Image from "Minions and Monsters" film, in theaters now. (Photo by Courtesy of Universal Pictures - © Universal Pictures)
The little yellow troublemakers are back, but this time they're trading evil masterminds for movie magic.
"Minions & Monsters," the latest adventure from Illumination, takes audiences to 1920s Hollywood, where the Minions accidentally become pioneers of the film industry before unleashing a monster-sized problem that only they can solve. The result is an animated comedy packed with slapstick humor for kids and plenty of clever nods to cinema history for adults.
Early critics are calling it one of the strongest entries in the Despicable Me universe. The film has earned the highest critical marks of any movie in the franchise, with reviewers praising its creativity, energy and heartfelt celebration of filmmaking.
More Chicago Star articles:
• Navy Pier partners are planning a summer you’ll never forget
• Chicago History Museum honors Buddy Guy, Linda Johnson Rice and other city icons
• Motel Bar brings Wisconsin supper club charm to Chicago
• Carmen dell’Orefice at 95: Still the world’s top supermodel
Rather than relying solely on banana jokes and chaotic antics, Minions & Monsters embraces classic Hollywood, weaving references to silent films, legendary directors and iconic movie moments into its story. While younger viewers will enjoy the nonstop physical comedy, parents and film buffs are likely to appreciate the deeper cinematic Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the adventure.
The story follows a pair of ambitious Minions whose dream of making monster movies leads to a series of increasingly outrageous mishaps. Along the way, audiences meet colorful new characters voiced by an impressive cast that includes Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg and Zoey Deutch. The film is directed by longtime Minions creator Pierre Coffin, who once again provides the signature Minion voices.
Subscribe to Chicago Star’s Weekly City Buzz Newsletter
Not every critic was completely won over. Some reviewers felt the fast-moving plot becomes overly chaotic and that the abundance of movie references may soar over the heads of younger audiences. Others argued the film occasionally sacrifices story for spectacle.
Still, the overwhelming consensus is positive. Reviewers have described the film as a joyful love letter to Hollywood's Golden Age that blends nostalgic filmmaking history with the irreverent humor fans have come to expect from the Minions.
At just under 90 minutes, Minions & Monsters keeps the laughs coming at a brisk pace while offering something surprisingly rare for a family film: an affectionate tribute to the magic of going to the movies.
Whether you're bringing the kids or simply grew up laughing at Kevin, Stuart and Bob, this latest adventure proves there's still plenty of life left in Illumination's wildly successful franchise.
Sources:
Time Out: Minions & Monsters review
https://www.timeout.com/movies/minions-and-minions-review-2026Rotten Tomatoes: Minions & Monsters First Reviews
https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/minions-and-monsters-first-reviews/RogerEbert.com: Minions & Monsters review by Clint Worthington
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/minions-3-monsters-movie-review-2026
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.