Despicable Me 3 has crossed the US$1 billion (NZ$1.3 billion) milestone at the worldwide box office, earning US$741.4 million internationally.
Universal said on Friday the results have lifted the Despicable Me franchise past the Shrek series to become the highest-grossing animated film franchise of all time globally.
The franchise has also topped the Ice Age series to become the top animated franchise internationally.
Despicable Me 3 is the 31st film to haul $US1 billion worldwide. Avatar leads that list with US$2.79 billion.
Despicable Me 3 is also the second Universal title after The Fate of the Furious, which made US$1.24 billion worldwide, to hit US$1 billion this year.
Illumination's eight releases, which include Hop, Dr Seuss' The Lorax, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing, have pulled in more than US$5.7 billion worldwide. Despicable Me 3 is the sixth-highest-earning animated film of all time worldwide.
Reuters
