Illumination's Minions & Monsters is experiencing a sharp decline at the Indian box office as it enters its third week. On its 16th day of release (Thursday, July 16), the animated family film collected an estimated ₹1.0 crore net across all languages in India.
This represents a noticeable drop from its previous day's collections, indicating that the film is losing momentum as newer releases hit the screens. The film's total India net collection after 16 days now stands at approximately ₹30 crore, a modest total for a Hollywood animation of this scale.
A Promising Start That Lost Steam
Minions & Monsters, directed by Pierre Coffin and co-directed by Patrick Delage, opened in India on July 2 with a day 1 net collection of ₹1.25 crore. It showed growth over its opening weekend, finishing with a gross total of ₹7.05 crore. The opening was considered decent for a Hollywood animation, especially one that is the third installment in a franchise.
The film features an impressive voice cast including Pierre Coffin (as the Minions, Henry, James, and Ed), Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, and Zoey Deutch.
However, the film has been unable to sustain its initial momentum in the Indian market. The arrival of major new releases, most notably Christopher Nolan's Odissea, has significantly impacted its screen count and box office performance. On July 16, the film grossed only ₹1.0 lakh in Italy, although its total in that market stands at €5.4 million, showcasing the global disparity in performance.
Global Performance and Future Outlook
Minions & Monsters' global run is also nearing its end. The film had a strong domestic opening in the US on July 1, collecting over $14 million on its opening day. However, its worldwide total has been described as the lowest in the combined Despicable Me and Minions franchise, with domestic collections expected to finish below the $200 million mark.
Despite the presence of a star-studded cast and a story that pays homage to Hollywood's silent era, the film's theatrical run in India is effectively over. The film's inability to maintain its hold at the box office, despite positive reviews for its animation and humor, highlights the challenges even established franchises can face in a competitive market.