Long Range Forecast: MINIONS & MONSTERS Set to Dominate July Fourth Long Weekend

Courtesy Illumination & Universal Pictures

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Long Range Forecast – July 1, 2026

Minions & Monsters | Universal

Domestic Opening Weekend Range: $75M – $85M (3-Day); $95M – $115M (5-Day)

The July Fourth long weekend kicks into gear with the Wednesday, July 1 release of Minions & Monsters, the seventh film in the Despicable Me franchise and the third Minions spin-off.

The holiday weekend has served well for the franchise thus far: Despicable Me 2 (2013) and 4 (2024) each debuted the Wednesday before July 4th, while Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) and Despicable Me 3 (2017) debuted the Friday before a mid-week Independence Day.

Release DateTitle3-Day Opening4/5-Day Opening
7/9/10Despicable Me$56.3M
7/3/13Despicable Me 2$83.5M$143M (5-Day, Weds-Sun)
7/10/15Minions$115.7M
6/30/17Despicable Me 3$72.4M$99M (5-Day, Fri-Tues)
7/1/22Minions: The Rise of Gru$107M$123M (4-Day, Fri-Mon)
7/3/24Despicable Me 4$75M$122.6M (5-Day, Weds-Sun)

Among the Minions films to hit theaters in the last decade, the high-water mark is 2022’s The Minions: The Rise of Gru, an early post-pandemic animated hit that film benefited from pent-up demand (see: Gentleminions) and a relative lack of competition for family audiences. Minions & Monsters, on the other hand, comes out just two weeks after Toy Story 5, which could prove beneficial for the Illumination title if Minions‘ marketing is able to capitalize on what’s expected to be the highest release in the Toy Story franchise.


Tracking Updates [As Of 6/19/26]

Release DateTitlePredicted Opening RangeDistributor
6/19Toy Story 5$160M – $175MDisney/Pixar
6/19The Death of Robin Hood$4M -$7MA24
6/26Supergirl$45M – $55MWarner Bros.
6/26Jackass: Best and Last$15M – $20MParamount
7/1Minions & Monsters$75M – $85M (3-Day); $95M – $115M (5-Day)Universal
7/3Young Washington$10M – $15MAngel
Courtesy Illumination & Universal Pictures

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