In a display of sheer box office dominance, the beloved Minions have once again captured the hearts of audiences as "Despicable Me 4" projects a staggering five-day opening of $120 million over the Fourth of July weekend. Playing in 4,428 locations, the latest installment in the Illumination and Universal animated series generated an impressive $27 million on Friday alone.

While "Despicable Me 4" falls slightly behind its predecessor, "Minions: The Rise of Gru," the film's commercial success remains undeniable. The viral trend "#Gentleminions," which saw young adults dressing up in formal wear to attend screenings, propelled "Rise of Gru" to a historic opening of $123 million over a four-day holiday window in 2022, making it the biggest Independence Day weekend opening of all time.

Despite the slight difference in performance, "Despicable Me 4" is poised to secure one of the biggest Friday-to-Sunday grosses of the year, estimated at $72.4 million over the three-day frame. This would make it the fourth-highest domestic opening of 2024, trailing behind "Inside Out 2" ($154 million), "Dune: Part Two" ($82 million), and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" ($80 million).

The success of "Despicable Me 4" is further amplified by its modest production budget of $100 million, a fraction of the usual $200 million associated with animated features from industry competitors such as Disney and Pixar. With an impressive "A" grade from audience survey firm Cinema Score, it is clear that fans of the franchise feel this new installment lives up to its predecessors.

In addition to the Minions' triumphant return, A24's horror film "MaXXXine" is also making waves at the box office. The film is projected to earn approximately $7.6 million over the three-day frame and previews, surpassing the debuts of director Ti West and star Mia Goth's previous horror collaborations, "X" ($4.2 million) and "Pearl" ($3.1 million). Positive reviews and an ensemble cast including Elizabeth Debicki, Lily Collins, Halsey, Michelle Monaghan, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon have contributed to the film's success.

Another notable release is Angel Studios' "Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trout," a drama centered around a Texas minister and his church's efforts in the foster care system. While not expected to achieve the same heights as the studio's previous hit "Sound of Freedom," projections indicate that "Possum Trout" will earn $7 million over its first four days from 2,200 locations, having accumulated approximately $1 million on Friday.

In the midst of "Despicable Me 4's" dominance, Pixar's "Inside Out 2" continues to maintain a strong presence at the box office, surpassing the $500 million milestone domestically. The animated sequel secured an additional $10.6 million on Friday, bringing its total domestic earnings to an impressive $514.4 million. With a drop of less than 50%, it demonstrates remarkable staying power amidst fierce summer competition.

"A Quiet Place: Day One" stealthily claims the third-place spot, projected to earn $21.3 million over the three-day period. With a Friday earning of $7 million, Paramount's horror prequel is set to surpass $90 million domestically on Sunday, with the highly anticipated $100 million milestone imminent.

Rounding out the top five is Sony and Columbia's action-packed hit, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die." The film is expected to earn an additional $6.7 million over the weekend, pushing its domestic gross past $170 million after accruing $2.2 million on Friday.

With the Minions leading the charge, the box office landscape is undeniably buzzing with excitement. As summer unfolds, audiences can expect these crowd-pleasing characters to continue their reign in theaters, bringing laughter and joy to theatergoers nationwide.