With the announcement of the next Despicable Me movie set to be released in 2024, is it finally time to admit the franchise has overtaken the Shrek series? In many ways, the Despicable Me franchise, also known as “Minions”, mirrors the story and success of Shrek. Both original animated comedies follow main characters who are convinced they are villains because of what they’ve been told or what they have come to expect. However, both of their stories lead to these protagonists becoming unlikely heroes due to the introduction of friends and family who expect more from them and compel them to do what is ultimately right.
There are currently 5 Shrek films (not to mention 3 Puss in Boots spinoff films) with another one on the way. Shrek, which was originally released in 2001, was a hit among adults and children alike, and invigorated Dreamworks as an animation competitor to Disney. The movie was quickly dubbed one of the most influential animated films of the 21st century. On the other hand, the original Despicable Me movie, which came out in 2010 by Illumination and Universal Studios, has released 6 movies with a 7th slated for 2024. A 6th official installment in the Shrek franchise, Shrek 5, was announced back in 2016, and is expected for 2023, although that date will likely change as production is currently stalled on the film.
Will Minions Mirror Shrek’s Movie Legacy?
With the announcement of Despicable Me 4 set for July 2024, it appears that the Minions franchise has no intention of slowing down its momentum in the way that Shrek has lately. The last film, Shrek Forever After, was released back in 2010. There is hope that this new movie would reinvigorate the popular “Shrek effect” from the early 2000s, but that is yet to be seen. While it has been announced that there is a script, details are scarce on what the movie is about and who will be returning from its famous cast.
Many could also argue that Minions may not have the shelf life that has led to Shrek’s success. Having been released over two decades ago, many of its original young fans are now adults who still find the wider humor, geared to target the whole family, appealing even for older audiences. Minions however is often considered to be geared specifically to smaller children, which will likely make one question how successful the franchise will remain long-term. In fairness, knowing whether Minions will sustain the cultural effect that Shrek provided in the early aughts and beyond cannot be compared for at least another decade.
How Minions Is Already Outdoing Shrek’s Meme Success
A huge factor to not overlook about Minions success is the phenomenon of memes. Minions memes transcend age and are at the heart of social media culture today. With that in mind, Minions likely have already overtaken Shrek in widespread popularity. Although Shrek will always remain iconic, it is likely no match for the effect that Minions have on other facets of media and entertainment that were not around when Shrek was first released. With Despicable Me continuing with its seventh movie and counting, and Shrek in limbo almost 13 years later with its 6th, Shrek has some work to do to stay relevant for new generations in the years to come.
