Meledandri and Janet Healy. The film stars Coffin (as the Minions), Sandra Bullock, Jon

Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, and Steve Coogan, and is narrated by Geoffrey Rush. It

was first foreshadowed in the end credits of Despicable Me 2, where Stuart, Kevin, and Bob, three of

the Minions, are seen auditioning for the film.

Minions had its world premiere on June 11, 2015, in Leicester Square, London, and went into

general release in the United States on July 10, 2015.  Critical response was mixed: some critics

praised the comedic aspects of the film and the performances of Bullock and Hamm, while others

felt that the titular characters were not able to carry the film on their own, and that the villains were

flatly characterized. The film has grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide (outgrossing both Despicable

Me films), making it the10th highest-grossing film of all time, the 2nd highest-grossing animated film,

and the highest-grossing non-Disney animated film.

Plot[edit]

Minions are small, yellow creatures who have existed since the beginning of time, evolving

from single-celled organisms into beings who exist only to serve history's most villainous

masters. They find great masters—including a T-Rex, a caveman, an Egyptian

pharaoh, Dracula, and Napoleon—but after accidentally killing nearly all of them with their

incompetence, they decide to isolate themselves from the world and start a new life in Antarctica. By

1968, the lack of a master drives them into depression, so one minion—Kevin—plans to find a new

master. Stuart—a bored, teenaged minion who is obsessed with guitars—joins him reluctantly, as

does an over-enthusiastic Bob, whom Kevin only chooses due to a lack of volunteers.

After a long journey, the Minions arrive in New York where they learn about Villain-Con, a

convention to be held in Orlando wheresupervillains gather from around the world. They hitchhike to

Orlando, where they become the henchmen for Scarlet Overkill, the world's first female supervillain.

Kevin immediately notifies the other Minions back home. In Antarctica, the other Minions begin

working for a Yeti, but once again accidentally kill their leader. Fleeing from the remaining angry

Yeti, they travel around the world to find Kevin, who had already told them to meet the trio in

England.

Scarlet takes the Minions to her home to London and orders them to steal St. Edward's

Crown from Queen Elizabeth II of England, threatening to execute them if they fail. With gadgets

from Herb, Scarlet's husband, the Minions successfully break into the Tower of London. The crown

is being delivered to the Queen, so they steal it from the Queen's carriage with the police in pursuit.

Bob crashes onto the mythical Sword in the Stone and pulls the sword, Excalibur, out to defend

himself. After he has pulled out the legendary sword, Elizabeth II is immediately removed from the

throne and Bob is crowned as the newKing of England.

Convinced they are traitors for stealing her dream, Scarlet threatens to execute the Minions. King

Bob abdicates in Scarlet's favor, but she still doesn't forgive the Minions, locking them in the palace

dungeon to be tortured by Herb. The Minions' unusual physiology prevent them from being affected

by the torture and Herb eventually leaves to attend his wife's coronation. The Minions then escape

the dungeon through a sewer, intending to apologize to Scarlet.

At Westminster Abbey, the Minions accidentally interrupt Scarlet's coronation by unscrewing a

chandelier, which falls and crushes Scarlet before she can be crowned. Scarlet survives and orders

those attending the coronation—including some super-villains—to execute the Minions. Stuart and

Bob are captured while Kevin hides in a bar where he finds Elizabeth. Kevin learns that Stuart and

Bob are to be executed and breaks into Herb's laboratory, with villains chasing him. He accidentally

triggers an experimental machine that enlarges him, destroying the Overkill residence in the

process, which scares the villains away.

Kevin rescues his companions just as the other Minions arrive in London. Scarlet is distracted by the

army of Minions and Kevin knocks her through numerous buildings. She sends a missile towards

Kevin, which he swallows, sacrificing himself to save Stuart, Bob and the other Minions. Scarlet and

Herb attempt to escape using her dress rocket but Kevin holds onto it as the missile inside him

explodes, apparently killing Scarlet and Herb and shrinking Kevin back to his original size.

Elizabeth is once again crowned Queen of England. She publicly presents Bob with a tiny crown,

Stuart with an electric guitar and Kevin with a knighthood. Scarlet—suddenly revealed to be alive—

steals the Queen's crown with Herb, but they are frozen by a young Gru, who takes the crown from

them. Scarlet is disappointed until Bob gives her his tiny crown. The Minions see Gru as their new

potential boss and chase after him to his home.

Cast[edit]

Pierre Coffin as Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and the Minions

Sandra Bullock as Scarlet Overkill, an ambitious supervillain

Jon Hamm as Herb Overkill, an inventor and Scarlet's husband

Michael Keaton as Walter Nelson, who picks up the hitchhiking Minions

Allison Janney as Madge Nelson

Steve Coogan as Professor Flux and a tower guard

Jennifer Saunders as Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Geoffrey Rush as the narrator

Hiroyuki Sanada as Dumo the Sumo, a sumo wrestle

Steve Carell as young Gru,] a future supervillain and the Minions' master in the Despicable

Me films

Michael Beattie as Walter Nelson Jr. and Villain-Con announcer

Katy Mixon as Tina Nelson

Production

In July 2012, Universal Studios and Illumination Entertainment announced that the Minions

from Despicable Me would get their own spin-off film, then planned for a 2014 release. Brian Lynch,

previously known for co-writing another Illumination film, Hop (2011), as well as DreamWorks' Puss

in Boots (2011), was asked to write the film's screenplay, due to his prior work of writing the theme

park ride Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem.

On August 21, 2012, it was announced that the film would be released on December 19, 2014. In

February 2013, Sandra Bullock joined the cast to voice Scarlet Overkill, with Jon Hamm joining two

months later as her husband Herb Overkill. On September 20, 2013, the film's release date was

pushed back from December 19, 2014 to July 10, 2015, due to Universal's satisfaction with the

successful July 2013 release of Despicable Me 2 and desire to exploit fully the merchandising

potential of a summer film.

Soundtrack

The official soundtrack for the film was released on July 10, 2015 by Back Lot Music. The soundtrack also features the film's original music, composed by Heitor Pereira.[