Which company distributed the 2010 animated film Despicable Me?

Universal Pictures distributed the 2010 animated film Despicable Me.

Despicable Me was produced by Illumination Entertainment, the animation company founded by Chris Meledandri, and distributed by Universal Pictures. It was Illumination’s first feature film and introduced Gru, his three adopted daughters, and the Minions to audiences worldwide.

The film was released theatrically in 2010 and became an important early success for the partnership between Illumination and Universal. Its commercial performance helped establish the Despicable Me franchise and led to sequels, spin-offs, short films, and theme-park attractions.

A common mix-up is naming Illumination as the distributor. Illumination produced the movie, while Universal Pictures handled its distribution. Mac Guff, the French animation studio later integrated into Illumination Paris, performed much of the film’s animation work. These companies therefore had different roles in bringing the film to cinemas.