Despicable Me 4 (2024) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

The film kicks off with Gru attending a reunion at his former school, Lychee Pas Bon. There, he confronts a nemesis from his past, Maxime Le Mal, who harbors a deep grudge after Gru allegedly stole his act during their childhood. Maxime boasts about his newfound powers, claiming to have harnessed cockroach parts in his quest for world domination. However, the AVL, alongside Gru, manages to apprehend him. Much to their dismay, Maxime, with the assistance of his girlfriend Valentina—portrayed by Sofía Vergara—escapes from custody, intent on transforming humanity into hybrids of humans and cockroaches, with a disturbing focus on Gru's biological son, Gru Jr..

Enter Silas Ramsbottom, the former head of AVL, who visits Gru and his family to discuss the alarming news of Maxime's breakout. He informs them that relocation to a different town called Mayflower under new identities is imperative for their safety. While most of the minions are absorbed into AVL custody, five of them—Dave, Mel, Gus, Tim, and Jerry—are chosen to become the Megaminions, a special group endowed with unique powers. However, their mission goes awry as they inadvertently wreak havoc in the city.

In their new community, Gru and his family encounter their neighbors, the Prescotts, who have a teenage daughter, Poppy, played by Joey King. Poppy, with dreams of becoming a villainess, recognizes Gru and blackmails him into assisting her in stealing the school's mascot, Lenny, a honey badger, for her own admission into Lychee Pas Bon. Gru reluctantly agrees, and together with Poppy, two minions, and Gru Jr., they successfully capture Lenny. Unfortunately, their triumph is short-lived, as the school's elderly principal, Ubelschlecht, uses surveillance footage to reveal Gru's location to Maxime.

The next day, while Gru and his partner Lucy practice tennis with the Prescotts, Ubelschlecht storms into their new home, interrogating Poppy and her friends about Gru's whereabouts. An urgent call from Margo prompts them to rush back to confront Ubelschlecht. Meanwhile, Lucy alerts the AVL, recruiting the Megaminions to assist in thwarting Maxime’s plans. Unbeknownst to everyone, Gru Jr. slips away and is kidnapped by Maxime and Valentina.

In a climactic showdown, Poppy aids Gru in confronting Maxime, who reveals his horrifying transformation of Gru Jr. into a cockroach hybrid. In a tense fight, Gru manages to reach through to Gru Jr., breaking the vile spell over him. The transformed son turns against Maxime instead, and in a stunning twist of fate, Maxime is defeated and captured with the help of the Megaminions, alongside various animals and insects.

With the crisis averted, the family returns home safe and sound, and Dr. Nefario—a longtime ally—helps restore Gru Jr. to his normal self. In a gesture of reconciliation, Gru visits Maxime in prison, where they finally resolve their differences. The film concludes with Gru and Maxime performing "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" for their fellow inmates, including Gru's previous foes. As an added cherry on top, Poppy is celebrated for successfully securing her spot at Lychee Pas Bon.

After Maxime, the cockroach-themed villain, kidnaps Gru’s infant son, he plans to turn him into a cockroach using his powerful laser gun, seeking revenge on Gru. Amidst this chaos, Gru’s family and Poppy, the young helper, chase after Maxime in a flying chariot. During the intense confrontation, Maxime’s wife crashes their plane, and in the process, he transforms Gru’s son into a tiny cockroach, causing Gru immense heartbreak because his son no longer recognizes him. Determined to save his family, Gru fights Maxime fiercely, and just when it seems Maxime might kill Gru, the boy, Junior, regains his senses and attacks Maxime for hurting his father. This reinvigorates Gru, leading him to land a powerful punch that causes Maxime to slip and fall from the building. Though Maxime survives the fall and still mocks them, his defeat is sealed when the AVL’s Mega Minions arrive and arrest him.

In the aftermath, Dr. Nefario uses Maxime’s technology to reverse the cockroach transformation, turning everyone back to normal, including Junior and Maxime himself. Maxime is then imprisoned in a state facility with other supervillains; Gru visits him, offering an apology for a childhood prank, which sparks a humorous rivalry involving a singing competition. The film ends with the villains in a prison talent show, celebrating their antics rather than morality, highlighting that these characters are inherently mischievous. The story underscores that no matter how much someone can be physically or mentally changed, the bond of family remains strongest, as demonstrated by Junior’s betrayal of Maxime and his choice to fight for his father. The villainous chaos winds down, leaving Gru and his family safe at home, simply appreciating their love and the chaos they can survive together.