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Minions: The Rise of Gru (also known as Minions 2) is a 2022 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Illumination and Universal Pictures. A sequel to the film of 2015Minions, and spin off/prequel to the main Despicable Me film series, it will be directed again by Kyle Balda, with co direction by Brad Ableson. It was scheduled to be released in the United States on July 1, 2022. It is Illumination's 25th feature film.

A third film, Minions 3, will be scheduled to be released on June 30, 2027.

Premise[]

It is a continuation of the film of 2015, Minions, this time in the heart of the 1970s, a twelve year old Felonius Gru is growing up in the suburbs. A fanboy of a supervillain supergroup known as the Vicious 6, Gru hatches a plan to become evil enough to join them. When the Vicious 6 fire their leader, legendary fighter Wild Knuckles, Gru interviews to become their newest member. It does not go well, and only gets worse after Gru steals from them and suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. In his new adventure Gru will be helped by his Minions and Dr. Nefario.

Plot[]

In 1976, an eleven-year-old Gru dreams of becoming a supervillain, assisted by the Minions, whom he has hired to work for him. Gru is ecstatic when he receives an audition invitation from the Vicious 6, a supervillain team now led by Belle Bottom, who hope to find a new member to replace their founder, the supervillain Wild Knuckles, following their betrayal and attempted murder of Knuckles during a heist to steal the Zodiac Stone – a stone connected to the Chinese zodiac. Gru's interview goes poorly but, much to the outrage of the Vicious 6, he steals the stone and escapes with Minions Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, handing it to another Minion, Otto, for safekeeping.

At his basement lair, Gru is outraged that Otto has traded the zodiac stone for a pet rock, causing him to fire the Minions before going alone to find it. However, Knuckles kidnaps Gru before taking him to San Francisco and informs the Minions that if they do not give him the stone within 48 hours, Gru will be killed. Failing to locate the stone, Kevin, Stuart and Bob leave for San Francisco to rescue Gru, while Otto leaves in pursuit of a biker whom he realizes has the stone as a necklace. When they reach Knuckles' house, they are chased by his goons until Master Chow, a former Kung Fu teacher who now makes a living at an acupuncture clinic, rescues them by defeating the goons.

Chow teaches the Minions Kung Fu after they beg and, ending their training prematurely, go to Knuckles' home to rescue Gru. Meanwhile, Otto catches up to and befriends the biker at Death Valley, who gives the stone back and takes him to San Francisco. Gru begins to bond with Knuckles after the latter's goons quit on him, and later saves him from being eaten by crocodiles in his pool. Teaching Gru how to be a villain, the two rob the Bank of Evil. In the meantime, the Vicious 6, having realized that Knuckles is alive, destroy his house in an attempt to find him. Failing to do so, they head towards Chinatown, with Kevin, Stuart and Bob in pursuit.

Returning to his destroyed house, a distraught Knuckles laments his friends' betrayal and decides to give up villainy, sending Gru away. During a Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown, Otto and Gru find each other with the stone but are cornered by the Vicious 6, who in turn are confronted by Anti-Villain League agents. The Vicious 6 then use the stone to turn themselves into large superpowered versions of animals from the Zodiac and prepare to kill Gru by tying him to the hands of a clock tower to rip him apart. Kevin, Stuart, and Bob find Gru, but are turned into a rabbit, a rooster, and a goat, respectively. However, Knuckles returns and fights the Vicious 6 with the Minions. Encouraged by Chow's teaching, Kevin, Stuart, and Bob "find their inner beast" and battle the Vicious 6 while Otto saves Gru, but Knuckles gets badly burnt by Belle's dragon flames when trying to take the stone back. After Kevin, Stuart and Bob knock the Vicious 6 out, Gru uses the stone to turn them into rats. Congratulating the three Minions for saving his life, Gru reconciles and rehires the Minions and returns Stuart, Kevin and Bob back to normal.

The Vicious 6 are arrested, except Knuckles, who is hospitalized and seemingly succumbs to his injuries, while the stone is confiscated by the Anti-Villain League. At Knuckles' funeral, Gru gives a heartfelt eulogy but was overjoyed when it was revealed Knuckles faked his death. He and Gru later drive off with the Minions.

In a mid-credits scene, Gru attempts to hire Dr. Nefario in gratitude for an invention of his that helped him steal the stone. Nefario initially declines but changes his mind after Gru and the Minions beg, giving them a ride on a rocket-powered aircraft.

Cast[]

Additional Voices[]

  • Aaron Hendry
  • Alex Puccinelli
  • Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld
  • Amari McCoy
  • Antonio Raul Corbo
  • April Stewart
  • Ashly Burch
  • Barbara Iley
  • Beau Billingslea
  • Ben Diskin
  • Benjamin Plessala
  • Bill Farmer
  • Billy West
  • Blayke Busby
  • Bob Bergen
  • Carla Rempp
  • Carlos Alazraqui
  • Catherine Cavadini
  • Chris Diamantopoulos
  • Chris Henry Coffey
  • Christopher Ragland
  • Claire Ryan Crosby
  • Colleen O'Shaughnessey
  • Corey Burton
  • Danny Mann
  • Daran Norris
  • Dave Fennoy
  • David Chen
  • David Cowgill
  • David Errigo Jr.
  • David Kaye
  • David Randolph
  • Dawnn Lewis
  • Debi Derryberry
  • Debra Wilson
  • Deven Mack
  • Diane Michelle
  • Eric Bauza - Vicious Six Fanatic #2, Disco Announcer, additional
  • Evan Kishiyama
  • Fred Tatasciore
  • Grey Griffin
  • Harris Doran
  • Ian James Corlett
  • Isa Hall
  • Jake Green
  • James Sie
  • Janice Kawaye
  • John Karliak
  • Julian Rebolledo
  • Kari Wahlgren
  • Keith David
  • Kellen Goff
  • Kyle Balda
  • Levi Nunez
  • Lizzie Freeman
  • Lloyd Sherr
  • Matthew Gumley
  • Meilee Condron
  • Mindy Sterling
  • Nev Scharrel
  • Nisa Ward
  • Noah Munck
  • Nolan North
  • Nora Wyman
  • Paul Greenburg
  • Ramone Hamilton
  • Regina Taufen
  • Rob Paulsen
  • Robin Atkin Downes
  • Rodger Bumpass
  • Roger Craig Smith - Vicious Six Fanatic #1, additional
  • Sam Lavagnino
  • Scarlett Estevez
  • Scott Menville - Vicious Six Fanatic #3, Boombox Dancer, additional
  • Sean Chiplock
  • Sean Schemmel
  • Shara Kirby
  • Simon Helberg
  • Steve Blum
  • Tara Strong
  • Trevor Devall
  • Troy Baker
  • Will Collyer
  • Zeno Robinson

Production[]

On January 25, 2017, Universal Pictures and Illumination announced a sequel to its animated film of 2015, Minions. It began production on July 19, 2017, with Good Vibes and Legends of Chamberlain Heights creator Brad Ableson added as co director. On May 21, 2019, the film's title was revealed as Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Release[]

Minions: The Rise of Gru debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 13, 2022, followed by a premiere on June 25, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. The film was originally scheduled for general release on July 3, 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the film's incomplete status with Illumination Mac Guff's temporary closure in response to that event, it was pushed back to July 2, 2021, and later to July 1, 2022.

Home media[]

Gallery[]

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Trivia[]

  • The fifth Illumination film to be released in July, after Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets.
  • On May 21, 2019, Universal and Illumination announced the title for the movie as Minions: The Rise of Gru.
  • This is also the third Illumination film to be produced in a 2.39:1 widescreen aspect ratio after Despicable Me 3 and Dr. Seuss' The Grinch.
  • This is the longest advertised animated film in motion picture history, due to a 2½-year time gap between its first trailer and its official release.
  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had to be delayed and the movie instead opened on July 1, 2022.
  • This film became a social media trend, later becoming an internet meme that started off by using the phrase "Three tickets to Minions: The Rise of Gru please." Another trend similar to this that was later spawned involved a bunch of teenage men wearing black suits and sunglasses ("Gentle Minions") walking to a movie theater (and most notably going up the escalator) to see that film with bananas in their shirt pockets. The employees of the theater had to kick them out of the theater when they started throwing the bananas at the screen. UK Cinemas started rejecting any group of teenagers to watch the movie if they were wearing air-tie. The trend was later discovered by Illumination, and they decided to invest in it and have minions in black suits with sunglasses going up an escalator in a social media post.

Navigation[]

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Despicable Me 3D Logo
Media
Films: Despicable Me (video/soundtrack) • Despicable Me 2 (video/soundtrack) • Despicable Me 3 (video/soundtrack) • Despicable Me 4 (video/soundtrack)

Prequels: Minions (video/soundtrack) • Minions: The Rise of Gru (video/soundtrack/score) • Minions 3 (video/soundtrack/score)
Shorts: Home MakeoverOrientation DayBananaPuppyPanic in the MailroomTraining WheelsBinky Nelson UnpacifiedCompetitionCro MinionMower MinionsThe Secret Life of KyleYellow is the New BlackSanta's Little HelpersMinion ScoutsMinions and MonstersPost Modern MinionsMoonedMidnight MissionBenny's BirthdayGame Over & Over
Video Games: Despicable Me: The GameDespicable Me: Minion ManiaMinion RushMinions Paradise
Books: My Dad the Super VillainThe Junior NovelThe World's Greatest VillainSleepy Kittens

Universal Parks
Despicable Me Minion MayhemSuper Silly Fun Land

Entertainment: Minion Land
Restaurants: Gru's Lab Café
Shops: Minion Mart
Parades: Universal's Superstar Parade

Characters
Despicable Me: GruMargoEdithAgnesDr. NefarioLucy WildeVectorMr. PerkinsEl MachoBalthazar BrattCliveValerie Da VinciDru GruSilas RamsbottomMarlena GruFred McDadeScarlet OverkillHerb OverkillWild KnucklesMaster ChowGru, Jr.Poppy PrescottMaxime Le MalValentinaMelora

Minions: KevinStuartBobMelDaveOtto
Vicious 6: Belle BottomJean ClawedSvengeanceStrongholdNun-Chuck

Locations
Gru's HouseGru's LabMinion BeachSuper Silly Fun LandVillain-Con
Songs
Despicable MeHappyFun, Fun, FunYellow LightFreedomBad99 LuftballonsFreedomJust a Cloud AwayHug MeHappy TogetherYou're No GoodI SwearBoogie FeverPrettiest GirlsRocket's ThemeThe Unicorn SongMinion MamboThe Way It Is (Vector's Theme)I'm On a RollGarota de IpanemaEverybody Wants to Rule the World


v - e - d
Illumination new logo 2017
Theatrical films
Despicable Me (2010) • Hop (2011) • Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (2012) • Despicable Me 2 (2013) • Minions (2015) • The Secret Life of Pets (2016) • Sing (2016) • Despicable Me 3 (2017) • Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018) • The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) • Sing 2 (2021) • Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) • The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) • Migration (2023) • Despicable Me 4 (2024)
Upcoming films
Untitled The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel (2026) • Minions 3 (2027)
Films in Development
Big TreeThe Secret Life of Pets 3Sing 3 (TBA) • Untitled Pharrell Williams film
Short films
Home Makeover (2010) • Orientation Day (2010) • Banana (2010) • Brad & Gary (2011) • Phil's Dance Party (2012) • Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem (2012) • Wagon Ho! (2012) • Forces of Nature (2012) • Serenade (2012) • Puppy (2013) • Panic in the Mailroom (2013) • Training Wheels (2013) • Cro Minion (2015) • Competition (2015) • Binky Nelson Unpacified (2015) • Mower Minions (2016) • Norman Television (2016) • Weenie (2016) • Gunter Babysits (2017) • Love at First Sight (2017) • Eddie's Life Coach (2017) • The Secret Life of Kyle (2017) • Yellow is the New Black (2018) • The Dog Days of Winter (2018) • Santa's Little Helpers (2019) • Minion Scouts (2019) • Super Gidget (2019) • Minions & Monsters (2021) • For Gunter's Eyes Only (2022) • Animal Attraction (2022) • Post Modern Minions (2022) • Mooned (2023) • Fly Hard (2024) • Midnight Mission (2024) • Benny's Birthday (2024) • Game Over & Over (2024)
Characters
Despicable Me: Felonious GruMinionsKevinStuartBobOttoMargoEdithAgnesLucy WildeDr. NefarioMarlena GruSilas Ramsbottom

Hop: Fred O'HareE.B.CarlosPhil
Sing: Buster MoonRositaJohnnyAshMeenaGunterMikeEddie NoodlemanMiss CrawlyNana NoodlemanPorsha CrystalClay CallowaySuki LaneNooshy
The Secret Life of Pets: MaxDukeSnowballGidgetChloeMelBuddySweetpeaTiberiusDaisy
The Super Mario Bros. Movie: MarioLuigiPrincess PeachToadDonkey KongBowser
Migration: Mack MallardPam MallardUncle DanDax MallardGwen MallardDelroy
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax: The LoraxThe Once-lerTed WigginsAudreyGrammy NormaMrs. WigginsAloysius O'Hare
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch: The GrinchMaxCindy Lou Who


References[]

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