'Minions & Monsters' tops the box office, but with a lower-than-expected haul

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Set us as preferred The Minions took over theaters this weekend as Universal Pictures and Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters” won the top spot at the box office, though with a lower-than-expected domestic haul.The animated movie, which follows the Minions’ takeover of Hollywood, took in $61.4 million in the U.S.and Canada for the five-day Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to studio estimates.

That haul was lower than analysts’ expectations for a domestic opening of about $68 million.The movie’s three-day total was $36.4 million.But the Minions performed well internationally, bringing in about $85 million.

In total, “Minions & Monsters” made $159.9 million worldwide on a production budget of about $85 million.The film is the latest in the powerhouse franchise that began with “Despicable Me” in 2010.Across its previous six installments, the “Despicable Me” and “Minions” franchise has made more than $5.6 billion at the global box office.

The last movie, 2022’s “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” made more than $940 million worldwide.“Minions & Monsters” marks the lowest opening for the franchise.Part of the issue could be timing — the box office can be negatively affected when the Fourth of July lands on a Saturday, said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak.

Hollywood Inc.More than 30 years after the first film came out, the “Toy Story” franchise has continued to resonate with audiences, making it a juggernaut for Disney.Walt Disney Co.

and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” came in second at the box office this weekend with a domestic three-day gross of $31 million.Angel Studios’ biopic “Young Washington” ($20.8 million), Warner Bros.

and DC Studios’ “Supergirl” ($9.6 million) and Universal’s “Disclosure Day” ($6 million) rounded out the...