Despicable Me 4 Soundtrack: Directed by Chris Renaud and co-directed by Patrick Delage, Despicable Me 4 is a 2024 American animated comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. It’s the fourth main installment (and sixth overall) in the Despicable Me franchise, released theatrically on July 3, 2024. Since this post was first written as a pre-release preview, the film has come and gone in theaters — and become one of the biggest animated hits of the year.
Quick Facts
| Title | Despicable Me 4 |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Comedy |
| Director | Chris Renaud (co-director: Patrick Delage) |
| Score Composer | Heitor Pereira |
| Songs | Pharrell Williams (new songs & themes) |
| Release Date | July 3, 2024 |
| Studio | Illumination / Universal Pictures |
| Soundtrack Album | Released June 27, 2024 (Back Lot Music), 44 tracks |
| Worldwide Box Office | ~$972 million |
Who Composed the Despicable Me 4 Score?
Heitor Pereira, the Brazilian composer, guitarist, and record producer who has scored every mainline Despicable Me film, returned to write the original score. Pereira’s other credits include Gladiator (as a guitarist/arranger), Mission: Impossible 2, The Road to El Dorado, and Pearl Harbor. He won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist for his work on a version of “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?”
Pereira and Pharrell Williams renewed their long-running Despicable Me collaboration for the fourth film: Pereira scored the original underscore while Williams wrote new songs and themes, reusing some of his earlier motifs from the franchise. Critics singled out the score — the Los Angeles Times called it “effective, at times eclectic,” and The Hollywood Reporter described the film’s music as “tense” in places.
Despicable Me 4 Original Songs
Despicable Me 4 featured three original songs written and recorded specifically for the film, all released as singles ahead of the movie:
- “Double Life” – Pharrell Williams (released June 14, 2024; widely interpreted by critics as a diss track aimed at Drake)
- “Lil Mega Minion” – Lil Yachty (released June 24, 2024)
- “None of Your Business” – Teezo Touchdown (released June 26, 2024)
Notably, none of these three singles were included on the official soundtrack album — they exist as standalone releases.
Every Song Heard in the Film (Not on the Score Album)
Alongside Pereira’s 44-track score, the film features a wide range of licensed songs. Confirmed placements include:
| Song | Artist |
| Sweet Child O’ Mine | Guns N’ Roses (opens the trailer and film) |
| Despicable Me | Pharrell Williams |
| Word Up | Cameo |
| Unbelievable | EMF |
| Hot For Teacher | Van Halen |
| Freedom | Pitbull |
| Boombayah | Blackpink |
| I’m Too Sexy | Right Said Fred |
| Cold Heart (Pnau Remix) | Elton John & Dua Lipa |
| Dynamite | BTS |
| Gonna Die Alone | Hanni El Khatib |
| Karma Chameleon | Culture Club |
| Main Title (Terminator 2 Theme) | Brad Fiedel |
| Through The Fire And Flames | DragonForce |
| Everybody Wants to Rule the World | Tears for Fears |
An earlier version of this article also listed a Polish folk song, “Kołysanka Piastowska,” as appearing in the film. We were unable to independently verify that placement against a confirmed cue sheet or press list, so it has been removed rather than repeated as fact.
Box Office & Reception
Despicable Me 4 was a major theatrical success, grossing roughly $972 million worldwide against a $100 million production budget, making it one of the highest-grossing animated films of 2024 and pushing the overall Despicable Me/Minions franchise past $5.6 billion in lifetime box office.
Where to Stream the Soundtrack
The official Despicable Me 4 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is available on Spotify and Apple Music. The three standalone singles (“Double Life,” “Lil Mega Minion,” and “None of Your Business”) are also streaming separately on those platforms.
Cast
The voice cast includes Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Miranda Cosgrove, Sofía Vergara, Joey King, Steve Coogan, Dana Gaier, Pierre Coffin, and Chloe Fineman. The film is produced by Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman, and written by Mike White and Ken Daurio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Despicable Me 4 score?
Heitor Pereira composed the original score, continuing his role as composer for every mainline film in the franchise. Pharrell Williams contributed new songs and themes.
Is “Sweet Child O’ Mine” really in Despicable Me 4?
Yes. Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” plays over the film’s opening minions sequence and the introduction of baby Gru Jr.
How much did Despicable Me 4 make at the box office?
Despicable Me 4 grossed roughly $972 million worldwide, making it one of the top-grossing animated films of 2024.
Is there an official Despicable Me 4 soundtrack album?
Yes. Back Lot Music released the official 44-track score album on June 27, 2024. The three original songs (“Double Life,” “Lil Mega Minion,” “None of Your Business”) were released separately and are not on the score album.
Where can I stream Despicable Me 4?
Despicable Me 4 is available on major digital rental/purchase platforms and streams on Peacock in the U.S.
Related reading: Browse more Movie Soundtracks, or check what’s streaming on our Streaming hub.