<P> Despicable Me 3 (stylized in marketing and onscreen as Despicable M3) is a 2017 American 3D computer - animated comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment for Universal Pictures . It is the third main installment in the Despicable Me film series and the sequel to Despicable Me 2 (2013). The film is directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon and written by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio . </P> <P> In the film, Gru teams up with his long - lost twin brother Dru in order to defeat a new enemy named Balthazar Bratt, a 1980s child actor who grows up to become a villain . Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove and Dana Gaier reprise their roles of Gru, Margo and Edith from the first two films and Julie Andrews returns as Marlena, Gru's mother from Despicable Me (2010). Kristen Wiig and Steve Coogan return from Despicable Me 2, while Trey Parker, Jenny Slate and Nev Scharrel (replacing Elsie Fisher as Agnes) join the cast . </P> <P> Despicable Me 3 premiered on June 14, 2017, at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, and was released in the United States on June 30, 2017, by Universal Pictures in 3D, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, and IMAX 3D . The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making it the third highest - grossing film of 2017, the fifth highest - grossing animated film of all time and the 28th highest - grossing overall . It is Illumination's second film to gross over $1 billion, after Minions in 2015, becoming the first ever animated franchise to do so . </P> <P> Former villain Gru is now an agent for the Anti-Villain League (AVL). He and his partner / wife Lucy are sent to foil the plans of Balthazar Bratt, a former child star turned evil . Gru manages to stop Bratt from stealing the world's largest diamond, but is unable to capture him . As a result of failing to capture Bratt, Gru and Lucy are fired from the AVL by its unreasonable new director Valerie Da Vinci, following the retirement of Silas Ramsbottom . </P>

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