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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Despicable Me

Despicable Me is a 2010 American animated comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Despicable Me is a 2010 animated comedy film that launched a major franchise, following supervillain Gru as he adopts three orphan girls and reconsiders his life of crime.

What it is

Produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures, Despicable Me is directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin. The film runs 95 minutes and is rated PG for mild rude humour and action. Steve Carell voices Gru, with the story written by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio.

Why it matters

The film's success turned Gru and the Minions into pop-culture icons, spawning a franchise of six succeeding films including sequels and spin-offs like Minions. It blended heist comedy with family warmth, making it a standout in North American family animation, including wide Canadian release.

Key details

Gru's plan to steal the Moon is disrupted when he adopts three girls—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—leading to his transformation from villain to father figure. The Minions serve as his henchmen, and the main antagonist is Vector. The franchise now includes Despicable Me 2, 3, 4, Minions, and Minions: The Rise of Gru.

In short

  • Gru is a supervillain voiced by Steve Carell who adopts three orphan girls.
  • The Minions are Gru's yellow henchmen and later star in their own films.
  • The 2010 film launched a seven-movie franchise.
  • It combines heist elements with family comedy and character growth.
Canadian angle

Despicable Me was widely released in Canada through Universal Pictures and became part of the broader North American family-animation market, with the franchise also prominent in Canadian home-entertainment and theatrical releases.

Quick questions

Who voiced Gru in Despicable Me?
Steve Carell voiced Gru in Despicable Me.
What is Despicable Me about?
It is about Gru, a supervillain who plans to steal the Moon but becomes attached to three orphan girls he adopts.
How many Despicable Me movies are there?
The franchise includes six succeeding films after the original Despicable Me, for a total of seven films in the series.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despicable_Me_(film)
    Supports: Film premise, release year, studio, sequel franchise count
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Carell
    Supports: Steve Carell voicing Gru
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gru
    Supports: Gru as protagonist, supervillain, Minions boss, story arc
  4. The Hollywood Reporter — https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/famous-cast-despicable-3-meet-voice-actors-1012594/
    Supports: Gru voice actor and Vector as antagonist in the series context
  5. Screen Rant — https://screenrant.com/despicable-me-cast-character-guide/
    Supports: Minions as Gru’s henchmen and franchise role