Minion mayhem charms, but the thin plot struggles to hold feature length together.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Minions skews moderately positive, with most reviewers finding it an agreeable but unexceptional family entertainer. The Minions themselves — their slapstick antics, gibberish speech, and visual charm — are consistently cited as the film's strongest asset, while several critics also noted cultural references and Sandra Bullock's voice performance as highlights. The most common criticisms center on a weak, meandering plot that struggles to sustain a feature-length narrative, with some reviewers finding the film disposable and a few calling it outright uninspired. The general consensus is that it delivers sufficient amusement for children but offers little of lasting substance.
4 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 16 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
The plot's serviceable at best, never as smart as a Pixar offering, or even a Despicable Me film. But it's consistently goofy, and coasts along on the strength of its frenetic action and slapstick humor. Directors Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin recognize that it's these banana-loving, gibberish-spouting Minions themselves that are the biggest draw of this film, and they mine laughs from their nonsensical singing and childish shenanigans.
Top critic
Film review ·
The element of surprise is gone, but there sure is fun in the familiarity. There's only so many times you'll giggle at the Minions cutely saying 'banana'. Ultimately it's harmless fun, and the kids will surely enjoy it, so it becomes an easy watch and an even easier recommendation.
Top critic
Film review ·
There is an intrinsic problem with this film about creatures who exist just to serve. When it actually gets going, Minions finds it hard to hold down a thought, let alone a relationship.
Film review ·
But what got us the most was the stunning voiceover performance from Sandra Bullock. Despite being a definite far cry from her usual films and roles, Bullock does a good job with Scarlett, bringing a human dimension to an animated character. With notable references to pop culture and conspiracy theories thrown in among the gags, MINIONS is a treat for both the adults and kids.
Film review ·
Minions works because there is enough slapstick comedy to entertain the kids and lots of cultural references to keep the adults amused. The emotions maybe a little less but the laughs are few more. The central characters help the film sail through, they are clumsy and silly but in a smart way.
Film review ·
At 91 minutes, these tiny yellow blobs steal the show from their human counterparts. With charming elements galore, adorable gibberish talk and winsome screen presence, the film is cuteness overload.
Film review ·
Overall, directors Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, have ensured that Minions have all the elements and star power to be a great family entertainer.
Film review ·
Here's a film that won't fail, but it won't be one of the best animation films this year either. Your kids and you will probably watch it all of once and then move on to the merchandise. Yeah, that's it. I can't imagine revisiting this film. And that's really disappointing for a film that should've had world do-minion on its agenda.
Film review ·
it provides a valuable lesson without preaching and communicates much of its ideas and themes visually, and does so without losing its lightness of spirit, and even allows for a Minion speaking in gibberish to be highly resonant and emotive in many key scenes.
Film review ·
While Minions are insanely cute and do offer you short spells of laughter, this is nothing to go bananas over.
Film review ·
Minions is a fun 90 minute watch filled with silly humor. Definitely a weekend watch for kids!
Film review ·
Too long to keep its audience glued, Minions could have been a much better watch were it Minion sized.
Film review ·
Minions isn't interested in provoking anything — neither ideas nor emotion. It would like to bombard you with yellow to the point where you switch your brain off and slump in the cinema. At least that way you can distract yourself from the fact that you bought into the publicity machine and paid for a thoroughly uninspired and dull movie.
Film review ·
The yellow-coloured minions are among the most critic-proof animated characters ever created. Considered opinion and critical distance are useless defenses against the sight of even a single one of the mites with its wide eyes and goofy grin bobbing across the screen...It's sometimes aimless, often hilarious and always silly, everything you would expect the minions to be.
Film review ·
...brightly coloured and laden with music, the movie is paisa vasool time pass slapstick. Small children may find some of the scenes distressing but teens and adults will enjoy the music and deciphering minionese' (I did) a mish mash of gibberish and words from languages like Spanish, French, Swahili and I thought I even heard Marathi!
Film review ·
The characters are amusing, the colour palette gorgeous and the gags suitably silly but if you are looking for a cogent storyline you have to bring along a magnifying glass. Bullock doesn't really fire on all cylinders and after a point the narrative, like its principal characters, gets a bit wobbly as the directors literally go for Overkill.
From our readers
2 ratings · user score 7.0
Adults generally relate with the Despicable Me franchise not because of the evil factor, but because of the emotional connect that is present in its oddball narratives. In Minions, however, there is a gaping lack of emotions. Three minions are on a quest to find a fitting, evil master for its tribe who, we are told, have been around since the dawn of the time. They were friends with dinosaurs and still there was no mention about them in Jurassic Park (1993). In the year 1968, the trio go to the Big Apple and then to the English capital, after having seemingly found their master, a female antagonist (Bullock). Then the plot is more or less about her evil plan. One will not feel touched with the things that happen in the film, most of which are straight mindless. While there are too many factors that betray the film of originality, even the minions fail to deliver. The sequels (2010 and 2013) are good, relatable films that are high on humor. But in here, the humor is all situational and these are boring situations that I am talking about. Also goes a bit annoying towards the end with that save the world crap. As is apparent from the sequels, minions are again only a small part of the film. The duel between good and evil is also badly handled as the climax ends the charade with a delightful surprise. BOTTOM LINE: Minions is a perfect example of a studio that has run out of ideas and is only making films to make some moolah out of "gibberish." VERDICT: 3 stars out of 10. ONLY for kids. Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
Credits
Sandra BullockScarlet Overkill
Jon HammHerb Overkill
Michael KeatonWalter Nelson
Allison JanneyMadge Nelson
Steve CooganProfessor Flux and Tower Guard
Jennifer SaundersQueen Elizabeth II
Geoffrey Rushthe Narrator
Steve Carell
Pierre CoffinKevin
Hiroyuki Sanadaa sumo wrestler
Kyle Balda
Chris Meledandri
Janet Healy
Brian Lynch
Heitor Pereira
Claire DodgsonEnglish films like Minions
SeriesMinions: The Rise of Gru
2022
SeriesMinions & Monsters
2026
Despicable Me 3
2017
Hoppers
2026
Despicable Me 2
2013
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
2014
Toy Story 4
2019
Moana
2016
Shaun the Sheep Movie
2015
Zootopia
2016
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
