Critics’ reviews

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

18 reviews from 18 publications. Critics’ score 61: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 4 negative.

Back to our review of Despicable Me 4

61
Positive
7
Mixed
2
Negative
4

The reviews split fairly widely on Despicable Me 4, and the consensus settles on something like cautious enjoyment. The praise clusters around the Minions’ slapstick, the gag rate and the musical interludes, with several critics singling out the Carell and Ferrell pop cover and the Mega Minions sequences as the parts that land. Most agree the film is an undemanding, reliably silly hour and a half for families. The reservations cluster just as clearly: an overstuffed plot with too many subplots and new characters, thin character development, and a structure that plays as a string of shorts rather than a feature. IndieWire takes that furthest, suggesting the franchise now looks better suited to television than to cinemas. The AV Club dissents most sharply, finding it dull and short on laughs, while Polygon argues the Minions are overused and work better in small doses. Even the warmer notices concede the story is slight; the disagreement is over whether the jokes make up for it.

Radio Times
10 July 2024 · ★★★★ · Terry Staunton
80

The animated franchise shows little sign of running out of steam, delivering a confident juggling act of disparate elements that weaves into a satisfyingly thrilling showdown. The critic singles out the higher-than-ever gag rate, especially the Carell-Ferrell pop song cover, for praise.

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The Telegraph
11 July 2024
80*

The review calls it a dizzying blitz of mad Minion skits and family fun that perfects the series' winning recipe of high-energy sketches. It praises the manic Looney Tunes-style vignettes, disco music, and belching while noting the thin plot about Gru adjusting to fatherhood.

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RogerEbert.com
3 July 2024 · Matt Zoller Seitz
75*

The critic finds the film hit-and-miss but likably irreverent overall, praising the broad humor and Gru as a silly daddy who excels at making a fool of himself. They single out the random, unsophisticated jokes and Minions' slapstick antics for particular enjoyment.

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Screen Daily
14 June 2024 · festival review
70*

The film delivers a brisk, fan-friendly romp stuffed to the gills with jokes and inventive absurd sight gags, though it is a little thin on actual plot. The critic notes a rushed third act but praises the crowd-pleasing musical moments and villain reunion that send it out with a bang.

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The Guardian
1 July 2024
70*

The critic finds the film unassumingly enjoyable and consistent in its family entertainment, with stamina from its established style despite not being a masterpiece. They single out the franchise's ability to deliver reliable fun and the return of Pharrell Williams songs for praise.

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Total Film
2 July 2024 · Oliver Pfeiffer
70*

The review praises the film for its nostalgic value and Minion-induced hilarity. It highlights the continued appeal of the franchise's colourful characters and gags for younger audiences.

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Variety
13 June 2024 · festival review · Peter Debruge
60*

The critic views the sequel as overstuffed and lacking emotional core, feeling like shorts piled together rather than a cohesive feature, though it delivers plenty of laughs from the Minions and voice performances. They single out the addition of Mega Minions and the pure entertainment value amid questions of necessity.

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The AV Club
2 July 2024 · D+ · Leigh Monson
43

The critic finds the film a boring example of mediocrity that distracts without delivering laughs or substance, criticizing its lack of comedic timing and character development. The suburban family antics and Mega-Minions sequences fail to rise above bland, forgettable fare.

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Empire
2 July 2024 · Barry Levitt
40*

The critic finds Despicable Me 4 the most disconnected entry in the franchise, with an overstuffed plot that fails to cohere and new characters lacking impact. They single out the Mega Minions superhero gags for delivering some laughs amid the weaknesses.

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Los Angeles Times
3 July 2024 · Gary Goldstein
40*

The critic describes the film as an exhausting, overplotted ride jammed with gags, subplots and characters that strain to fill its runtime, calling it largely empty despite some chuckles and color. They single out the convoluted story and lack of a smarter, more meaningful message as major complaints.

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IndieWire
2 July 2024 · Kate Erbland

The critic views the film as an oddly episodic outing better suited to quicker TV-style consumption than a theatrical feature. It feels like an accidental pitch for turning the struggling franchise into a series rather than sustaining another full movie.

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The Hollywood Reporter
28 June 2024 · Lovia Gyarkye

The critic calls it a reliable but familiar follow-up that delivers enough fun and antics for fans. The Minions' zany subplot stands out as one of the film's strongest elements, while the voice cast keeps things engaging despite a plot that sometimes feels stretched thin.

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The Times
12 July 2024 · ★★★☆☆

The film is all over the place with too many ridiculous subplots but is saved by its trademark mischief, exuberance, and Minion slapstick. The critic notes the energy and wit in direction and a running gag about Gru bonding with his baby son.

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Collider
3 July 2024 · 7/10 · Tania Hussain
70

The critic finds it a fun and entertaining addition to the franchise with laughs and heartwarming moments, but notes it struggles with balancing new and old elements, resulting in a thin plot and underdeveloped characters.

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/Film
14 June 2024 · 5/10 · Rafael Motamayor
50

An overstuffed effort crams too many subplots and characters, abandoning narrative threads for quick gags in a tired franchise installment. A few chuckles emerge from the Minions but the film feels creatively spent.

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Polygon
13 July 2024 · Petrana Radulovic
40*

The critic argues that the film overuses the Minions, making them the main course rather than spice, leading to less engaging scenes, though some background gags are funny; it praises the potential when Minions are used sparingly.

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Eye for Film
12 July 2024 · Andrew Robertson

The film delivers more of the same in an episodic format that prioritizes franchise assets and merchandise over coherent storytelling or improved humor. It is competent enough for its target audience but lacks depth or originality.

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The Playlist
26 June 2024 · Rodrigo Perez

The overstuffed sequel piles on mega-minions, new villains and subplots in a chaotic family affair that feels messy and wearying despite its short runtime. It repeats parenthood themes with juvenile humor and lacks emotional center.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate