Parent groups have gone bananas for “Minions: The Rise of Gru”; $108 million’s tickets sold on the first weekend

The Universal and Illumination’s animated movie “Minions: The Rise of Gru” tallied more than $108 million in ticket sales; 68% of ticket holders are family groups, according to data from EntTelligence.

The notion that families are avoiding movie theatres due to COVID concerns was prevalent after the domestic release of Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear,” which took in just $51 million. But the incredible success of Minions told a different story together.

According to the data from EntTelligence, over the weekend, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” represented 54% of all domestic moviegoers, and 68% of ticket holders were family groups. People will show us when the right content is out, said Shawn Robbins, the chief analyst at BoxOffice.com. He added, “What this weekend has showcased is a triumphant return to cinemas by families, laying to rest any lingering and outdated pandemic narrative that parents and kids only want to watch movies at home.”

The fifth film of the Despicable Me franchise was expected to add another $20 million in ticket sales in Canada and the US on Monday, bringing its total earnings to $128 million. However, the movie generated an additional $93.7 million from international markets, bringing its opening weekend haul near $202 million globally.