Despicable Me hits a formula that very few animated films get right: a villain you root for, slapstick broad enough for a six-year-old, and an emotional payoff that actually lands. The franchise has earned over $5.4 billion worldwide — not because the animation is technically groundbreaking, but because Gru and those three little girls work. If you’ve finished the whole Despicable Me lineup and want something with the same kind of energy, the ten films below are your best starting points. According to NBCUniversal’s official announcement, the franchise crossed that $5B milestone in 2024 — a number that says a lot about what audiences are actually hungry for.
The short version: The Incredibles and Kung Fu Panda are the two closest matches in quality and tone. Megamind is the most structurally similar — it’s basically the same premise executed by a different studio. The Bad Guys (2022) is the best option most people haven’t tried yet. for other family-friendly picks beyond this list.
One thing you’ll notice below: Pixar films tend to score higher with critics, while DreamWorks (Illumination’s main competition) consistently delivers on audience fun even when the reviews are mixed. Both are worth your time depending on what you’re in the mood for.
Who This List Is For
✅ Good fit if you:
- Finished Despicable Me (or the whole franchise) and want something similar to queue up next
- Want animated films that work for both kids and grown-ups in the room
- Prefer an underdog or anti-hero protagonist over a standard hero
- Are planning a family movie night for kids roughly ages 6 and up
❌ This list won’t help if you:
- Want more Despicable Me specifically — for that, the Minions films are the obvious move
- Need something for toddlers under 4 — most picks here have mild action intensity
- Are looking for darker, more action-driven animation (try Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse for that)
What Despicable Me Gets Right (The Formula)
Before jumping into the list, it helps to understand exactly what makes Despicable Me work so you can judge the recommendations yourself. Three ingredients come together in a way most animated films never quite pull off:
- Anti-hero protagonist — Gru starts the film as a villain. That’s genuinely unusual for a family movie, and it creates immediate tension: you’re rooting for someone doing objectively selfish things.
- Two-track humor — The Minions and their slapstick run on one frequency; Gru’s dry, deadpan delivery runs on another. Kids get the physical comedy; adults appreciate the wit. Both tracks run simultaneously throughout.
- An emotional arc that earns its ending — The father-daughter relationship doesn’t feel tacked on. By the time the emotional climax hits, the film has done enough work to make it land.
The picks below vary in how closely they mirror each of these three ingredients. Some nail all three; some get two out of three and are still worth watching. The franchise breakdown at the bottom gives more context on where the sequels land. According to Deadline’s box office reporting, the original Despicable Me earned $543.2 million worldwide — strong for a new IP — before the sequels and Minions spinoffs pushed the total north of $5.4 billion. If you find yourself wanting more context on what separates a great animated comedy from a forgettable one, has some useful guides on navigating family entertainment choices.
10 Movies Like Despicable Me
1. The Incredibles (2004) — Disney+
Start here if you’re only watching one. A superhero family forced out of retirement, a villain with a personal grudge, humor that genuinely works for every age in the room — The Incredibles covers all three bases from the Despicable Me formula and then goes further. The action sequences are sharper, the themes run deeper (middle-age identity crisis, what it means to be special), and the emotional payoff is earned. According to Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 97% Tomatometer score. If you can only watch one film from this list, make it this one. Rated PG, 115 minutes, streaming on Disney+.
2. Kung Fu Panda (2008) — Netflix
An unlikely hero discovers his destiny through a found family of mentors and rivals. The premise sounds familiar because it is — DreamWorks was already running the “lovable misfit rises to the challenge” playbook — but Kung Fu Panda executes it with real warmth and better action choreography than you’d expect from a comedy. The third act earns its emotional beats in much the same way Despicable Me does. Critics gave it 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. PG, 92 minutes — currently streaming on Netflix.
3. Megamind (2010) — Peacock
No other title on this list shares so much structural DNA with Despicable Me. Megamind puts a supervillain at the center as the protagonist — literally the same premise as Despicable Me, developed in parallel by DreamWorks. Where Despicable Me leans into the family drama, Megamind leans harder into the comedic premise: what happens when the villain actually wins? It’s entertaining and clever, though it doesn’t hit the emotional depths of The Incredibles or Despicable Me itself. 73% on Rotten Tomatoes. PG, 95 minutes. You’ll find it on Peacock.
4. Monsters, Inc. (2001) — Disney+
Two monsters form an unlikely bond with a small child, and an action-comedy-adventure follows. Monsters, Inc. runs on a very similar ratio of laughs to genuine emotion as Despicable Me, and like Despicable Me, the sentimental payoff works because the film spends real time building the relationship. Pixar’s 97% Rotten Tomatoes score reflects how well it’s held up. Rated G, 92 minutes, on Disney+. Note: if your kids haven’t seen it, it holds up exceptionally well for a 2001 film.
5. Shrek (2001) — Amazon Prime Video, Peacock
A grumpy anti-hero who wants to be left alone gets pulled into a quest by an overly enthusiastic sidekick. Shrek’s irreverence and willingness to lampoon every fairy tale trope in existence gave it a distinctive voice that still feels fresh. The emotional arc — Shrek learning to open up to other people — mirrors Gru’s arc in Despicable Me. Critics gave the original an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Worth noting: Shrek 2 is arguably even better; Shrek the Third is where the franchise runs out of ideas. Rated PG, 90 minutes.
6. The Bad Guys (2022) — Netflix
Five career criminals — a wolf, a shark, a piranha, a tarantula, and a snake — attempt to go straight. The anti-hero ensemble format is the closest thing to Despicable Me’s DNA that’s come out in the last five years. The animation style is stylized and slick; the humor has a Tarantino-lite quality without anything inappropriate for kids. Most “movies like Despicable Me” lists from before 2023 miss this one entirely. 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. PG, 100 minutes. Stream it on Netflix.
7. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) — Netflix
An overeager inventor’s weather machine starts raining food, which goes well until it doesn’t. The humor here is broader and more chaotic than Despicable Me — think farce more than dry wit — but it shares the “well-meaning misfit who causes giant problems” energy. The action setpieces are genuinely impressive for a 2009 animated film. 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Rated PG, 90 minutes, on Netflix.
8. Hotel Transylvania (2012) — Netflix
Count Dracula runs a luxury resort for monsters and is an overprotective father to his daughter — a setup that maps almost directly onto the father-daughter heart of Despicable Me. The film is funnier than its 44% Rotten Tomatoes score suggests; critics undersold it, and audience scores have been considerably higher. It’s lighter on emotional depth than the top picks here but strong on comfort-watch energy. Rated PG, 91 minutes, on Netflix. Stick with the original; the sequels get progressively thinner.
9. Turning Red (2022) — Disney+
A 13-year-old turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited, which, as a 13-year-old, is essentially always. Turning Red takes a different angle from most entries here — it’s told from a kid’s perspective rather than an adult’s — but the parent-child tension, the emotional honesty, and the humor that works on multiple levels are very much in Despicable Me’s wheelhouse. 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Rated PG, 100 minutes, exclusively on Disney+. Best for ages 9–13, though younger kids will enjoy it too.
10. The Boss Baby (2017) — Netflix
A 7-year-old discovers his new baby brother is a secret agent sent to stop the puppy industry from taking over. The absurdist premise played completely straight — with a CEO-voiced baby in a suit carrying a briefcase — runs on the same comedic fuel as Despicable Me’s supervillain-with-an-evil-lair setup. It’s not the strongest film on this list, and the 53% Rotten Tomatoes score reflects that, but kids in the 5–8 age range consistently love it. Rated PG, 97 minutes, on Netflix.
Quick Comparison: Movies Like Despicable Me at a Glance
| Film | Year | RT Score | Rating | Runtime | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Incredibles | 2004 | 97% | PG | 115 min | Disney+ |
| Kung Fu Panda | 2008 | 87% | PG | 92 min | Netflix |
| Megamind | 2010 | 73% | PG | 95 min | Peacock |
| Monsters, Inc. | 2001 | 97% | G | 92 min | Disney+ |
| Shrek | 2001 | 88% | PG | 90 min | Prime Video, Peacock |
| The Bad Guys | 2022 | 88% | PG | 100 min | Netflix |
| Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs | 2009 | 87% | PG | 90 min | Netflix |
| Hotel Transylvania | 2012 | 44% | PG | 91 min | Netflix |
| Turning Red | 2022 | 95% | PG | 100 min | Disney+ |
| The Boss Baby | 2017 | 53% | PG | 97 min | Netflix |
Rotten Tomatoes scores sourced from rottentomatoes.com. Streaming availability as of March 2026 — check JustWatch for current status, as rights shift frequently. For broader picks beyond animated films, .
What About the Despicable Me Franchise Itself?
If you haven’t watched all six entries yet, here’s the quick ranking by how much they’re worth your time:
- Despicable Me (2010): The original. Start here. $543.2M at the box office — a genuine surprise hit.
- Despicable Me 2 (2013): The best sequel. Gru and Lucy’s dynamic works. Earned $975.2M worldwide — it’s popular for a reason.
- Minions (2015): Thin on story, strong on chaos. Great for younger kids, and it earned $1.15 billion globally — the franchise’s biggest hit. Don’t expect much plot.
- Despicable Me 3 (2017): Watchable but messy. Too many subplots, not enough focus. Fine for a family rewatch, not the ideal entry point.
- Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022): More Minion mayhem, set as a prequel. Earned $939.4M globally — audiences showed up, critics were mixed.
- Despicable Me 4 (2024): A solid fourth entry. Gru vs. a new villain, witness protection subplot, the Minions get superpowers. IMDb: 6.3/10. Earned $972M worldwide per Deadline.
Coming in June 2026: Minions & Monsters — according to FlixPatrol’s listings, it’s described as the Minions conquering Hollywood and accidentally unleashing monsters. Keep an eye on that one if the younger crowd is invested in the franchise. If you’re thinking about building a proper home movie setup for nights like this, cover streaming devices, projectors, and everything else worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest movie to Despicable Me?
The Incredibles and Megamind are the closest conceptually — both center on a villain-to-hero transformation with big laughs and a family emotional core. Kung Fu Panda is the closest in tone and quality, even though the premise is different. If you want something from the last few years, The Bad Guys (2022) is the best recent option.
Is Megamind a copy of Despicable Me?
No. Both films came out in 2010, developed in parallel by different studios (Illumination for Despicable Me, DreamWorks for Megamind). The overlapping premise — supervillain as protagonist — reflects both teams independently latching onto the same comedic concept at the same time. Despicable Me hit theaters in July 2010; Megamind followed in November 2010.
Are there any new movies like Despicable Me (2024–2026)?
The Bad Guys (2022) is the most recent strong option, with an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Looking ahead, Minions & Monsters is scheduled for June 2026. Shrek 5 (DreamWorks) is also in production and expected to reunite the original cast — that’s worth watching for if you liked Shrek.
What’s the best Despicable Me sequel?
Despicable Me 2 is widely considered the strongest sequel. The Gru-Lucy dynamic adds something genuinely new, and it avoids the “too many subplots” problem that weighs down Despicable Me 3.
Where can I stream movies like Despicable Me?
Disney+ has the Pixar picks (The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., Turning Red). Netflix carries Kung Fu Panda, Hotel Transylvania, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Bad Guys, and The Boss Baby. Peacock has Megamind and Shrek. Shrek is also on Amazon Prime Video. Use JustWatch to verify current availability — streaming rights rotate. If you’re deciding between streaming plans, break down which services offer the most value for family viewing.
Which movies like Despicable Me are best for young kids (under 6)?
Monsters, Inc. (rated G) is the gentlest option. Hotel Transylvania is also fairly low-key despite the monster theme. The Incredibles and Kung Fu Panda both have action sequences that might be a bit much for very young children, though most kids handle them fine by age 5 or 6.
What DreamWorks movies are like Despicable Me?
DreamWorks specializes in exactly this style. Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Megamind, The Bad Guys, and The Boss Baby are all DreamWorks releases. Interestingly, Despicable Me itself is Illumination, not DreamWorks — but Illumination grew out of the same tradition of subversive animated comedy that DreamWorks pioneered with Shrek.
Are the Minions movies worth watching?
They’re worth watching with the right expectations. The Minions films are light on story and heavy on slapstick chaos. Kids tend to love them unconditionally; adults find them more endurable than exceptional. If you’re watching with a young child who’s obsessed with the Minions, lean in. If you’re watching solo, start with Minions: The Rise of Gru over the original — it has slightly more plot.
Most of these are on major streaming services you likely already subscribe to — check JustWatch to confirm current availability with one search. If you want to own any of them for offline viewing, most are available on Blu-ray via Amazon. And if you’ve worked through this whole list, has more family-friendly picks organized by genre and age range.
