"Despicable Me 3" is soaring at the box office while other summer movies are barely keeping up. The third installment of the series opened in theaters on Friday, June 30, and left the other movies far behind.

Statistics

It was reported that as of Sunday, July 2, the film grossed $75.4 million in the United States and Canada and $116.9 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $192.3 million.

That total for this weekend was the biggest opening weekend of any animated film this year by a huge margin. When "Cars 3" opened two weeks ago, it made $53.5 million.

Movies at the box office this weekend didn't come close to what "Despicable Me 3" made. Sony’s “Baby Driver” and Warmer Bros. "The House" lagged far behind.

On opening day, the Illumination Entertainment movie made $29.1 million when it was shown in 4,529 theaters. That total for an opening weekend for any animated film exceeded others by millions. It is especially impressive considering that the budget to make the film was $75 million.

Interestingly, "Despicable Me 2" (opening on Fourth of July weekend in 2013) totaled $83.5 million. At that time the holiday was on a Thursday, and the film was released on a Wednesday. Over five days, the second installment made $143 million. Since the holiday this year is on Tuesday, the third installment will surpass the 2013 film in worldwide earnings.

Success of the film

The 90-minutes 3D computer-animated comedy film is a big hit with kids and their parents. People who watched the first two installments are excited to see the continuation of what they had previously seen.

Actors whose voices were in the other installments are also in this version. Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove, Kristen Wiig, Elsie Fisher, and Dana Gaier returned, reprising their roles from the first two films, while Steve Coogan returned from the second installment, and Julie Andrews returned from the first.

Trey Parker and Jenny Slate are newcomers. The soundtrack released on June 23, 2017 features Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams.

Comparisons

In comparison, "Despicable Me" ran for 95 minutes with a budget of $69 million. It earned $543.1 million at the box office. "Despicable Me 2 " ran for 98 minutes with a budget of $76 million, earning $970.8 million at the box office.

"Despicable Me 3" runs for 90 minutes with a budget of $75 million. So far, earnings at the box office have totaled $192.3 million after just one weekend with many more days to go.

If you include "Minions," it ran for 91 minutes with a budget of $74 million. The prequel earned $1.159 billion. It earned more at the box office than any other film in the franchise.
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