Honestly, if you thought the yellow pill-shaped henchmen had reached their peak back in 2015, the summer of 2022 probably came as a massive shock. Minions 2 The Rise of Gru didn't just show up; it basically hijacked the cultural conversation in a way a sixth-franchise entry has no right to do.
We’ve all seen the memes. We saw the teenagers in suits. But behind the TikTok trends and the record-breaking box office numbers, there is actually a pretty tight, surprisingly stylish movie that fixed a lot of the problems people had with the first standalone Minions flick.
Why This Sequel Actually Worked (When It Shouldn't Have)
Sequels usually get worse. Prequels? They’re even riskier.
The first Minions movie in 2015 was a financial juggernaut, clearing over a billion dollars, but critics kinda hated it. The common complaint was that the Minions work best as sidekicks. When they’re the main event, the gibberish gets exhausting.
Minions 2 The Rise of Gru fixed this by bringing back the anchor: Gru.
By making this an origin story for an 11-and-three-quarters-year-old Gru (voiced again by Steve Carell), director Kyle Balda gave the story a human heart. It’s set in 1976, and the aesthetic is everything. We’re talking bell-bottoms, pet rocks, and Tupperware parties. The film follows young Gru as he tries to join the Vicious 6, a group of legendary supervillains. When they laugh him out of the room for being a kid, he steals their precious Zodiac Stone, and chaos—naturally—ensues.
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The GentleMinions Phenomenon: More Than Just a Meme
You can't talk about this movie without talking about the suits.
The #GentleMinions trend was one of those rare, organic internet moments that movie studios would pay millions to manufacture. Thousands of Gen Z fans, who grew up with the original Despicable Me (2010), decided to treat the release like a high-stakes gala. They showed up to theaters in full formal wear—suits, ties, the whole bit—steepling their fingers like Gru and acting "distinguished."
According to Universal’s own data, this trend essentially doubled the teen audience. In previous films, the 13-to-17-year-old demographic was around 8% to 11%. For The Rise of Gru, it shot up to 30%.
Sure, some theaters ended up banning suits because things got a bit too rowdy (mosh pits in a Minions screening?), but for the most part, it was a masterclass in nostalgia-driven marketing. These kids weren't just watching a cartoon; they were participating in a shared cultural joke.
That Soundtrack Is Unironically Incredible
One detail people often overlook is the music.
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Jack Antonoff—the guy behind hits for Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey—produced the soundtrack. It’s not just "kid music." It’s a 70s-inspired fever dream.
- Diana Ross and Tame Impala teamed up for "Turn Up the Sunshine."
- St. Vincent covered "Funkytown."
- Phoebe Bridgers did a hauntingly good version of "Goodbye to Love" by The Carpenters.
- Brockhampton took on "Hollywood Swinging."
It’s an eclectic mix that actually makes the movie feel "cool" in a way that’s rare for a kids' franchise. It bridges the gap between parents who remember the original songs and kids who just like the beat.
The Kung Fu Connection
The movie leans heavily into 70s martial arts cinema.
Michelle Yeoh voices Master Chow, an acupuncturist/Kung Fu master who has to train Kevin, Stuart, and Bob so they can rescue Gru. This isn't just a throwaway gag; the fight choreography in the final act is surprisingly well-animated.
The voice cast is also stacked with 70s and 80s action icons. You’ve got Jean-Claude Van Damme (voicing Jean Clawed), Dolph Lundgren (Svengeance), and Danny Trejo (Stronghold). It’s a massive "if you know, you know" for the adults in the room.
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Box Office Reality Check
Despite being delayed for two years because of the pandemic, the movie crushed it. It pulled in over $940 million worldwide.
What’s interesting is how it compared to Disney/Pixar’s Lightyear, which came out around the same time. While Lightyear struggled to find its footing, The Rise of Gru leaned into being unapologetically fun and silly. It didn't try to be a deep, existential space drama. It gave people exactly what they wanted: banana-obsessed henchmen and a kid villain with a big heart.
What You Should Do Next
If you're planning a rewatch or checking it out for the first time, keep these things in mind to get the most out of it:
- Watch the credits: There are some great callbacks to the original Despicable Me that show how Gru’s iconic gadgets started.
- Listen for the covers: Try to spot which modern artists are covering which 70s classics; the Phoebe Bridgers track is a genuine standout.
- Look at the backgrounds: The 1976 San Francisco setting is packed with period-accurate Easter eggs, from movie posters to record store displays.
- Note the character of Otto: He’s the new Minion with the braces. His storyline with the "pet rock" is a direct nod to one of the weirdest fads of the 1970s.
The franchise isn't slowing down either. With Despicable Me 4 continuing the streak and a third Minions movie already on the horizon for 2026, the yellow fever is here to stay. Whether you love them or find them annoying, you have to respect the hustle. They’ve turned gibberish and overalls into a multi-billion dollar empire that shows no signs of crumbling.