Minions: The Rise of Gru

Minions: The Rise of Gru (also known as Minions 2: The Rise of Gru, or just Minions 2) is a sequel to the 2015 film Minions. The film was released on July 1, 2022.

Starring by

 * Steve Carell as Young Gru
 * Pierre Coffin as Kevin/Stuart/Bob/Otto and The Minions
 * Taraji P. Henson as Belle Bottom
 * Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow
 * Danny Trejo as Stronghold
 * Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck
 * Dolph Lundgren as Svengeance
 * Jean-Claude Van Damme as Jean Clawed
 * Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario
 * Alan Arkin as Wild Knuckles
 * Julie Andrews as Marlena Gru
 * Frank Welker as Kyle Gru

Plot
In 1976, eight years after the events of the first film, 11-year-old Gru has allowed the Minions to work for him as their new leader.

One day, Gru receives an audition invitation from the Vicious 6, a criminal organization founded by the supervillain Wild Knuckles; now led by newly-appointed leader Belle Bottom following Knuckles' death, who hope to find a new member. Gru's interview goes poorly but, much to the outrage of the Vicious 6, he manages to steal a stone capable of turning anyone into one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac by Chinese New Year.

After an escape with Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, Gru finds out that Otto, a large, blabbering Minion, has traded the stone for a pet rock, causing him to fire the Minions before going alone to find the stone. However, Wild Knuckles, who is revealed to be alive, kidnaps Gru before taking him to San Francisco.

Without the stone, Kevin, Stuart, Bob set out to San Francisco to find him. Otto insist of helping, but Kevin tells him that he needed to find the stone so they can trade it to save Gru. Otto see’s the stone used as a necklace from a biker and tries to chase home. Soon enough Kevin Stuart and Bob end up piloting a plane to get to San Francisco. When they reach Wild Knuckles' house, they are chased by his goons until Master Chow, a former Kung Fu teacher, helps them out. Chow decides to teach them after they beg for her to do so. When their teaching is complete, the trio head back to Wild Knuckles' home to try and get Gru back. Meanwhile, Otto tries to chase the biker who still, has the stone as a necklace. When he manages to catch up to him at Death Valley, the biker gives the stone back to Otto and takes him to San Francisco.

Gru starts to bond with Wild Knuckles after the latter's goons quit on him. After saving Knuckles from a crocodile eating him alive, they decide to rob the Bank of Evil, managing to steal the Mona Lisa. After they get home, they see that Wild Knuckles' home has been destroyed by the Vicious 6, thanks to Kevin, Stuart and Bob breaking in earlier. Knuckles decides to give up, causing Gru to take it upon himself to stop them.

At a Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown, Otto and Gru find each other with the stone but are cornered by the Vicious 6, who in turn are confronted by the Anti-Villain League. However, after the clock strikes midnight, the Vicious 6 use the stone to turn themselves into animals (Bottom as a dragon, Jean Clawed as a baboon, Nunchuck as a cobra, Svengeance as a tiger, and Stronghold as a bull) from the Zodiac, and kidnap Gru, planning to kill him as revenge. Kevin, Stuart, and Bob manage to find Gru, but are turned into weak animals.

Wild Knuckles returns and fights the dragon Bottom. While the Minions manage to defeat most of the Vicious 6, Knuckles is badly burnt by Belle when trying to take the stone back but Otto manages to save Gru, who uses the stone to turn the Vicious 6 into rats. The Vicious 6 are arrested, including Wild Knuckles, who is taken to a hospital where he succumbs to his injuries offscreen. At Knuckles' funeral, Gru gives a heartfelt eulogy, but it is revealed that Knuckles faked his death. Later, he and Gru drive off vicariously into the sunset.

In a mid-credits scene, Gru hires Dr. Nefario in gratitude for an invention of his that helped him steal the stone. Nefario originally declines but decides to join him after he and the Minions beg.

Release Date
It was original meant for a 2020 release to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first Despicable Me movie, but ended up being delayed and moved to July 2, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, same as Disney Pixar's Soul being moved to November 2020, and live-action remake of Mulan being moved. On March 3rd, 2021, it was moved up to July 1, 2022.

Trivia

 * This movie has a lot of references to the first Despicable Me.

Minions: The Rise of Gru Release Dates Also Known As (AKA)