Minions & Monsters Soundtrack Review: John Powell Takes Over

John Powell composes the score for Minions & Monsters, his third Illumination collaboration and the first Despicable Me franchise entry not scored by Heitor Pereira, giving the 1920s setting a period-appropriate musical identity.

The franchise's music has always been part of its personality, and this instalment marks a genuine handover. John Powell composed the score, his third collaboration with Illumination after The Lorax and Migration, and notably the first Despicable Me franchise film not scored by his predecessor.

That's a meaningful shift for longtime fans of the series' sound, and early reactions suggest Powell has leaned into big-band and orchestral textures fitting for a 1920s Hollywood backdrop, rather than the pop-heavy needle-drops that defined the 1968 and 1970s-set films.

That approach tracks with critical reaction to the film more broadly, with reviewers describing it as smarter, wilder and funnier once the monsters enter the picture - suggesting the score plays a real role in setting tone rather than just filling space between jokes. For UK diaspora audiences used to soundtrack-driven Bollywood cinema outings, a score built around orchestral swells rather than pop needle-drops is a different flavour of movie music, but one that fits the film's silent-era, movie-about-movies conceit rather elegantly.

Quick Facts

• Composer: John Powell

• Previous Illumination scores: The Lorax, Migration

• First Despicable Me franchise film without composer Heitor Pereira

• Tone: orchestral, period-inspired for 1920s setting

FAQ

Q: Who scored earlier Despicable Me films?

A: Heitor Pereira scored the previous instalments; Powell takes over for this one.

Q: Does the film use licensed pop songs like earlier Minions movies?

A: Reports suggest the score leans more orchestral, fitting the silent-film-era setting.