I. Introduction
Minions: Rise of Gru, a continuation of the popular Minions franchise, was one of the most highly anticipated films of 2020. The movie was expected to perform well at the box office, and its success was crucial for Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment. Therefore, understanding how much money it made is important for fans and investors alike.
II. A Box Office Report
The film opened in theaters on July 2, 2021, grossing $34.0 million in its opening weekend in the United States. This amount put it in first place during its opening weekend. However, this was lower than expected, considering the franchise’s popularity and the current state of the box office, which was still affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, the movie has grossed $532.0 million worldwide, which is significantly lower than the previous films in the franchise. The first two movies, Despicable Me 3 and Minions, grossed $1.035 billion and $1.159 billion, respectively. In comparison, Minions: Rise of Gru’s gross was lackluster. Additionally, the movie’s performance was lower than other animated movies released in 2021, such as The Croods: A New Age and Raya and the Last Dragon.
Despite this, the audience reception was generally positive, with a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the critical reviews were mixed, with a 56% critic score on the same platform.
III. An Analysis of Production Costs
The production budget for Minions: Rise of Gru was $80 million, which is significantly lower than the previous films in the franchise. Despicable Me 3 had a budget of $80-90 million, while Minions had a budget of $74 million. However, the marketing budget for Minions: Rise of Gru was likely higher than its production costs.
When comparing the production costs to the box office earnings, we can see that the movie was profitable. However, it was not as profitable as the other movies in the franchise. Despicable Me 3 made around four times its production budget, while Minions made over fifteen times its production budget. Minions: Rise of Gru, on the other hand, made around six times its production budget.
IV. A Comparison with Previous Installments
When comparing Minions: Rise of Gru to the previous films in the franchise, we can see that it was not as successful. There are several reasons for this. One of them is the fact that the movie was released during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the box office gross significantly. Additionally, the movie did not have the same novelty factor that the previous films had.
Another problem was the lack of a high-profile villain in the movie. Gru, the main character of the first two Despicable Me movies, was not the main focus of this movie. Instead, the movie focused on his childhood, and the main villain was not as memorable as previous ones.
V. A Discussion on the Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the movie industry, and Minions: Rise of Gru was no exception. The movie’s release was pushed back multiple times due to the pandemic, and when it was finally released, it faced limited theater capacity and competition from other movies that were also delayed.
In addition to the lower box office gross, the pandemic also affected the viewing habits of audiences. Many people chose to watch the movie at home on streaming services like Netflix or Disney+, instead of going to the theater.
VI. A Look at Merchandising Revenue
The Minions franchise is known for its licensing deals and merchandise sales. Minions: Rise of Gru was no exception. The movie generated significant revenue through toy sales, video games, and other merchandise. While the exact amount is not available, it is estimated that merchandise sales accounted for a significant portion of the movie’s revenue.
VII. Conclusion
Overall, Minions: Rise of Gru had a lower box office gross compared to previous installments in the franchise. However, the movie was still profitable, and its merchandise revenue helped offset the lower box office earnings. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the movie’s release and earnings, but it still managed to perform relatively well given the circumstances.
For those interested in the movie’s financial performance, it is clear that the franchise’s popularity is starting to wane, and the pandemic has had a significant impact. However, the movie was still profitable and had a dedicated fan base. Investors and fans alike will be interested to see how the franchise progresses in the future.
