'Minions & Monsters' knocks out 'Toy Story 5' out in animated brawl at Fourth of July box office

The seventh *Minions* film, *Minions & Monsters*, has claimed the top spot at the North American box office for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, narrowly surpassing *Toy Story 5* in a closely watched animated franchise battle. Coverage highlights the victory as a rare instance where a spin-off or sequel in one long-running series outpaced another iconic franchise’s latest installment.

Reuters and BBC News emphasize the competitive nature of the release, framing it as a pivotal moment for Universal’s *Minions* series, which has maintained strong global appeal despite *Toy Story 5*’s high-profile Pixar pedigree. Yahoo and Fortune note the film’s dominance extended to international markets, including China, where it also led box office charts alongside the local release *Keep Real*.

Next steps include tracking whether *Minions & Monsters* can sustain momentum beyond the holiday weekend, as well as analyzing audience reception and potential long-term franchise impact. Coverage does not yet specify whether this shift signals broader trends in animated film performance or franchise fatigue among established series.