Minions & Monsters records the lowest franchise opening with $64 million.

      Universal’s Minions & Monsters topped the US box office over the July 4 holiday, grossing around $64 million in North America since its release on July 1, according to studio estimates. This marks the lowest opening for the seventh film in the Despicable Me franchise.

      The three-day weekend brought in $36.4 million, setting a franchise record low. In contrast, Despicable Me 4 debuted to $120 million during the same five-day period two years ago, while Minions: The Rise of Gru opened with $122 million in 2022.

      Despite this, the film still comfortably secured the weekend’s top spot, with Toy Story 5 remaining strong and Supergirl experiencing a 74% drop in its second week. However, the numbers raise concerns for Comcast’s Universal and Chris Meledandri’s Illumination, revealing potential strain on what has traditionally been a resilient franchise.

      Illumination is recognized as Hollywood’s most dependable animation studio, having produced the record-setting Super Mario Bros. Movie, which marked a significant milestone in Nintendo’s long-standing relationship with Hollywood. Its franchises have generated billions for Universal against relatively modest production costs.

      The underwhelming start occurs amid growing concerns about sequel fatigue and changing family viewing preferences, as audiences increasingly wait for streaming releases that studios have been reorganizing for over the past decade. As cinema attendance wavers, at-home viewing benefits.

      Furthermore, technology is transforming the film-making process, with AI tools being used for editing and dubbing, while algorithms are playing a larger role in determining viewer preferences. Animation, being the most software-centric sector of filmmaking, is often among the first to encounter these changes.

      The strategy for franchises now encompasses more than just theatrical releases; it expands into theme parks, merchandise, and video game collaborations. A weak box office performance can impact the overall momentum without entirely halting it.

      While a $64 million holiday opening would be considered a success for most studios, the Minions will likely continue to thrive. Nonetheless, if Illumination's once-unfaltering yellow characters begin to falter, the certainty of Hollywood's proven hits may seem less reliable.