A breezy, kid-friendly sequel that leans harder into slapstick and Minions chaos than the first film, with enough charm and pop-culture energy to keep families entertained. It’s not especially sharp or memorable, but the voice cast, upbeat pacing, and playful villain setup make it an easy watch if you’re already in… Read more
37% ★★☆☆☆ (1,305,318)
Despicable Me 2
Where to watch: Peacock
Movie · Animation · Comedy · PG
2013 · 1h 38m · ★ 37% (1M)
More minions. More despicable.
Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt
Overview
Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.
Director
Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Production
Illumination, Universal Pictures
Cast
Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Moisés Arias, Nasim Pedrad, Kristen Schaal, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Nickolai Stoilov, Vanessa Bayer, Ava Acres, Lori Alan, Jack Angel, Eva Bella
Where to watch
Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, kid-friendly sequel that leans harder into slapstick and Minions chaos than the first film, with enough charm and pop-culture energy to keep families entertained. It’s not especially sharp or memorable, but the voice cast, upbeat pacing, and playful villain setup make it an easy watch if you’re already in the mood for animated comfort food.
Best for
families with younger kids
viewers who like broad animated comedy
fans of light spy-parody plots
people who enjoy the Minions’ brand of chaos
Skip if
you want a sequel that deepens the characters
you dislike hyperactive kid comedy
you’re tired of Minions-centric humor
you prefer wit over noise
Overview
Despicable Me 2 is the rare sequel that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel so much as decorate it with more gags, more gadgets, and more Minions. The result is uneven, but it stays upbeat and easygoing, with a strong enough comic rhythm to carry its thin story through to the finish.
Worth noting
The movie works best when it plays as a goofy spy caper with a domestic twist, pairing Gru’s awkward family life with a fairly simple anti-villain mission. There are stretches where the humor is more frantic than funny, but the animation is polished and the voice performances keep the whole thing buoyant.
Bottom line
It’s not the most essential animated sequel of its era, yet it has a certain shameless charm that explains why so many viewers defend it. If you want something harmless, colorful, and fast-moving for kids or a low-stakes rewatch, it does the job.
Top Letterboxd reviews
James (Schaffrillas) (2.5★) · 4809 likes
Where is Vector? Is he safe? Is he alright?
Danny (4★) · 2943 likes
I like it, fuck you.
ximenaribs (4★) · 2866 likes
Let me get this straight, you think despicable me 2 is good and find minions funny? I do, and I’m tired of pretending I don’t
sarah (4★) · 1920 likes
y’all are just afraid to admit that this is the peak of cinema
Remobo (3★) · 1760 likes
It's 2021...where is my giant, tortilla chip sombrero with guacamole filling?
2011 · Animation, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 36m · G · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
Bright, energetic, and family-friendly, with musical bounce and a polished mainstream animation feel.