The latest installment in the "Despicable Me" universe, "Minions & Monsters," has debuted with a notably lower domestic box office performance compared to previous films in the franchise.

The movie, which is the third "Minions" spinoff and the seventh overall in the series, earned $62 million domestically over the extended 4th of July holiday weekend.

This figure represents a franchise low for an opening, despite the film securing the number one spot at the domestic box office for the holiday.

Globally, "Minions & Monsters" has seen more success, accumulating $160.5 million to date.

With a production budget of $85 million, its international performance suggests profitability, potentially paving the way for future sequels.

However, its domestic showing is considered a disappointment, especially given that the 4th of July weekend is typically one of the most lucrative periods for cinema releases.

The overall domestic box office for the holiday weekend was down 23 percent compared to the previous year, with a total of $121.3 million across all films.

This performance has led to speculation about potential audience fatigue with the "Minions" franchise, which has released seven films over 16 years since the original "Despicable Me" in 2010.

Previous entries, such as 2022's "Minions: The Rise of Gru," achieved the second-biggest opening in the franchise and the highest domestic gross at $370.5 million.

"Despicable Me 4" also performed strongly with a $75 million 3-day opening, leading to a $361 million domestic total.

"Minions & Monsters" had a 3-day weekend gross of $36.4 million, roughly half of "Despicable Me 4's" 3-day opening.

Even if "Minions & Monsters" demonstrates strong legs similar to "Despicable Me 4," which grossed nearly five times its initial take, its domestic total would likely cap around $175 million.

Interestingly, audience demographics for "Minions & Monsters" were almost identical to previous films in terms of gender, age, and racial breakdown.

Despite the lower box office numbers, the film has been well-received critically, earning an A- CinemaScore and a 69 on Metacritic, alongside a 91 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Reviewers have noted its homage to Old Hollywood, featuring silent movie and Golden Age references.

Competition from other major releases, such as "Toy Story 5," which earned $31 million in its third weekend, may have also played a role in the domestic results.

However, the "Despicable Me" franchise has historically faced strong competition without significant impact on its performance.

Illumination, the studio behind the "Minions" films, continues to thrive, with "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" surpassing $1 billion globally earlier this year.

The studio has several upcoming projects, including an original film titled "Not Alone" slated for 2027 and an unspecified Nintendo movie for 2028, which could be another Mario film or a different animated adaptation.

Sequels to "The Secret Life of Pets" and "Sing" are also reportedly in development.

While the "Minions" are not expected to disappear entirely, their latest domestic box office performance suggests audiences might be signaling a desire for a break from the yellow characters.