Universal Pictures' 'Minions & Monsters' topped the July Fourth holiday box office, earning an estimated $45 million in its opening weekend, barely beating Disney-Pixar's 'Toy Story 5,' which took in $44 million, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
Close race at the box office
The two animated family films were the top earners over the long holiday weekend, with 'Minions & Monsters' opening just ahead of the second weekend of 'Toy Story 5.' The race was so close that final numbers could shift when actual figures are released Monday.
Rounding out the top five were 'Inside Out 2' with $12.5 million in its fifth weekend, Paramount's 'A Quiet Place: Day One' with $11 million in its third weekend, and Warner Bros.' 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1' with $8 million in its second weekend.
Box office totals and industry impact
The combined gross for the top five films was approximately $120.5 million, contributing to a strong holiday period for theaters. 'Minions & Monsters' marks the latest success for Illumination, the studio behind the 'Despicable Me' franchise, which has now earned over $4 billion globally.
According to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, 'The Fourth of July weekend is traditionally a huge box office draw, and this year's lineup delivered. The close competition between two major animated franchises shows the enduring appeal of family entertainment.'
Critical and audience response
'Minions & Monsters' received a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, while 'Toy Story 5' earned an A-. Critics were mixed on both films, with 'Minions & Monsters' holding a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 'Toy Story 5' at 78%. Despite the critical edge for 'Toy Story 5,' the Minions franchise's massive global fanbase drove strong opening weekend turnout.
Universal noted that 'Minions & Monsters' had the second-highest opening for the franchise, behind only 'Minions: The Rise of Gru' which opened to $107 million in 2022. The film is expected to perform well internationally, with key markets like China and Japan yet to open.
