Minions & Monsters tops Toy Story 5 at July Fourth box office
Studio estimates put the latest Despicable Me film at No. 1 in North America, narrowly ahead of Pixar’s Toy Story 5.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
“Minions & Monsters” led the July Fourth weekend box office in North America, edging “Toy Story 5” in a close race between two major animated franchises. The result matters for studios because family films again supplied the biggest ticket sales during a holiday frame that was weaker than last year, according to The Associated Press.
The seventh film in the “Despicable Me” series brought in an estimated $36.4 million from Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, the AP reported, citing studio estimates. “Toy Story 5” followed with an estimated $31 million after leading the previous weekend over “Supergirl.”
“Minions & Monsters,” from Illumination and Universal Pictures, began playing Wednesday, the AP reported. Studio estimates put its five-day North American total at $61.4 million and its worldwide opening-week haul at $160 million.
The new Minions film sends the yellow henchmen into a story tied to movie fame during Hollywood’s Golden Age, according to the AP. The franchise has remained a strong global seller, and its opening total gave it enough room to pass Pixar’s fifth “Toy Story” installment over the holiday weekend.
Patriotic release lands in third
“Young Washington” opened in third place with about $20.8 million, according to Rentrak figures cited by the AP. The film centers on George Washington’s military service during the French and Indian War and arrived as the United States marked its 250th birthday celebration.
“Supergirl” fell to fourth with $9.6 million, according to the AP. That marked a 74% drop from its opening weekend, which the AP described as disappointing.
Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” placed fifth with $6 million, according to Rentrak estimates reported by the AP. “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” described by the AP as low-budget Gen-Z sensations, took sixth and seventh place.
The broader weekend lagged behind last year’s July Fourth frame. Rentrak figures cited by the AP showed the weekend down about 24% year over year, while the summer box office remained nearly 12% ahead of 2025.
Estimated top 10
Rentrak’s estimates for Friday through Sunday ticket sales at U.S. and Canadian theaters put the films in this order, with final domestic figures expected Monday, according to the AP:
- “Minions & Monsters,” $36.4 million.
- “Toy Story 5,” $31 million.
- “Young Washington,” $20.8 million.
- “Supergirl,” $9.6 million.
- “Disclosure Day,” $6 million.
- “Obsession,” $5.3 million.
- “Backrooms,” $3.3 million.
- “Jackass: Best and Last,” $2.7 million.
- “Scary Movie,” $1.1 million.
- “The Invite,” $800,708.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.