Illumination, also known as Illumination Entertainment, is a privately owned American animation studio headquartered in Santa Monica, California, US, operating as a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, which is a division of Comcast’s NBCUniversal. Founded in January 2007 by Chris Meledandri, the company operates with approximately 310 employees and includes Illumination Studios Paris as a subsidiary. Specializing in animation and post-production, the studio works under a financial and distribution structure that grants it creative control over projects while Universal exclusively distributes and markets its films globally. Illumination focuses on high-margin, cost-conscious production models and has generated over $9 billion at the worldwide box office. Its portfolio includes original productions and intellectual property adaptations such as the Despicable Me and Minions franchises, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, Migration, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, alongside its subsequent theatrical sequels.
The commercial viability of video game movies recently came under scrutiny, with Illumination's successful Super Mario Bros. adaptation cited on August 26, 2026, as a "paradigm-shifting" example compared to an earlier, less successful version. This follows TRUBAR KiDS's August 25 announcement of new Minions-inspired packaging and a BANANAAAAAA Bread flavor for its plant-based protein bars, expanding its product line into nearly 2,000 additional retail doors. Earlier in August, parent company Universal became the first studio in 2026 to achieve $4 billion at the global box office on August 6, marking its fifth time crossing this threshold and first since 2023. This milestone came after Illumination/Universal's *MINIONS & MONSTERS* recorded the franchise's lowest opening weekend in July, grossing $36.4 million in three days and $61.4 million in five days, with reports on July 8 citing "occult themes" as a factor in its underperformance. Also in July, Universal Destinations & Experiences inaugurated its first regional theme park, Universal Kids Resort, in Frisco, Texas, specifically designed for children aged 3-8, on July 8.
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Illumination offers products in the media and telecoms services industry. Illumination's product portfolio comprises of entertainment content rights.
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