Film Despicable Me 4 Better May 2026

Despicable Me 4: The Midlife Crisis of a Supervillain Turned Dad

Seven films into the franchise (if you count the Minions spin-offs), Despicable Me 4 arrives not with the fresh, subversive punch of the 2010 original, but with the comfortable, slightly chaotic hum of a well-worn family appliance. On its surface, the film is a glossy, fast-paced spectacle of purple goo, avocado-shaped nemeses, and Mega-Minions. But beneath the fart-joke-and-gadget veneer, DM4 wrestles with a surprisingly resonant question: What happens when a man who defined himself by audacious evil is forced into the most mundane, domesticated existence imaginable?

The Villain: During a high-school reunion, Gru crosses paths with Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), an old rival. Maxime unveils his latest invention: a serum that turns people into humanoid cockroaches. After Gru arrests him, Maxime swears revenge, specifically targeting Gru’s infant son. Film Despicable Me 4

The family’s domestic bliss is shattered when Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), Gru's cockroach-obsessed high school rival, escapes from prison and vows revenge. Under the protection of the Anti-Villain League (AVL), the family is relocated to a safe house in the upscale community of Mayflower. While Gru tries to blend in as a suburban dad, he is blackmailed by a neighbor’s teenager, Poppy Prescott (Joey King), into helping her pull off a heist. Meet the Mega Minions Despicable Me 4: The Midlife Crisis of a

Meanwhile, the Minions split into two factions: The Villain: During a high-school reunion, Gru crosses

Directed by Chris Renaud (returning after directing the first two films) and Patrick Delage, Film Despicable Me 4 asks a critical question: What happens when a retired supervillain is forced to run from his past?

Whether you are a lifelong fan or just looking for a summer distraction, Film Despicable Me 4 delivers the banana-flavored goods. It proves that even after 14 years, Gru and the Minions still have plenty of schemes left in the tank.

The most intellectually interesting addition is Poppy Prescott, the wannabe villain next door. She is a meta-commentary on the franchise’s own fandom. Poppy worships Gru the way audiences worship the Despicable Me lore. She has scrapbooks of his heists. She idolizes the freeze ray. She wants to be the villain of 2010.