The Minions have always been the best thing about the Despicable Me movies and the introduction to the Illumination studios. For some reason, their standalone films have always struggled and were never as funny as the short bursts of Minion action in the Gru movies. Now we have their third film, Minions & Monsters, and I have to say, this is not only the best of the Minion films but the best of everything they appear in. This is more than just a film about little yellow creatures; it is an homage to the silent era of Hollywood, from which the characters’ inspiration comes.

Searching for a new master to serve, the Minions end up on a Hollywood backlot where they are hired to appear in a Viking movie and take over the film, much to the joy of the producers. Minion best friends James and Henry, who spend their time creating stories, want to make a monster movie, and with the help of a magical book, they conjure up Goomi, a green monster who, at first, wants to help the Minions but has a much darker plan.

Co-writer, director, and voice of the Minions, Pierre Coffin, has always said he wanted to end the series with Despicable Me 3, but this entry is a more personal film, as it focuses on the silent comedies of the 1920s, which Coffin has always said influenced the Minions. Given that the creatures speak a bizarre language, it’s important that the visuals are the sole source of the comedy. Slapstick, noises, and fast-paced gags are the order of the day for the Minions, and this film lets the audience see where those influences come from. Coffin has included scenes from classic comedies, including Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last and Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times. While these references may go over the heads of the younger audiences, the older or more cinephile fans will relish these moments.

Yet it’s more than just excuses for some great visual gags, but it has plenty of heart this time. Much more than previous outings. The friendship of James and Henry is nothing more than sweet, and you find yourself being swept along by just how important their friendship is. It’s also a wonderful homage to old Hollywood and to the way the storytelling was simple yet effective. There’s even a nod to the old 1950s science fiction movies, such as The Blob, with a large, jelly-like creature that just happens to be orange (is that a comment on modern politics?).

What really works is that Coffin knows how to create animated slapstick, getting the timing perfectly, and seamlessly adding plenty of references to modern life and ancient times. One joke includes a giant Cyclops coming up against a deadly foe: the Lego brick with a bare foot.

This is funnier than it has any right to be, with gags galore that are genuinely laugh-out-loud. Any film that starts with George Lucas (who also supplies his own voice) in a glass box is worth the entrance fee. Other vocal talents on show are a cracking lineup, with Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg and Jeff Bridges playing film-producing brothers Frank and Elwood. Each fits the characters perfectly.

Minions & Monsters is a big bundle of joy. It’s fast, funny and never outstays its welcome. It is the best Minion movie by a country mile, and if Coffin and the team are going to stop, this would be the perfect place to end.

4 out of 5

Director: Pierre Coffin

Starring: Pierre Coffin, Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, George Lucas, Phil LaMarr

Written by: Pierre Coffin and Brian Lynch

Running Time: 90 mins

Cert: U

Release date: 1st July 2026