Despicable Me 3 (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Despicable Me 3 is a 2017 animated comedy directed by Eric Guillon and Kyle Balda, starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $1.03 billion worldwide on a $80 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Animated Feature at the Critics' Choice 2018. Critics gave it 59% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Directors
- Eric Guillon and Kyle Balda
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $80M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Despicable Me 3 About?
The premise of Despicable Me 3 without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Gru's attempt at retirement is hilariously derailed by the antics of his mischievous Minions and the sudden arrival of his long-lost twin brother, Dru. Forced to work together, the brothers must stop Balthazar Bratt, a former child actor turned villain, from enacting a nostalgic and destructive plan rooted in the 1980s. Their mission involves confronting Bratt's villainous schemes and navigating a complex family dynamic.
Despicable Me 3 Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- twin brother
- minion
- twins
- parental favoritism
- numbered sequel
- passenger compartment
- photograph
- hair
- blockbuster
- shoulder pad
- luau
- action figure
+38 more Show fewer
- pig
- singing competition
- escape from jail
- hollywood sign
- kidnapping
- male protagonist
- siblings living together
- siblings raising child together
- sibling love
- sibling fight
- sibling rivalry
- sibling team
- jealousy
- separated at birth
- long lost relative
- death of parent
- unicorn
- goat
- protective mother
- making up after an argument
- making up
- billion dollar club
- twin brother twin brother relationship
- husband wife relationship
- final battle
- final showdown
- child in jeopardy
- computer animation
- singer
- despicable me's minion character
- shared universe
- slimehouse
- the color black
- the color blue
- the color orange
- the color pink
- the color red
- the color white
Despicable Me 3 Cast
Steve Carell leads the cast, with Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker. Directed by Eric Guillon and Kyle Balda; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Co-director Eric Guillon -
Co-director Kyle Balda
Also Starring in Despicable Me 3
· 6 moreMore from Eric Guillon and Kyle Balda
More films directed by Eric Guillon and Kyle Balda, best-rated first: The Sheep Detectives, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and Weenie.
Despicable Me 3 Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Despicable Me 3 59% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in story & flow (45).
Despicable Me 3 Echo Score Breakdown
In general, Despicable Me 3 provides a moderately entertaining sequel characterized by vibrant visual design and sporadic emotional moments but is undermined by a thin narrative structure. The direction and production design deliver an energetic color palette, and Steve Carell’s performances paired with Balthazar Bratt’s eccentric villainy offer engaging beats. Yet the story’s reliance on familiar retreads results in uneven pacing and limited depth. While the sensory elements are lively, the overall experience tends toward fleeting amusement rather than lasting appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 75
In terms of art and craft, the film showcases a dynamic color palette and fluid animation that sustain the franchise’s signature visual flair. The production design delivers richly detailed environments, from Gru’s lair to Bratt’s retro headquarters, while the editing maintains an energetic rhythm. Directionally, the film effectively stages physical comedy and action sequences. Despite a sense of visual familiarity from earlier installments, the artistry remains a consistent strength of the film.
- Character & Emotion 65
When it comes to character and emotion, Steve Carell’s dual portrayal of Gru and Dru provides distinct energy and playful chemistry. The introduction of Balthazar Bratt brings a fresh dynamic through his flamboyant performance and quirky motivations. Secondary figures deliver occasional charm, though many supporting arcs feel underdeveloped. Emotional resonance fluctuates, with moments of genuine warmth counterbalanced by retreaded relational beats. Overall, character work offers engaging highlights amid uneven depth.
- Story & Flow 45
In terms of story and flow, the sequel follows a predictable structure that revisits familiar franchise templates. Plot coherence suffers from rapid shifts between multiple subplots, and pacing feels uneven as the film alternates between brisk comedic sequences and obligatory narrative detours. The originality of the premise is limited, relying heavily on nostalgic callbacks and standard sibling rivalry tropes. Consequently, engagement wanes when the story leans on safe, well-trodden territory.
- Sensory Experience 60
When considering the sensory experience, the soundtrack provides lively cues but lacks standout themes that endure beyond individual scenes. Sound design effectively supports comedic and action beats, yet the musical score remains functional rather than memorable. Visually, the film maintains cohesive styling through bold color choices and fluid animation frames that reinforce the comedic tone. Overall, the sensory components contribute to an enjoyable viewing momentarily but offer limited distinction.
- Rewatch Factor 55
As for rewatch value, Despicable Me 3 offers sporadic humorous set pieces and vibrant visuals that may entertain on repeat viewings. The novelty of Balthazar Bratt’s antics and the core ensemble’s dynamic interactions deliver occasional charm. However, familiarity with the film’s predictable beats and recycled jokes reduces its lasting appeal, leading to diminishing returns over subsequent watches. The overall replay value remains modest, with enjoyment largely tied to specific comedic highlights.
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IMDb 6.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 59% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 53%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 49 Metascore
User score 5.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.6 /5
417 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.7 /5
See on Movie Insider
Despicable Me 3 Plot Summary
What happens in Despicable Me 3 from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Following the events of the previous film, Gru (Steve Carell) has taken on the role of an agent for the Anti-Villain League (AVL) alongside his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig). Their latest mission involves stopping the schemes of Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), a former child star who portrayed a villain in the now-canceled show “Evil Bratt.” After experiencing a decline in fame during his adolescence, Bratt has embraced his old persona to become a true super-villain. Gru successfully prevents Bratt from stealing a pricey diamond, but fails to apprehend him, leading to the AVL’s new and harsh director Valerie Da Vinci (Jenny Slate) firing both Gru and Lucy after numerous unsuccessful attempts to capture Bratt.
Full summary
The whole story of Despicable Me 3, scene by scene
Despicable Me 3 Box Office & Budget
Despicable Me 3 grossed $1.03 billion worldwide on a $80 million budget, 13 times what it cost. $264.6 million came from the US and Canada and $770.2 million (74%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1B
13× its budget
- US & Canada
- $264.6M
- International
- $770.2M
- Budget
- $80M
Despicable Me 3 Awards & Nominations
Despicable Me 3 earned 2 award nominations, including Best Animated Feature at the Critics' Choice 2018. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.
2 nominations2 ceremonies
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Critics' Choice 2018 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Feature
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Annie Awards 2018 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Feature — Independent
Despicable Me 3 Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 3 trailers, 3 teasers and 2 clips.
- Trailer Official Trailer #2
- Trailer Official Trailer #3
- Teaser TV Spot 3
- Teaser TV Spot 2
How Well Do You Know Despicable Me 3?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main antagonist in 'Despicable Me 3'?
Despicable Me 3 Also Known As
52 alternative titles, including “גנוב על הירח 3” and “น่ารังเกียจฉัน 3”.
- Also known as
-
- גנוב על הירח 3
- น่ารังเกียจฉัน 3
- Dumma mig 3
- Mina, supervaras 3
- Despicable Me 3 3D
- 卑鄙的我3
- 坏蛋奖门人3
- 怪盗グルーのミニオン大脱走
- Despicable M3
- Kẻ Cắp Mặt Trăng 3
- 怪盗グルーのミニオン大脱走:2017
- Jaz, baraba 3
+40 more Show fewer
- Gru 3. Mi villano favorito
- 壞蛋獎門人3
- Ich - Einfach unverbesserlich 3
- Sunt un mic ticălos 3
- Gru 3.
- Гадкий я 3
- Cattivissimo me 3
- Moi, moche et méchant 3
- Meu Malvado Favorito 3
- มิสเตอร์แสบ ร้ายเกินพิกัด 3
- Εγώ, ο Απαισιότατος 3
- Нікчемний Я 3
- Çılgın Hırsız 3
- Аз, проклетникът 3
- Грозан ја 3
- Itse ilkimys 3
- Grusomme mig 3
- 슈퍼배드 3
- Gru
- Dru i Minionki
- גנוב על העולם
- Détestable moi 3
- Gru, el meu dolent preferit 3
- Ja, zloduch 3
- Gru - O Maldisposto 3
- Mi Villano Favorito 3
- 神偷奶爸3
- Verschrikkelijke Ikke 3, საზიზღარი მე 3
- Já, padouch 3
- الحقير أنا 3
- Dumma mej 3
- ရှက်စရာငါ့ကို 3
- من نفرتانگیز ۳
- Grusomme meg 3
- Nejaukais es 3
- Kako je Gru postao dobar
- Bjaurusis Aš 3
- 壞蛋獎門人 3
- ديسبيكبل مي 3
- डेस्पिकेबल मी 3
Seen Despicable Me 3?
Movies Like Despicable Me 3
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Despicable Me, Despicable Me 4 and Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Despicable Me 3 FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Despicable Me 3, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Despicable Me 3?
Despicable Me 3 runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was Despicable Me 3 released?
Despicable Me 3 was released on June 30, 2017.
Who directed Despicable Me 3?
Despicable Me 3 was directed by Eric Guillon and Kyle Balda.
Who is in the cast of Despicable Me 3?
Despicable Me 3 stars Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Despicable Me 3 make at the box office?
Despicable Me 3 grossed $1.03 billion worldwide ($264.6 million domestic, $770.2 million international) on a budget of $80 million.
How is Despicable Me 3 rated?
Despicable Me 3 has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, 49 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Was Despicable Me 3 nominated for any awards?
Despicable Me 3 received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does Despicable Me 3 have a post-credit scene?
No. Despicable Me 3 has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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