TheDespicable Mefranchise began in 2010 with the very first movie of the same name, and these 10 movies are the perfect next watches for fans of that film.Despicable Memay have been an unknown when it was released 15 years ago, but it has become a massive franchise in the years since, leading to a grand total of 4 currently releasedDespicable Memoviesand the two spin-off movies featuring the Minions.
In fact, the Minions alone proved to be a cultural phenomenon, and they are now easily identifiable even to those who have never seenDespicable Meor its many sequels. In addition to these goofy yellow creatures makingDespicable Mea smash hit, the lovable villain Gru, deeper messages of the film, and family ties within the movie all contributed toDespicable Me’spopularity.Based on those traits, here are the 10 best movies likeDespicable Me.
10Hotel Transylvania
This Movie’s Charming Villain Is Very Similar To Gru
Hotel Transylvaniaarrived on the scene very soon afterDespicable Me, with the first movie releasing in 2012. Like theDespicable Mefranchise,theHotel Transylvaniamovieshave expanded considerably over the last decade or so, with four total movies at present and aHotel TransylvaniaTV show,Hotel Transylvania: The Series. Along with having a fairly similar release structure toDespicable Me,Hotel Transylvania’scharacters and the themes of the movie are highly reminiscent ofDespicable Me.
Like Gru inDespicable Me, the protagonist inHotel Transylvania, Count Dracula, is known as a villain, but he is revealed in the movie to be so much more than that. In addition to having a star-studded cast,Hotel Transylvaniais a great watch because of its sense of humor and its touching themes.TheHotel Transylvaniamovies' Adam Sandler recordalso makes it clear that the franchise, which has grossed in total over $527 million worldwide, is brilliant.
9Minions
It’s Impossible To Overlook Minions When Discussing Despicable Me
As mentioned,Despicable Mehas led to spin-off movies about the strange yellow creatures who work for Gru, the Minions. Currently, there are two Minion spin-off movies,Minions(2015) andMinions: The Rise of Gru(2022). It’s unlikely that even the creators predicted what a massive phenomenon the Minions would become, but their comedic antics, odd manner of speaking, and adorable natures clearly won audiences over.
It’s unlikely that even the creators predicted what a massive phenomenon the Minions would become.
LikeDespicable Me,Minionsis a comedy, but it has a lot of heart buried beneath its humor. According toBox Office Mojo,Minionsearned an absolutely staggering $1.159 billion at the box office, suggesting it’s more than worth a watch.TheMinionsRotten Tomatoes scoressuggest that the global interest in the movie’s release may not have directly translated to audiences (or critics) liking the movie, but for those who enjoyDespicable Me,Minionswill be a great follow-up.
8The Secret Life Of Pets
This Heartwarming Tale Is Similar To Gru’s Adoption Of His Three Daughters
Despicable Meis unquestionably a comedy, and it’s one that will get some genuine laughs out of even adult audiences, but there are also a number of moments inDespicable Methat are quite touching. Most of these moments center on the three girls Gru ends up adopting in the movie: Margo, Edith, and Agnes. These themes of family and acceptance are real tear-jerkers in the movie, which makesThe Secret Life of Petsanother great watch for those who enjoyedDespicable Me.
Yet another adoption story,The Secret Life of Petscenters on Max, a terrier who lives a happy life in New York City with his owner, Katie, until she adopts a massive dog named Duke, whom Max feels is ruining his life. Over the course of the movie, Max grows to be much less spoiled and much more accepting, with the movie ultimately landing in a heartfelt place. The movie has a respectable Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 71%, so while it may not be a major smash-hit, it’s certainly worth a watch.
7Megamind
This Movie Showcases Yet Another Lovable Villain Who Isn’t What He Seems
Just asDespicable Me’sGru is voiced by renowned comedian Steve Carell, andHotel Transylvania’sCount Dracula is played by major comedy star Adam Sandler,inMegamind, the titular protagonist is portrayed by fan-favorite comedian Will Ferrell.Megamind was releasedin 2010, the very same yearDespicable Mecame out, and it shares a tone withDespicable Mein many ways. LikeDespicable Me, there are some real and valuable messages underlying the movie’s sillier plot.
Megamindalso focuses on a goofy supervillain, just asDespicable Medoes. Of course, as a comedy,Megamindis also simply enjoyable to watch, and Will Ferrell is, as always, absolutely hilarious in the movie.Megamindalso has a Rotten Tomatoes critic score very similar toThe Secret Life of Petsat 73%, and the movie made more than$321 million worldwide at the box office.
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6Shrek
Shrek, Like Gru, Undergoes A Major Transformation
Although a tonal shift,Shrekis yet another great next watch for fans ofDespicable Me.Shrekis quite a bit older than many of the movies on this list, as it came out in 2001. However,Shrekhas certainly stood the test of time, with many still considering it amongthe funniest animated movies of all time. The titular protagonist, Shrek, also has plenty in common with Gru, including that he comes off as a bit of a curmudgeon at first but is then revealed to have a lovable softer side.
Shrek, likeDespicable Me, also has much more profound themes hidden beneath its comedic surface, including the importance of self-love.Shrekhas a solid 88% critic score and 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, suggesting that, even all these years later, this is a fan-favorite movie. Given that nearly a decade separates the two movies, it’s possible that fans ofDespicable Memay not realize what a great fit these two movies are, but fans ofDespicable Mewill surely enjoyShrek.
Shrek, likeDespicable Me, also has much more profound themes hidden beneath its comedic surface.
This Popular Villain Movie Shares Many Themes With Despicable Me
The Bad Guysis a much more recent movie on this list, having been released in 2022.The Bad Guys’castis star-studded, including actors likeHamilton’sAnthony Ramos, who played John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the play, and Awkwafina, who has made a major name for herself in animated kids' movies such asRaya and the Last Dragonand major live-action movies such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU)Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. AsThe Bad Guys’title suggests, the story focuses on villains, just asDespicable Medoes.
The Bad Guyshas an impressive 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the critic score isn’t too far behind at 88%. Its box office numbers are a bit smaller than many of the movie’s counterparts on this list, as it earned about $250 million worldwide, according toBox Office Mojo. Nevertheless, the movie is charming, funny, and full of brilliant acting.
4Wreck-It Ralph
This Unique Movie Also Stars A Misunderstood Protagonist
Also releasing around the same time as many of these other movies,Wreck-It Ralphpremiered in 2012 and proved to be a genuinely unique story. The movie is set within the world of video games, and the titular protagonist, Ralph, is predetermined to be a bit of a menace who smashes things, even though he wants to behave differently and make friends. Instead, he is ostracized by those in his video game who blame him for the behaviors that are largely out of his control, making him, interestingly, a bit of an unwilling villain.
He is ostracized by those in his video game who blame him for the behaviors that are largely out of his control, making him, interestingly, a bit of an unwilling villain.
Wreck-It Ralphranks amongthe best movies about video games, which is due to a combination of the movie’s witty humor and touching themes. Fans ofDespicable Me, particularly those who enjoyed seeing Gru’s growth and development throughout the movie, will appreciate the ways that Ralph improves himself and learns how to navigate friendships. Like many movies on this list,Wreck-It Ralphalso has a very decent Rotten Tomatoes score, coming in at 87% with critics and 86% with audiences.
3Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
The Sense Of Humor In This Movie Is Quite Similar To Despicable Me
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballshas a downright bizarre sense of humor, but it really works for the movie. The premise of the story, as the title suggests, is that food begins falling from the sky like weather, as a result of main character Flint Lockwood’s questionable inventions. Standout lines from the movie include"I don’t understand fishing metaphors!“and"I wanted to run away that day, but you can’t run away from your own feet.”
Out of context, these lines might not sound all that funny, but there is something about the off-beat tone and quirky nature of the characters that really makes odd lines such as these get genuine belly laughs from the audience. LikeDespicable Me, there’s plenty to be learned from the plot ofCloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, which similarly deals with complex family dynamics even as it delivers a brilliant comedic experience. The movie has a very decent Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 85%, and it’s truly a joy to watch.
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2Zootopia
Both Zootopia And Despicable Me Have Deep Underlying Messages
Like so many movies on this list,Zootopiabeing an animated movie targeted mainly to kids doesn’t mean it isn’t full of significant real-life lessons for the audience. On the surface,Zootopiais a funny movie about Judy Hopps, a rabbit who wants to be a police officer despite her small stature. However, the film’s exploration of animals' predator versus prey dynamics really touches upon stereotypes and marginalization.
The film’s exploration of animals' predator versus prey dynamics really touches upon stereotypes and marginalization.
This deeper meaning to the movie makes it a great choice for fans ofDespicable Me, as doesZootopia’scast, which stars major actors such as Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman.Zootopiaalso has an incredible 98% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is perhaps whyZootopia 2is currently in the works. Particularly with a sequel on the way,Zootopiais the perfect next watch followingDespicable Me.
1The Incredibles
The Themes Of Family And Acceptance Are Crucial In Despicable Me And The Incredibles
The single best movie likeDespicable Meis Disney’sThe Incredibles, which has become an incredibly beloved installment in the massive franchise.The Incrediblescenters on an undercover superhero family who must conceal their powers and true identities because the government has made superheroes illegal. Yet again,The Incrediblesis funny and charming, but its themes are also so much more significant than one might expect from a kids' animated movie.
The single best movie likeDespicable Meis Disney’sThe Incredibles.
The Incrediblesends up touching upon many serious topics such as discrimination, self-doubt, family tensions, and learning what really matters in life. Another Rotten Tomatoes hit,The Incrediblescurrently has an impressive 97% critic score on that platform, and its popularity led to its sequel,Incredibles 2. Although all 10 of these movies are excellent films likeDespicable Me,The Incrediblesis the best movie of them all.
Despicable Me
Cast
Despicable Me follows the story of Gru, a supervillain voiced by Steve Carell, who adopts three orphaned girls as part of his grand scheme to steal the moon. As he balances his villainous plans with fatherhood, Gru’s life takes an unexpected turn. The animated film also introduces the popular small, yellow minions. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, it was produced by Illumination Entertainment.
