The Minions and their 'big boss' Chris Meledandri keep a blockbuster machine humming

NEW YORK (AP) — At a time of perpetual upheaval in Hollywood, the Paris-based animation studio Illumination has become one of Hollywood’s most consistent blockbuster-making operations. Since 2010’s “Despicable Me,” Illumination has accounted for more than $11 billion in global box office. Its “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is the sole $1 billion movie of 2026 so far. Illumination’s next release, “Minions & Monsters,” which premieres Sunday at the Annecy Film Festival in France, stands a good chance of equaling it. Opening two weeks after Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” “Minions & Monsters” will be a new test of just how much of a powerhouse Illumination has become.

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