MTV Movies Blog › Despicable Me

The new year is here, and with it a time for reflection on the past year and things we resolve to do better in the coming 365 days. The New York Times talked to some studio executives last week about whether Hollywood had learned its lessons from the flops in 2010 and was going to lead us into a great year for movies in 2011. Amy Pascal, Sony's co-chairwoman shared: "We think the future is about filmmakers with original voices. Original is good, and good is commercial."

Original voices maybe, but original film stories not so much. Despite the fact that some of this year's most-loved films were new ideas ("Black Swan," "Despicable Me" and "Inception"), the biggest moneymakers followed the too-familiar trend of sequels, reboots and remakes ("Toy Story 3," "Iron Man 2" and "Alice in Wonderland"). And while studio execs might be professing that change is in the air for 2011, looking at a list of next year's films shows a whole lot of the same.

Here's a breakdown: Of the 93 films hitting theaters next year, 29 are original; 28 are either adaptations or based on true events (but not twisted into thrillers like "Apollo 18" and "The Rite"); 34 are either reboots, remakes or sequels; and two are documentaries (hi there, "African Cats" and "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"). After the jump we'll take a look at them and see if studios really have learned lessons from 2010's biggest flops. Read more...

Tags alice in wonderland, arthur, battle los angeles, black swan, breaking dawn, captain america, cowboys and aliens, Despicable Me, Fast Five, green hornet, green lantern, Hall Pass, hanna, harry potter and the deathly hallows, how to train your dragon, inception, iron man 2, no strings attached, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, priest, rango, Rio, Rise of the Apes, Scream 4, Source Code, sucker punch, Super 8, the dilemma, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Muppets, The Sitter, The Smurfs, the thing, the tourist, thor, tintin, toy story 3, your highness, Zookeeper

What sets "Megamind" apart from this year's earlier villain-as-hero animated flick, "Despicable Me?" After all, they both follow an evil mastermind as he learns that evil might not be so great after all, and they both have minions. But you know what "Despicable Me" doesn't have? A Will Ferrell voice over, that's what.

So yes, the two films seem on the surface to be very similar, but judging by the first five minutes of the movie that have hit the web courtesy of Nickelodeon, "Megamind" has a definite charm that should win over the same audience that made "Despicable Me" a not-so-despicable hit.

The intro of the film follows the titular villain as he is sent away from his home world by his parents, who then die as their planet is sucked into a black hole. Some parents from a nearby planet that is also soon-to-be destroyed send away their son for the same reason, and thus begins the long-lasting rivalry between Megamind (Ferrell) and the Superman-esque Metro Man (Brad Pitt. Read more...

Tags brad pitt, Despicable Me, Megamind, Video, will ferrell

After last week's trailer for "Yogi Bear," I shouldn't be greeting news of another treasured childhood animal tale being adapted for the big screen. But then, this animal tale is coming from the same folks behind the funny yet touchingly sweet summer 2010 flick "Despicable Me."

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that "Despicable" animator Illumination Entertainment will tackle a CG adaptation of the classic Hans & Margaret Rey children's book series, "Curious George." In the books, an explorer -- the Man with the Yellow Hat! -- brings a primate back to the city to live with him and lessons are learned as the animal adjusts to this new world. The Times story says that Illumination will bring "the wry animated images of 'Despicable Me'" to George's universe.

I just want to say now that I'd like to see Tom Hanks voice the Man in the Yellow Hat. I always kind of pictured him as that guy when I read the books as a youngster -- don't know why, I just did -- and I think he would lend the right paternal quality to the role in the upcoming movie. Just my two cents.

Tags Curious George, Despicable Me

1. "Inception" ($27.5 million)
2. "Dinner for Schmucks" ($23.3 million)
3. "Salt" ($19.3 million)
4. "Despicable Me" ($15.5 million)
5. "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" ($12.5 million)

So much for the "Schmucks." Despite the best efforts of "Anchorman" and "40 Year-Old Virgin" co-stars Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, their latest comedic effort "Dinner for Schmucks" wasn't enough to topple the mind-boggling action extravaganza that is director Christopher Nolan's "Inception." Read more...

Tags Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Charlie St. Cloud, Despicable Me, Dinner for Schmucks, inception, salt

1. "Dinner for Schmucks" ($8.4 million)
2. "Inception" ($8.2 million)
3. "Salt" ($5.9 million)
4. "Charlie St. Cloud" ($5.6 million)
5. "Despicable Me" ($4.7 million)

Pulling off inception is no easy task — just ask Leonardo DiCaprio's Dom Cobb, one of few extractors capable of planting ideas rather than simply taking them — so it comes as a bit of a surprise that "Inception" was just bested by a bunch of "Schmucks." Read more...

Tags Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Charlie St. Cloud, Despicable Me, Dinner for Schmucks, inception, salt

1. "Inception" ($43.5 million)
2. "Salt" ($36.5 million)
3. "Despicable Me" ($24.1 million)
4. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" ($9.7 million)
5. "Toy Story 3" ($9 million)

Not a dream, not make believe — the success of "Inception" is very real. Christopher Nolan's surrealist action thriller once again topped the box office charts for its second weekend in a row, stealing thunder from newly arrived rival action film "Salt." Read more...

Tags Despicable Me, inception, salt, the sorcerers apprentice, toy story 3

1. "Inception" ($13.2 million)
2. "Salt" ($12.7 million)
3. "Despicable Me" ($7.3 million)
4. "Ramona and Beezus" ($3 million)
5. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" ($2.95 million)

Christopher Nolan's "Inception" continues to dream big as the latest Warner Bros. blockbuster once again topped the box office charts on Friday. Indeed, the Leonardo DiCaprio-starring action thriller proved to be too much to handle for Angelina Jolie's "Salt." Read more...

Tags Despicable Me, inception, Ramona and Beezus, salt, the sorcerers apprentice

1. "Inception" ($60.4 million)
2. "Despicable Me" ($32.7 million)
3. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" ($17.4 million)
4. "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" ($13.5 million)
5. "Toy Story 3" ($11.7 million)

The mind is the scene of the crime, and judging by the weekend's box office results, many of you were witnesses as Christopher Nolan's "Inception" arrived in theaters this weekend with enough fanfare to score an easy first place finish ahead of it's competitors. Read more...

Tags Despicable Me, eclipse, inception, the sorcerers apprentice, toy story 3, Twilight

1. "Inception" ($21.3 million)
2. "Despicable Me" ($10 million)
3. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" ($5.4 million)
4. "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" ($4.5 million)
5. "Toy Story 3" ($3.5 million)

It would seem that the dream is very real, as Christopher Nolan's "Inception" is not only a critical success, it's well on its way to becoming a commercial one as well. The Leonardo DiCaprio-starring science fiction movie easily won first place on Friday, surpassing every other competitor by at least $10 million. Read more...

Tags Despicable Me, eclipse, inception, the sorcerers apprentice, toy story 3

1. "Despicable Me" ($60.1 million)
2. "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" ($33.4 million)
3. "Predators" ($25.3 million)
4. "Toy Story 3" ($22 million)
5. "The Last Airbender" ($17.2 million)

"The Dark Knight" and the "Iron Man" franchise have established that superheroes are back in business when it comes to box office success — but don't be so foolish as to discount the supervillains, as bad guy centric family film "Despicable Me" easily won first place this weekend, nearly doubling the total of its closest competitor, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." Read more...

Tags Despicable Me, eclipse, predators, the last airbender, toy story 3