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Illumination Chief Chris Meledandri Reflects on Minions Empire as ‘Minions & Monsters’ Premieres at Annecy

Illumination founder Chris Meledandri reflects on the studio's blockbuster success as 'Minions & Monsters' premieres at the Annecy Film Festival. The film, which opens July 1, follows Minions becoming filmmakers in a 1920s Hollywood setting and marks the seventh 'Despicable Me' franchise entry. Illumination has generated over $11 billion globally since 2010.
Quick Facts
Who
Chris Meledandri
What
Chris Meledandri received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
When
2026
Where
Hollywood
- Chris Meledandri received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 'Minions & Monsters' premieres at Annecy Film Festival
- The film opens July 1 in theaters
- Illumination has generated $11 billion in global box office since 2010
- Chris Meledandri
Chris Meledandri, the founder and CEO of Illumination, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this month, joking to the crowd that future visitors might wonder, “Who the hell was that guy?” Yet the unflashy executive has quietly built one of Hollywood’s most reliable blockbuster machines. Since Illumination’s first release, 2010’s “Despicable Me,” the studio has generated more than $11 billion in global box office. Its latest hit, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” remains the only film to cross $1 billion in 2026.
Illumination’s next release, “Minions & Monsters,” premieres Sunday at the Annecy Film Festival in France before opening in theaters worldwide on July 1. The film marks the seventh entry in the “Despicable Me” franchise and the third standalone Minions feature. Set in the 1920s Golden Age of Hollywood, the story follows the Minions as they become filmmakers, creating a monster that turns on them. Jeff Bridges voices a studio head, while veteran director Pierre Coffin, who also voices the Minions, returns after initial reluctance.
Meledandri, who previously ran Fox’s animation division and produced the “Ice Age” films, founded Illumination with a focus on joyous, Looney Tunes-style comedy. The Paris-based studio, a division of Universal Pictures, has expanded beyond the Minions with collaborations including Nintendo for the “Mario” movies, an upcoming “Barbie” animated film with Mattel, and franchises like “Sing” and “The Secret Lives of Pets.” The studio’s global reach now extends to Japan through its Nintendo partnership.
“Minions & Monsters” opens two weeks after Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” presenting a new test of Illumination’s box office strength. Pierre Coffin, who directed the film from Paris, said Meledandri pitched the concept by describing Minions wanting to make a monster movie. “He got me at ‘Minions making movies,’” Coffin recalled. The film’s end credits humorously credit a Minion named James as director, though Coffin helmed the production himself.
Topics
Why This Matters
This story matters because Illumination's consistent box office dominance, built on low-cost, high-joy animation, challenges the traditional Pixar-Disney hierarchy. For industry watchers, 'Minions & Monsters' performance against 'Toy Story 5' two weeks prior will signal whether family audiences can sustain multiple summer hits and how Illumination's global strategy—especially its Nintendo and Mattel partnerships—positions it as a future animation leader.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2010
WireIllumination releases first film 'Despicable Me'
Jun 19, 2026
WireChris Meledandri receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Jun 22, 2026
Wire'Minions & Monsters' premieres at Annecy Film Festival
Jul 1, 2026
Wire'Minions & Monsters' opens in theaters