Universal Pictures’ Minions Makes Animated Movie History

We fell in love with Despicable Me’s mob of adorable yellow Minions during their golden years as sidekicks to criminal masterminds Gru and Dr. Nefario. Now, the franchise’s latest installment, Minions, flashes all the way back to the beginning of time to trace our favorite yellow ringleaders’ inglorious ascent, and they’ve taken record-breaking audiences with them.

With an impressive $115.7 million at the U.S. box office its opening weekend, Minions made box office history after scoring the highest-ever opening day for an animated film. In addition, the film opened in 56 international markets and ranked number one in 55 of them.

Based on Minions’ success across the globe, their gibberish language, Minionese, seems to be universally understood. In Russia and Venezuela, Minions broke the record for the biggest opening weekend of all time for any film, animated or otherwise. Worldwide, the premiere took in $403.5 million, and there are still 11 new territories to roll out over the next two months.

On the small screen, Xfinity customers can learn the Minions' Lingua Franca from their Minionese speaking voice remotes. Here’s a quick guide to kickstart the learning curve:

• Say "Banana" into the Voice Remote and you’ll get a list of food programming as the minions speak back to you

• Say "Kudos" and you’ll be brought straight to the Despicable Me movies

• Say "Minions" and you’ll see the trailer for the latest movie
   

-Jill Harrington for Comcast

About Minions

The story of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Minions begins at the dawn of time.  Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters.  Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters—from T. rex to Napoleon—the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression.

But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he—alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob—ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow.

The trio embarks upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain.  They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind ... from annihilation.

Featuring a soundtrack of hit music from the ’60s that still permeates our culture today, Minions is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and is directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda.  Brian Lynch has written the screenplay for the 3D-CG comedy adventure, and Chris Renaud serves as executive producer of the film.  www.minionsmovie.com