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For a first watch, see the seven Despicable Me and Minions feature films in release order. It follows the sequence audiences first saw them and keeps the character development and reveals in their intended order. For a timeline-first rewatch, use the chronological list below, which begins with 2026’s Minions & Monsters.
What order should you watch the Despicable Me movies in?
Release order is the clearest choice for most viewers, especially if you are new to the franchise. It includes all four Despicable Me films and all three Minions films:
- Despicable Me (2010)
- Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- Minions (2015)
- Despicable Me 3 (2017)
- Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
- Despicable Me 4 (2024)
- Minions & Monsters (2026)
Universal’s six-film collection contains the first six titles listed here; Minions & Monsters is the seventh feature. Cinemark also recommends release order for character development and reveals, though its printed list mistakenly places Despicable Me 3 before Minions. The dated 2015 and 2017 entries belong in the opposite order shown above.
What is the chronological story order?
If you want to follow the settings rather than the films’ release dates, start with the Minions’ 1920s Hollywood story. Then follow the timeline below. This is an alternate way to experience the series, not a prerequisite for understanding it.
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- Minions & Monsters — 1920s Hollywood
- Minions — 1968
- Minions: The Rise of Gru — 1972
- Despicable Me — 2012
- Despicable Me 2 — 2013
- Despicable Me 3 — 2014
- Despicable Me 4 — after Despicable Me 3; an exact story year is not established by the sources cited here
Illumination describes Minions & Monsters as taking the characters to 1920s Hollywood, and Peacock’s film page also identifies that setting. Cinemark supplies the 1968, 1972 and 2012–2014 settings for the earlier films. Its chronology predates both Despicable Me 4 and Minions & Monsters, so the placement of the latest film follows its published 1920s setting, while the exact year of Despicable Me 4 remains unspecified.
Where do the Minions movies fit?
Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru are prequels within the franchise, but release order places them between the main-series films. Watch Minions after Despicable Me 2 and before Despicable Me 3; watch The Rise of Gru after Despicable Me 3 and before Despicable Me 4. In story chronology, the Minions entries precede the events of the Despicable Me films.
Minions & Monsters is earlier still by setting: its 1920s Hollywood adventure comes before the 1968 setting given for Minions. That makes it the first film in the timeline order, even though it is the newest release.
Where can you watch or buy the films?
Availability depends on country and can change. Universal says Minions & Monsters is available at home in digital and physical formats. Its announced U.S. home-media dates were August 11, 2026, for digital and September 8, 2026, for 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. The film page lists 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital, Blu-ray + Digital and DVD editions, as well as a Minions three-film collection. Edition details vary by format.
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- Genre: Family
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Number of Movies: 1
- Movie Title: Despicable Me 4
- Movie Year: 2024
Peacock’s U.S. page says streaming begins October 28, 2026. That date is later than the research check date of October 8, 2026, so it is an announced start date rather than confirmation that the film is already streaming. Check the service for current availability in your market.
Collections cover different subsets
| Collection | Titles included | Format listed |
|---|---|---|
| Universal six-film collection | Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, Despicable Me 3, Despicable Me 4, Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru | Digital purchase on Universal’s collection page |
| Universal four-film collection | Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, Despicable Me 3 and Minions | DVD |
| Minions three-film collection | The three Minions films, including Minions & Monsters | DVD listed on the latest-film page |
These collections are not interchangeable: the four-film DVD set does not include all seven features, and the six-film collection does not include Minions & Monsters. Check the title list and format before choosing a set.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is included in this watch order?
This guide covers the seven feature films only. It does not include shorts, holiday specials, theme-park material or other franchise extras. Universal’s official film page describes the franchise as having more than $5.6 billion in global box office; that is the studio’s figure, not an independently audited total presented here.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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