Minions is a 2015 American 3D computer-animated family comedy film, serving as a prequel/spin-off to the Despicable Me franchise. Produced by Illumination Entertainment for Universal Pictures, it was directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, written by Brian Lynch, and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy.The film stars Coffin (as the Minions), Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, and Steve Coogan, and is narrated by Geoffrey Rush. It was first foreshadowed in the end credits of Despicable Me 2, where Stuart, Kevin, and Bob, three of the Minions, are seen auditioning for the film.

Minions had its world premiere on June 11, 2015, in Leicester Square, London, and went into general release in the United States on July 10, 2015.  Critics praised its animation and the voice acting performances, especially from Bullock and Hamm. The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide (outgrossing both Despicable Me films), making it the 22nd highest-grossing film of all time, the 3rd highest-grossing animated film, and the highest-grossing animated film not produced by Disney.

Minions are small, yellow creatures who have existed since the beginning of time, evolving from single-celled organisms into beings who exist only to serve history's most villainous masters.They find great masters—including a T-Rex, a caveman, an Egyptian pharaoh, Dracula,and Napoleon,—but after accidentally killing nearly all of them with their incompetence, they decide to isolate themselves from the world and start a new life in Antarctica. By 1968, the lack of a master drives them into depression, so one minion—Kevin—plans to find a new master. Stuart—a bored, teenaged minion who is obsessed with guitars—joins him reluctantly, as does an over-enthusiastic Bob, whom Kevin only chooses due to a lack of volunteers.

After a long journey, the Minions arrive in New York where they learn about Villain-Con, a convention to be held in Orlando where supervillains gather from around the world. They hitchhike to Orlando, where they become the henchmen for Scarlet Overkill, the world's first female supervillain. Kevin immediately notifies the other Minions back home. In Antarctica, the other Minions begin working for a Yeti, but once again accidentally kill their leader. Fleeing from the remaining angry Yeti, they travel around the world to find Kevin, who had already told them to meet the trio in England.

Scarlet takes the Minions to her home to London and orders them to steal St. Edward's Crown from Queen Elizabeth II of England, threatening to execute them if they fail. With gadgets from Herb, Scarlet's husband, the Minions successfully break into the Tower of London. The crown is being delivered to the Queen, so they steal it from the Queen's carriage with the police in pursuit. Bob crashes onto the mythical Sword in the Stone and pulls the sword, Excalibur, out to defend himself. After he has pulled out the legendary sword, Elizabeth II is immediately removed from the throne and Bob is crowned as the new King of England.

Convinced they are traitors for stealing her dream, Scarlet threatens to execute the Minions. King Bob abdicates in Scarlet's favor, but she still doesn't forgive the Minions, locking them in the palace dungeon to be tortured by Herb. The Minions' unusual physiology prevent them from being affected by the torture and Herb eventually leaves to attend his wife's coronation. The Minions then escape the dungeon through a sewer, intending to apologize to Scarlet.

At Westminster Abbey, the Minions accidentally interrupt Scarlet's coronation by unscrewing a chandelier, which falls and crushes Scarlet before she can be crowned. Scarlet survives and orders those attending the coronation—including some super-villains—to execute the Minions. Stuart and Bob are captured while Kevin hides in a bar where he finds Elizabeth. Kevin learns that Stuart and Bob are to be executed and breaks into Herb's laboratory, with villains chasing him. He accidentally triggers an experimental machine that enlarges him, destroying the Overkill residence in the process, which scares the villains away.

Kevin rescues his companions just as the other Minions arrive in London. Scarlet is distracted by the army of Minions and Kevin knocks her through numerous buildings. She sends a missile towards Kevin, which he swallows, sacrificing himself to save Stuart, Bob and the other Minions. Scarlet and Herb attempt to escape using her dress rocket but Kevin holds onto it as the missile inside him explodes, apparently killing Scarlet and Herb and shrinking Kevin back to his original size.

Elizabeth is once again crowned Queen of England. She publicly presents Bob with a tiny crown, Stuart with an electric guitar and Kevin with a knighthood. Scarlet—suddenly revealed to be alive—steals the Queen's crown with Herb, but they are frozen by a young Guru, who takes the crown from them. Scarlet is disappointed until Bob gives her his tiny crown. The Minions see Guru as their new potential boss and chase after him to his home.