"Minions & Monsters", the seventh "Despicable Me" film and third prequel in the franchise, has opened to the lowest box-office start in the series' history, despite being its best-reviewed entry. The mismatch matters because it suggests audience appetite for the once-dominant Minions brand may be waning, even as critical acclaim reaches a franchise high.

The film earned a franchise-best Rotten Tomatoes score of 90% and has taken more than $161 million worldwide. However, it missed its projected $80 million domestic opening over the US Independence Day weekend, making $36 million across more than 4,000 North American cinemas from Friday to Monday and $61 million since the Wednesday launch. That start fell below even 2010's original "Despicable Me" ($57 million). Analysts attribute the shortfall to franchise fatigue rather than families staying away — "Toy Story 5" earned $31 million in its third weekend — but still expect the film to turn a profit.