Despicable Me 3 is Illumination’s second film to gross more than $1 billion, as well as the first time an animated franchise has had two movies both cross $1 billion.
Its results have propelled the Despicable Me franchise past the Shrek series to become the highest-grossing animated film franchise of all time globally, and past the Ice Age series to become the highest-grossing animated franchise internationally.
Despicable Me 3 joins The Fate of the Furious ($1.238 billion) as the second Universal film to cross $1 billion this year.
Illumination’s eight releases—which include Despicable Me, Hop, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Despicable Me 2, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing and Despicable Me 3—have grossed more than $5.7 billion worldwide.