In Despicable Me 4, the sixth installment in the Despicable Me movie franchise, the Minions reference the viral GentleMinions trend from their film two years prior. While the animated Minions typically wear overalls and goggles as part of their uniforms, the GentleMinions trend was a real-life reaction to the movie, where viewers would attend the film in formal wear. While the same movement has yet to arrive with the latest film’s audiences, the film itself references the viral attire.

Despicable Me 4 was released to mixed reviews in early July 2024. However, no one was surprised to see the Minions make another appearance on the big screen. The iconic yellow henchmen have become synonymous with the franchise since the first film’s release in 2010. The Minions even become a large part of Despicable Me 4’s ending with the creation of the powerful Mega Minions. While the Minions exist in the fantastical world of the franchise, the outside world’s influence is evident in the most recent film.

Despicable Me 4’s Minions Wear Suits Like The GentleMinions

The Minions Get A New Uniform At The AVL

In the corporate office setting of their new jobs at the Anti-Villain League, the Minions have exchanged their classic denim overalls to seem more professional. In the film, they wear suits as the Minions work to take down Gru’s new villain. Despite their new attire, the typical Minion antics continue. As shown in a long tracking shot of the Minions at the AVL, they are still making messes, obsessed with bananas, and wreaking havoc. Luckily, this behavior doesn’t disrupt the functioning of the AVL too much, as the Minions rarely hinder Gru’s plotting.

The GentleMinions Trend Explained

The 2022 Trend Went Viral On The Internet

The release of the previous movie in the Despicable Me franchise, Minions: The Rise of Gru, took the internet by storm in 2022. Videos of teenagers attending the film in full suits went viral in what was known as the GentleMinions trend. While it was overtly just a funny juxtaposition of wearing nice clothes to see a children’s movie, some thought it to be a commentary on the infantilization of mainstream cinema. The film’s inclusion of the childlike Minions in formal wear emphasizes the humor and absurdity of both the characters and the trend.

Despite their new uniforms, the Minions will always be analogous to their denim overalls, which they wear for most of the film outside the AVL scenes. Similar to the participants in the GentleMinions trend, though they dress up in fancy clothes, they are still comedic at heart. While the trend didn’t continue for the Despicable Me 4 international opening, it’s possible another GentleMinions movement may resurface for Despicable Me 4 in the U.S.