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Illumination: RANKED

Sometimes you have to separate artistic quality from commercial success. As a film critic, that's something I've been doing for decades.


There are movies that I absolutely adore that nobody goes to see, and there are movies that make billions of dollars that leave me scratching my head. That's just the way the business works. Popularity and greatness don't always go hand in hand, and one of the things that has always fascinated me about movies is figuring out why audiences embrace certain films while others (sometimes better films) struggle to find an audience.


Which brings me to Illumination.


If we're talking about modern animation, there are really only a handful of studios that have completely dominated the landscape over the last couple of decades. Pixar changed everything. Disney Animation reinvented itself. DreamWorks carved out its own identity.


And then there's Illumination, the little studio that somehow became an absolute box-office monster.


Now here's my confession. I'm not a huge fan of most of their movies. That doesn't mean I don't respect what they've accomplished. Quite the opposite.


Founded in 2007 by producer Chris Meledandri after his enormously successful run at 20th Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios, Illumination was built around a surprisingly simple philosophy: keep production costs relatively low, concentrate on broad audience appeal, hire terrific artists and incredible voice talent, and let Universal Pictures handle worldwide distribution.


It was a smart business model from the very beginning, and it has paid off beyond anyone's wildest expectations.


Their first feature, Despicable Me, arrived in 2010 and instantly became a phenomenon. Gru became a household name. The Minions became a merchandising empire all by themselves. Suddenly this new animation studio wasn't just competing with Pixar and Disney, it was beating them at the worldwide box office on a regular basis.


And they've never really slowed down.


Since then they've built enormously successful franchises with Despicable Me, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing, and the Nintendo universe while adapting Dr. Seuss classics like The Lorax and The Grinch. They've expanded theme park attractions, produced television shorts, embraced streaming content, and become one of Universal's most valuable creative partners.


With seventeen feature films now under their belt and an average worldwide gross that most studios would sell their souls for, it's impossible to deny the incredible success of what Chris Meledandri and his team have created.


Whether I love the movies or not...


That's impressive.


One of the reasons they've been so successful is that Illumination has always understood exactly what its audience wants. Their films are colorful, energetic, easy to digest, family-friendly, and packed with recognizable voices.



The list just keeps going. Some of the biggest stars in movies, television, comedy, and music have lent their voices to these productions, and almost without exception, they do terrific work.


The animation is also consistently first-rate.


For a studio that's famous for keeping budgets well below those of many competitors, the craftsmanship is remarkably polished. The artists at Illumination Studios Paris continually produce bright, expressive, energetic animation that looks terrific on the big screen.


Whatever reservations I have about the storytelling, I've never questioned the technical quality of the animation itself.


My issues have almost always been with the movies.


I think the scripts are usually pretty thin. The storytelling often feels safe. The comedy can be repetitive, and too many of the films seem content to coast on frantic energy instead of genuine imagination.


The Despicable Me movies have never done much for me, and while I understand why the Minions became an international sensation, I've never quite shared the world's obsession with those little yellow maniacs.


The two Mario movies leave me completely cold, and although the Dr. Seuss adaptations have their moments, neither The Lorax nor The Grinch ever fully captured the magic of Seuss' work for me.


That said...There are exceptions.


I think The Secret Life of Pets is easily the best franchise Illumination has ever produced. Both films are funny, inventive, surprisingly heartfelt, and packed with terrific characters.


I also have a genuine affection for the Sing movies, which combine wonderful vocal performances, infectious music, and enough emotional sincerity to overcome some familiar storytelling. Those films work because they actually earn their sentiment instead of simply assuming it.


Even some of the lesser efforts have qualities worth admiring. Hop and Migration are perfectly watchable. Minions & Monsters is probably my favorite of the Minions-centered films, even if I still don't think it's a great movie.


Across the board, there are flashes of creativity, terrific voice performances, and technical accomplishments that deserve recognition, even when the finished product doesn't entirely come together.


Here's the thing, though. Being a film critic isn't just about celebrating movies you love. It's also about understanding movies that millions of other people love.


That's one of the reasons I find Illumination so fascinating. Their movies consistently connect with audiences all over the world in ways that many more critically acclaimed animated films simply don't.


They've figured out what families want, they've built enormously successful franchises, they've made billions upon billions of dollars, and they've become one of the defining animation studios of the 21st century.


You have to respect that. Even if you don't love every movie.


So I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the entire Illumination library. Seventeen features. Some terrific. Some pretty good. Some...well...not exactly my cup of tea.


But all undeniably important in the history of modern animation.


So, in order of my personal preference, here are all seventeen Illumination feature films...ranked.


ILLUMINATION: RANKED






















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