Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers forDespicable Me 4.
Summary
The prison scene at the end ofDespicable Me 4features cameos by many of the franchise’s iconic villains. Consisting of six films, theDespicable Memovieshave produced many iconic rival villains for Gru (Steve Carell) and his minions to battle since the first film in 2010. Though Gru has now turned to a life of heroics, he often encounters villains from his past, including Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) inDespicable Me 4. Their history goes back to a years-old dispute over villain hype song preference.
Though they have their differences in the film, at theend ofDespicable Me 4, Gru visits Maxime at the Anti-Villain League (AVL) prison to finally settle their argument. Together, they perform “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” originally by Tears for Fears.As Gru and Maxime sing, the prisoners in the jail, including some recognizable faces, dance alongmerrily. Among other intriguing prisoners, whose stories might be explored in thecontinuingDespicable Mefranchise, are many of the series’ most notable villains.

6Vector
Featured In: Despicable Me
Voiced by Jason Segel,Vector was Gru’s first nemesis inDespicable Me. The two competed for the title of the 21st century’s greatest supervillain. In the film, Gru proves he is the better villain, though he soon turns to a life of crime-fighting. While Vector’s plans are occasionally well executed, he struggles to live up to his father’s expectations and is often criticized by him during the film. However, both Vector and his father are shown to be incarcerated in the AVL prison inDespicable Me 4.
Despicable Me 4is not Vector’s first dancing feature in the film’s ending. In the credits ofDespicable Me,Vector is shown dancing on the moon, where he is stuck at the end of the movie.Vector reuses some of his dance moves at the prison concertand introduces some new techniques. Even his outfit is recycled, as he can continue wearing his iconic orange jumpsuit inside prison.

5Mr. Perkins
Featured In: Despicable Me and Minions: The Rise Of Gru
Mr. Perkins was the director of the Bank of Eviland was revealed to be Vector’s father inDespicable Me. As Vector’s father, Mr. Perkins was the film’s secondary antagonist, secretly supporting his son’s evil schemes. Though not as a significant character, Mr. Perkins returns in some of the other franchise films as well. InMinions: The Rise of Gru, he appears as a minor but influential force, working at the Bank of Evil in the 1970s.
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InDespicable Me 4, Mr. Perkins is seen dancing in the background of the concert next to a previously unseen villain: a brain and eyeballs floating in a tank.Mr. Perkins wears an orange suit similar to his typical work attirein the other films, making him recognizable as a former Bank of Evil employee. Though he doesn’t have a speaking part in the movie, Mr. Perkins is voiced by Will Arnett.

4El Macho
Featured In: Despicable Me 2
El Macho, also known as Eduardo Perez, is the primary villain ofDespicable Me 2. He owns Salsa & Salsa, a Mexican restaurant in the mall where Gru and Lucy work. Gru recognizes Perez as his very muscular alter-ego, El Macho.InDespicable Me 2, El Macho works with Dr. Nefario to kidnap and mutate Gru’s minionsusing the PX-41 formula. Benjamin Bratt voices El Macho, though he doesn’t speak inDespicable Me 4.
Vector and El Macho also appear as boss characters in the Minion Rush mobile game.
InDespicable Me 4,El Macho is recognizable in his signature red mask and golden chain,with ample chest hair showing. He is the only featured villain in the prison to don any color other than the standard orange and white. The shot lingers on him and the other villains in his row as they dance spiritedly to Gru and Maxine’s song.
3Balthazar Bratt
Featured In: Despicable Me 3
Voiced by Trey Parker,the former child star Balthazar Bratt was the main villain ofDespicable Me 3. In the film, he tries to take over and destroy Hollywood. In his AVL villain profile, Bratt is described as “narcissistic yet extremely insecure,” which manifests in his quest to return to fame. InDespicable Me 3, Bratt is a brilliant and capable adversary of Gru, showing little mercy for Gru’s family or the city of Los Angeles.
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Outside of prison, Bratt typically wears a purple 1980s-style jumpsuit with shoulder pads. In hisDespicable Me 4appearance,Bratt wears an orange suit reminiscent of his regular clothes and maintains his retro hair and style. This consistency in his appearance likely means Bratt still holds the same values and goals as in his original film, though his character only appears in a cameo. Bratt, El Macho, and Vector all share a row at Gru and Maxime’s prison concert.
2Scarlet and Herb Overkill
Featured In: Minions
Scarlet Overkill, assisted by her husband Herb, is the main villain of theMinionsfilm. In the movie, as the minions look for the most evil master to serve, Scarlet proves herself worthy of their service as she attempts to steal St. Edward’s Crown from the Queen of England.Herb is a loyal and loving companion to Scarlet, supporting her ambitions. Despite her criminal origins in the 1960s, Scarlet and Herbdid not seem to age in betweenDespicable Memovies. In their feature film, Scarlet is voiced by Sandra Bullock, while Jon Hamm plays Herb.
In theMinionsfilm, the minions also serve a T-Rex, a pharaoh, Count Dracula, Blackbeard, and Napoleon Bonaparte before serving Scarlet. These other “villains” are not featured in the prison scene.
Despite her various death threats and attempts on their lives, the minions dance alongside Scarletin the final scene ofDespicable Me 4. Scarlet and Herb also party together, spinning and twirling to the song. Scarlet and Bell Bottom high-five, showing a potentially budding friendship/partnership from their time in prison. In the scene, Scarlet wears an orange version of her usual dress instead of a jumpsuit.
1The Vicious 6
Featured In: Minions: The Rise Of Gru
The Vicious 6 is a team of iconic villainsinMinions: The Rise of Gru.Led by the 1970s disco diva Belle Bottom, the Vicious 6 includes the weapon-wielding Nun-Chuck, muscular Stronghold, Swedish roller skater Svengeance, and French strongman Jean Clawed. Originally, the group’s sixth member was Wild Knuckles, until he was lost inMinions: The Rise Of Gru,and Belle Bottom took over. The backgrounds and personalities of the group’s secondary members go relatively unexplored in their film andDespicable Me 4.
At the end of theMinions: The Rise Of Gru, the five remaining members of the Vicious 6 were turned into rats. However, between the films, they were returned to their human forms and imprisoned by the AVL. One ofthe main goals of the Vicious 6 was to destroy the AVL, making their imprisonment ironic. InDespicable Me 4, the group members open their cell doors in sync with Gru and Maxime’s song and join the crowd of other villains, dancing along to the music.
Despicable Me 4
Cast
The infamous (and kind-hearted) not-super villain Gru returns in Despicable Me 4, the fourth entry in the long-running movie series from Illumination Entertainment. The fourth film also sees the return of Gru’s wife, Lucy, portrayed again by Kristin Wiig, and introduces their son.