---
title: "Despicable Me"
year: 2010
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/despicable-me"
fi1m_id: "despicable-me"
imdb_id: "tt1323594"
tmdb_id: 20352
wikidata_id: "Q4447"
fi1m_score: 74
critics_score: 64
critics_reviews: 15
published: "2026-10-01T21:18:34.209948+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-01T21:18:48.690789+00:00"
region: "GB"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Despicable Me (2010)

Directed by Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin · 1h 35m · BBFC U · Animation, Comedy, Crime, Science Fiction, Family

## Identity

Despicable Me

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/despicable-me
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** despicable-me
- **IMDb ID:** tt1323594
- **TMDB ID:** 20352
- **Wikidata ID:** Q4447
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/20352, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4447

**Fi1m score: 74** · Critics 64 from 15 reviews

*In a sentence:* Gru has the gadgets for villainy and none of the qualifications for childcare

> *Despicable Me* is an amiable family comedy carried by Steve Carell’s voice work and the Minions’ mischief. The gadgets and comic timing make up for a predictable story that sometimes presses too hard for affection.

## Synopsis

Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is a villain whose life revolves around gadgets and the Minions. Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) belongs to that life; three orphan sisters do not. Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher) enter his life, bringing demands for attention that his villainous ambitions have not prepared him to meet. Gru wants to preserve his fearsome reputation, but his dealings with the sisters begin to complicate the work of being bad. For someone accustomed to making an impression, the girls present a problem that does not respond to bluster.

## Review

The useful thing about making a villain the centre of a family comedy is that he need not be pleasant company from the start. Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin understand this, and *Despicable Me* gets a fair amount of fun from Gru’s determination to be taken seriously. It is a funny, modestly touching film with a story that becomes predictable well before it becomes moving. We would happily spend an evening with it, while wishing it trusted its jokes a little more.

Steve Carell does the most important work, letting embarrassment and need show through Gru’s bluster without making him helpless. His voice suggests someone putting considerable effort into sounding formidable, which gives the performance a useful vulnerability. There is room for this character to soften, although the screenplay by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul signals that possibility early and often. The performance makes the small changes worth following even when the larger change is easy to predict.

Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher) give Gru something more troublesome than another opportunity to look important: people who want his attention. Their growing bond supplies a reason to care about him beyond the success of his villainy. We were more touched than we expected by the vulnerability Steve Carell brings to Gru’s dealings with the sisters. The girls remain appealing, though the writing sometimes seems unwilling to leave their appeal to the voice performances.

The Minions provide the more dependable pleasure, because their mischief does not need much explanation or a reassuring moral. We laughed at their unruliness, which gives the film a welcome break from worrying about Gru’s improvement. Editors Gregory Perler and Pam Ziegenhagen deserve credit for the comic rhythm: the supporting antics feel brisk without becoming impossible to follow. These characters are useful precisely because they need not become better behaved to justify their place in a family film.

Yarrow Cheney’s production design makes the gadgetry an important part of the comedy, giving the eye something to enjoy while the story follows its familiar course. The directors use the space around the characters inventively, allowing physical business to compete with the dialogue. That matters in an animated comedy with so many voices seeking attention. The machinery and the staging offer more surprises than the plot, and we wanted longer stretches in which those visual jokes could take priority.

The music, credited to Pharrell Williams, Heitor Pereira and Chris Westlake, helps maintain the buoyancy, though its encouragement becomes less welcome when the film turns tender. The screenplay already makes clear where our sympathies should lie, and the extra prompting can make an otherwise agreeable moment feel laboured. This is the central weakness: affection is requested a little too insistently after the performances have given us reasons to feel it. The sentiment does not spoil the comedy, but it occasionally slows it down.

By the standards of family animation, the idea of children improving a bad-tempered adult offers little surprise. There is enough comic invention here to compensate, particularly for anyone happier watching contraptions and misbehaving assistants than following a complicated plot. At 95 minutes, the film also keeps the commitment reasonable. Choose it for a shared evening when good jokes matter more than an unfamiliar story, and allow for some determined encouragement to feel fond.

*Fi1m score 74, published 1 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean towards an entertaining family comedy whose humour earns more consistent praise than its story. Critics repeatedly single out the Minions, ingenious gadgetry and comic set pieces, with several also admiring the animation’s timing and use of space. Steve Carell’s performance draws praise for giving Gru some vulnerability beneath the bluster. For the warmer reviews, his growing bond with the orphan sisters supplies enough feeling to make a predictable plot work.

Reservations centre on familiar storytelling and sentimentality, but the spread is wide: the same family scenes strike some critics as touching and others as cloying. Even favourable assessments acknowledge borrowed ideas or mawkish moments. The Los Angeles Times offers a sharper dissent, finding the film exhausting and Gru irritating, while still enjoying the Minions. NME likewise praises the small comic sidekicks and Carell but finds the film dull and lacking depth.

## Straight answers

**Is Despicable Me worth watching?**

*Despicable Me* is worth watching for a shared family evening built around good jokes rather than an unfamiliar story, and we score it 74 out of 100. We enjoy Steve Carell’s vulnerable bluster, the Minions’ mischief and the gadget comedy, though the predictable plot sometimes pushes too hard for affection.

**How long is Despicable Me, and what is it rated?**

*Despicable Me* runs 1h 35m and is rated U by the BBFC in the UK. It is an animation and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Despicable Me in the UK?**

*Despicable Me* is available to rent from Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video from £3.49. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Despicable Me, and is it suitable for children?**

*Despicable Me* has a UK U certificate, indicating general suitability for children, though that does not guarantee every child will find it reassuring. Its villainous lead, gadgets and unruly Minions serve a family comedy; we would not infer specific levels of violence or frightening material from the certificate alone.

**How does Despicable Me compare to Ernest & Celestine?**

*Despicable Me* offers busier gadget comedy and Minion mischief, while [*Ernest & Celestine*](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine) is the better fit for a gentler family evening with less pressure to feel sentimental. Both centre on an unlikely household growing closer; we recommend the former for brisk physical jokes and the latter for its quieter, less insistent charm.

**What should I watch after Despicable Me?**

After *Despicable Me*, try [*Ernest & Celestine*](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine) (2012, Fi1m 84): An unlikely household grows closer, with gentler humour and less insistence on sentiment. Then [*The Castle of Cagliostro*](https://film.one/film/the-castle-of-cagliostro) (1979, Fi1m 80): A charming thief, elaborate contraptions and action staged with an unusually clear eye.

### Reviews we read (15)

- **Radio Times**, Terry Staunton (4/5): Staunton praises the film as a wonderfully inventive animated comedy. He singles out its ingenious gadgetry and Gru’s softening bond with the orphan sisters. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-mld4mg/despicable-me/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Simon Abrams (3/4): Abrams finds the film an enjoyable, unambitious diversion, with its predictable plot proving no major obstacle. He praises the filmmakers’ comic timing and inventive use of space in the animated world. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/despicable-me/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Kirk Honeycutt (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film funny, clever and warmly animated, though less surprising than Pixar at its best. He especially praises Steve Carell’s performance as Gru, which conveys vulnerability beneath the villain’s bluster. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/despicable-me-film-review-29709/)
- **Empire**, Kim Newman (65/100, inferred): Newman finds the film fun and smart, though not a first-rank CGI cartoon. He singles out the appealing orphans and the warmth and poignancy of Gru’s transformation into a parent. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/despicable-review/)
- **RogerEbert.com** (65/100, inferred): The review page could not be accessed, so its verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be established. The available page text contains only a browser check. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/despicable-me-2010)
- **Screen Daily**, Brent Simon (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but its text is hidden behind a paywall. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint are therefore unavailable. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/despicable-me/5015065.article)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): The three-star review offers a measured assessment of the film. It points to cartoon villains’ greater appeal than their heroic adversaries as a source of fun. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/despicable-me-3)
- **Total Film**, Neil Smith (3/5): Smith finds the film entertaining but derivative, with a clunky, overly sentimental story. He praises the comic set pieces, especially the minions and the film’s gadgetry. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/despicable-me-review/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (45/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the comedy agreeable but unoriginal and less impressive than its American reception suggests. He singles out the contrast between Gru and more interesting animated villains as a weakness. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/14/despicable-me-review)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (30/100, inferred): Turan finds the film exhausting and overly sentimental, with too much forced cleverness. He praises the amusing minions as its most charming feature, while criticizing the cloying orphans and irritating villain. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-09-la-et-despicable-me-20100709-story.html)
- **HeyUGuys**, Gary Phillips (90/100, inferred): The critic calls it an excellent, highly entertaining animated film that succeeds for both children and adults. They especially praise the Minions’ comic appeal and the film’s inventive use of 3D. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/despicable-me-review-2/)
- **Eye for Film**, Anton Bitel (85/100, inferred): Bitel finds the film highly entertaining, with its family themes made funnier rather than solemn. He singles out the mischievous minions as scene-stealing highlights. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/despicable-me-film-review-by-anton-bitel)
- **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (4 out of 5): The critic calls the film a triumph and a strong new competitor in animated family entertainment, despite its derivative story and mawkish moments. The minions earn particular praise for their laughs, distinct personalities and entertaining end-credits sequence. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/despicable-me-review/)
- **Collider**, Ethan Anderton (75/100, inferred): Anderton finds the film charming, funny, and heartfelt, though not quite up to Pixar’s standard. He praises its voice cast, animation, and the warmth of Gru’s relationships with the girls. [Read](https://collider.com/despicable-me-blu-ray-review/)
- **NME**, James McMahon (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film neither bad nor good, faulting it for being dull and lacking depth. They praise the Minions’ comic moments and Steve Carell’s lively lead performance. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-movie-11612-324313)

## Details

- **Director:** Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin
- **Director:** Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin
- **Screenplay:** Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul
- **Editor:** Gregory Perler, Pam Ziegenhagen
- **Music:** Heitor Pereira, Pharrell Williams, Chris Westlake
- **Production design:** Yarrow Cheney
- **Producer:** John Cohen, Janet Healy, Chris Meledandri
- **Cast:** Steve Carell as Gru (voice); Jason Segel as Vector (voice); Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario (voice); Julie Andrews as Gru's Mother (voice); Will Arnett as Mr. Perkins (voice); Kristen Wiig as Miss Hattie (voice); Miranda Cosgrove as Margo (voice); Dana Gaier as Edith (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 35m
- **Certificate (BBFC):** U
- **Release (the UK):** 15 October 2010
- **Genres:** Animation, Comedy, Crime, Science Fiction, Family
- **Budget:** $69 million
- **Box office:** $543 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzCZ1W_CUoI

## Where to watch in the UK

- Apple TV: rent £3.49, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent £3.49, uhd
- Apple TV: buy £7.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy £7.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-10-01.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2011: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (won)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2010: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2010: Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature 2010: Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Wrong Trousers* (1993): More precise mechanical mayhem, with a criminal who barely needs to move.
- *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: An unlikely household grows closer, with gentler humour and less insistence on sentiment. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.md)
- *The Bad Guys* (2022): Another batch of criminals discovers decency without immediately abandoning the pleasures of misbehaviour.
- *Lilo & Stitch* (2002): Destructive company and awkward affection, with more room for a family’s difficulties.
- *The Castle of Cagliostro* (1979), Fi1m 80: A charming thief, elaborate contraptions and action staged with an unusually clear eye. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-castle-of-cagliostro.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/despicable-me