Illumination and Universal Pictures have collaborated with Variety – the Children’s Charity to create a limited-edition gold heart pin featuring new characters from Illumination’s rambunctious, all-new animated action comedy, Minions & Monsters, which arrives in theaters July 1, 2026. The exclusive collector’s pin —featuring one of the unforgettable new Minion stars, James, and a many-eyed monster named Irene— will be available for a minimum donation of $3.00 in movie theatres throughout the U.S.
The pins benefit Variety programs that provide life-changing equipment, services and experiences to children who live with special needs or who endure daily life challenges.
Variety – the Children’s Charity was started 98 years ago to help children with special needs and disadvantages. To date over 50,000,000 children have been assisted around the globe through Variety’s local chapters. Many families cannot afford the critical treatments, equipment and physical therapy sessions required for their children to enjoy an improved and inclusive quality of life. Everyone who purchases a Minions & Monsters gold heart pin will directly support the children and their families served by Variety – the Children’s Charity.
About Variety – the Children’s Charity
Variety – the Children’s Charity has a 98-year legacy of caring for children across the globe when family income, insurance, and government assistance cannot. Since its founding in 1928, Variety has grown to 36 chapters throughout the world and raised more than $1 billion to assist the treatment and care of children who have a disability or are disadvantaged. Through direct grants and programs, Variety provides the gifts of independence, self-esteem, mobility and communication; survival, recovery, well-being and health; and education, confidence and achievement for children.
About Illumination’s Minions & Monsters
Fresh off the worldwide blockbuster success of summer 2024’s funniest comedy, Despicable Me 4, Illumination expands its joyful animated universe with a riotous new chapter, featuring all-new characters, in the biggest global animated franchise in history: Minions & Monsters.
This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.
The acclaimed voice cast includes Academy Award® winner Allison Janney, two-time Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz, Academy Award® winner Jeff Bridges, two-time Academy Award® nominee Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch (Nouvelle Vague) and Academy Award® nominee and comedy iconoclast Trey Parker, co-creator of South Park. The cast also includes Saturday Night Live alum Bobby Moynihan and Phil LaMarr (Futurama, King of the Hill).
Minions & Monsters is directed by Academy Award® nominee Pierre Coffin, a director of the first three Despicable Me films and the first Minions film. Coffin has also provided the voice for the Minions since their film debut in 2010. The film is written by Brian Lynch (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets films) and Pierre Coffin and is produced by Illumination’s Academy Award® nominated founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Bill Ryan (executive producer, The Super Mario Bros. Movie). The executive producer is Brian Lynch.
More than ten years after their creation, the Minions have become the most iconic animated characters of their generation. Globally recognized and beloved by fans of all ages, they have propelled Illumination’s Despicable Me and Minions to a global box office of more than $5.6 billion.
Participating Locations:
AMC Theatres
Apple Cinemas
B&B Theatres
Carver Cinemas
Cinema Café
Cinemark Theatres
Cinema West
Classic Cinemas
Coming Attractions Theatres
Coral Cliffs VIP Cinema
Crowne Pointe Theatre
D’Place Entertainment
Dipson
Emagine Entertainment
Galaxy Theatres
Malco Theatres
Metropolitan Theatres
MJR Theatres
Movies at Meadville
NCG Cinemas
Paragon Theatres
Penn Cinema
Phoenix Theatres
R/C Theatres
Regal Theatres
Regency Theatres
Ridgecrest Cinemas
Santa Rosa Cinemas
Starlight Cinemas
TCL Chinese Theatres
Tristone Cinemas
UltraStar
Village Centre Cinemas
Xscape
