'Minions & Monsters' Unleashes the Chaos on Hollywood in Official Trailer
Illumination’s latest prequel takes the yellow henchmen to the Roaring Twenties for a creature-feature calamity.
Summary
- Universal Pictures and Illumination debuted the first trailer for Minions & Monsters during Super Bowl LX
- The film, set for release on July 1, 2026, follows the Minions’ misadventures in 1920s Hollywood as they accidentally summon real monsters
- Pierre Coffin returns to direct and voice the chaotic crew, with a script by Brian Lynch that pays homage to classic cinema
The Minions are trading their denim overalls for director’s megaphones in the first official look at Minions & Monsters. Universal Pictures and Illumination used the massive platform of Super Bowl LX to unveil the trailer for the third installment in the prequel series, which officially carries the subtitle Minions & Monsters. Set against the glitz and glamour of 1920s Tinseltown, the teaser promises a “rambunctious, ridiculous, and totally true story” that sees the franchise’s signature slapstick humor collide with the golden age of monster movies.
The trailer opens with a trio of ambitious Minions—identified in reports as James, Henry, and Ed—arriving in Hollywood with dreams of becoming serious filmmakers. Their quest for cinematic glory takes a disastrous turn when they stumble upon a mysterious ancient spellbook. Instead of special effects, the bumbling crew accidentally summons a host of actual monsters, including a “cute little green guy,” a terrifying blue beast, and a “very bad bunny” (not to be confused with the halftime show performer). The footage teases a mix of meta-humor and creature-feature chaos as the Minions scramble to save the planet from the very mayhem they unleashed.
Directed by franchise veteran Pierre Coffin, who also provides the iconic voices for the Minions, the film appears to be a love letter to the silent film era and early creature features. The script, co-written by Coffin and Brian Lynch, seemingly moves the action away from a young Gru to focus on this standalone Hollywood misadventure, though rumors persist that Steve Carell may still make a vocal cameo. The animation style shown in the spot blends Illumination’s polished aesthetic with period-accurate details from the Roaring Twenties.
The release of the trailer also cements a strategic shift in the film’s rollout. Originally slated for 2027, Minions & Monsters was moved up to July 1, 2026, filling a prime summer blockbuster slot vacated by other studio shifts. Check out the new trailer above. Minions & Monsters is scheduled to hit theaters nationwide on July 1, 2026.
