When the story catches up to the present day in 2010's Despicable Me, Gru is a world-weary operator competing against ambitious younger tech-villains like Vector. Stealing the Moon requires adopting three orphaned sisters, Margo, Edith, and Agnes, as pawns to infiltrate Vector's fortress via motorized cookie delivery boxes. The plan backfires in the best way possible: Gru discovers that parental responsibility matters more to him than holding the criminal underworld's top ranking.
That domestic warmth expands exponentially in the subsequent installments. Despicable Me 2 picks up roughly a year later, pulling a reformed Gru into the ranks of the Anti-Villain League (AVL) under the direction of Silas Ramsbottom. Partnered with energetic agent Lucy Wilde, Gru hunts down the thief behind the volatile PX-41 mutagen. The serum transforms hundreds of gentle Minions into wild, indestructible, purple eating machines before an antidote is distributed. Gru and Lucy marry at the end of the operation, completing the transformation from isolated rogue to stable family man.
| Film Title | In-Universe Setting | Theatrical Release | Narrative Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minions | Pangaea, 1968 | July 10, 2015 | The tribe survives prehistory and discovers an eight-year-old Gru in London. |
| Minions: The Rise of Gru | 1976 | July 1, 2022 | Gru confronts the Vicious 6 and recruits Dr. Nefario as his chief engineer. |
| Despicable Me | Modern Era (Year 1) | July 9, 2010 | Gru steals the Moon, adopts Margo, Edith, and Agnes, and retires from evil. |
| Despicable Me 2 | Modern Era (Year 2) | July 3, 2013 | Gru partners with AVL Agent Lucy Wilde; the squad survives the PX-41 purple mutation. |
| Despicable Me 3 | Modern Era (Year 3) | June 30, 2017 | Gru meets twin brother Dru; the Minions briefly strike under Mel's rebellion. |
| Despicable Me 4 | Modern Era (Year 4) | July 3, 2024 | Gru Jr. arrives; AVL volunteers undergo genetic engineering into Mega Minions. |
