Despicable Me 3
Performance & Direction: Despicable Me 3 Review
Last updated: January 25, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Despicable Me 3 (2017) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.5/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Action.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Action is often anchored by its ensemble, and Despicable Me 3 features a noteworthy lineup led by Steve Carell . Supported by the likes of Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Despicable Me 3 (2017) is generally positive. With an audience rating of 6.5/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Despicable Me 3
Quick Plot Summary: Despicable Me 3 is a Action, Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure film that delivers highly intense sequences and pulse-pounding confrontations that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The narrative structure follows a classic action blueprint: establish the protagonist's world, introduce a formidable antagonist, and escalate the stakes through increasingly intense confrontations. Gru and his wife Lucy must stop former '80s child star Balthazar Bratt from achieving world domination. The film balances spectacular set pieces with character moments, ensuring the action serves the story rather than overwhelming it. This approach calls everyone and everything into question as the plot unfolds.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The film opens with an explosive sequence that immediately establishes the stakes and introduces our protagonist in action.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final confrontation delivers on the buildup, with stakes at their highest and the protagonist using everything they've learned.
Thematic Depth
Beyond the spectacle, the film explores themes of justice, redemption, and the cost of violence. It questions whether the ends justify the means and examines the personal toll of heroism.
What Works & What Doesn't
✅ Strengths
- Solid execution of genre conventions
- Engaging moments that showcase the filmmakers' vision
- Competent performances from the cast
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Some narrative choices that feel predictable
- Occasional pacing lulls in the middle act
Ending Explained: Despicable Me 3
Ending Breakdown: Despicable Me 3 concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to action resolution.
The climactic sequence delivers on the escalating tension, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the action themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Despicable Me 3 reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Despicable Me 3?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Action films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want an adrenaline rush without demanding perfection
Box Office Collection: Despicable Me 3
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $80.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $1.0B |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Despicable Me 3 Budget
The estimated production budget for Despicable Me 3 is $80.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Despicable Me 3
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Where to Watch Despicable Me 3 Online?
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YouTubeDespicable Me 3 Parents Guide & Age Rating
2017 AdvisoryWondering about Despicable Me 3 age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Despicable Me 3 is 90 minutes (1h 30m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.5/10, and global performance metrics, Despicable Me 3 is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2017 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Despicable Me 3 worth watching?
Despicable Me 3 is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Action movies. It has a verified rating of 6.5/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Despicable Me 3 parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Despicable Me 3 identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Despicable Me 3?
The total duration of Despicable Me 3 is 90 minutes, which is approximately 1h 30m long.
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Critic Reviews for Despicable Me 3
Nothing will beat the first film. The originality fades with most sequels. Unfortunately this is more the rule rather than the exception. For the same reason, I hope they don't bother to create another "Rango". That was another fun and brilliant animation in my opinion. Kids will like it and by all means don't avoid it. Just don't have high expectations.
**It's a family time!** I'm not a fan of this film, except I always loved Minions, particularly their solo film before this one. That prequel was awesome, so much fun. But it's hard to believe, this franchise has already reached three films/parts. Yeah, the Minions helped to find its place among the animation fans, but in this film they were kind of ignored. That's the truth. They had less screenspace which directly affected the film and those who love them. Gru is set to meet his twin brother, Dru, who is dreaming to be like his father, a supervillain. But now changed Gru is not interested to help his brother. Instead, he uses him to accomplish on what he had failed recently. Okayish story, but it had some good fun. It's almost given a hint about the possible plot for the next sequel. I think kids would enjoy it without expecting much. So a one time watchable film. _6/10_
The 80s scene at the beginning was awesome and worth a watch. The rest was the traditional weird mess shared by all the other Despicable Me movies.
A no-frills third installment of 'Despicable Me'. I found the initial few scenes of 'Despicable Me 3' to be solid, with a few chuckles chucked in there. However, from around minute 30 it loses all steam and ends up being a fine but uninspiring 90 minutes. The voice cast are alright, but the characters themselves aren't all that interesting. Steve Carell and Trey Parker are good, as is an underused Kristen Wiig. Jenny Slate's character seems forgotten, like I feel like it sets up something with Valerie Da Vinci early on but I don't even recall what happens to her here - a waste, as my first impressions were positive. The minions are fine, not as funny at this point but there's some minor amusement there still. I, also, didn't dig the addition of Gru's brother, fwiw. Pharrell Williams' music, meanwhile, feels overused and ever so slightly rehashed. Gone are the days of 'Happy' - but hey! Only two years until 'Despicable Me 4'! Woo...
Despite having state-of-the-art security, the world’s largest diamond is stolen from under the very noses of the anti-villain league and so that gets “Gru” and “Lucy” shown the door! They are not the giving up sort, though, and so set about planning to recover it from arch villain “Balthazar Bratt”. Touchingly, their daughter “Agnes” tries to help out by selling her toys but luckily before she has to start selling herself, “Gru” discovers that he has a long-lost twin brother - “Dru”. Thing is, it turns out that he’s even more villainous that “Balthazar” and is determined to recruit his brother into the ways of lucrative crime - and to steal the diamond from it’s previous pincher too! The story is a bit lightweight; is a bit of a confused mess at times and the mischievous minions don’t really feature enough to make too much difference to a plot that comes across more as a marketing exercise than a worthy sequel to the first, much quirkier and more entertaining film from almost seven years ago. A lively 1980s soundtrack chivvies it along and the youngsters will probably embrace the deftness of the slapstick scenarios - especially towards the end, but there’s not so much for the grown ups here and already this franchise is beginning to look like it has run it’s course.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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