There is some sad news for Netflix users as two of the most popular movies are quietly leaving today, so you may need to act fast if you want to tune in…. Despicable Me, released in 2010, boasted a star-studded cast including Steve Carrell, Kirsten Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Jason Segel, Dame Julie Andrews and Will Arnett. It focused on supervillain Gru as he attempted to steal the moon from the sky with his army of Minions, before his plan derailed when he adopted three orphaned girls.

The animated flick was an instant success and became hugely popular with adults and kids alike – it spawned three sequels and a prequel spin-off franchise focusing on the Minions. In fact, 2013’s Despicable Me 2 is the third most-watched film in the US this week, and has been in the top 10 chart for 21 weeks ago far, while the original movie is in the fourth slot after spending 13 weeks in the list.

The sequel is also at number eight in the global chart, with 2,800,000 total views and 4,600,000 hours watched. Unfortunately for fans, the first two films in the franchise are being removed from Netflix in America this weekend, with January 31 listed as the last day to watch them. Although they have both been slapped with ‘leaving soon’ stickers, it’s not all bad news for fans as other instalments of the Despicable Me universe – including Despicable Me 4 and the first Minions movie – appear to be staying put.

Despicable Me 4 hit the big screen last summer and marked the first DM movie in seven years. The official synopsis reads: ‘The biggest global animated franchise in history now begins a new chapter as Gru and Lucy and their girls —Margo, Edith and Agnes – welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr, who is intent on tormenting his dad. ‘Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina, and the family is forced to go on the run.’.

Steve, Kristen and Miranda reprised their roles for the sequel, and were joined Will Ferrell and Sofia Vergara for the latest instalment. Joey King voiced aspiring supervillain Poppy Prescott and clearly relished the opportunity to step into her villain era. ‘It’s the best. Nothing is as fun as playing a villain,’ she told Metro. ‘I tell you, nothing is as fun! Playing a good guy is great and all, but you really feel like you have so much creative freedom as a villain.

‘I’m loving it, and I hope I get to play more villains in the future.’. Joking that her villain era will be ‘on screen only’, she continued: ‘I mean, who knows? Maybe it’ll spill into my real life. ‘Maybe I’ll become like a huge diva tomorrow – if I feel like it!’. Cineworld is going all out for the release of Wicked, and we couldn’t be more excited. Despicable Me is available to stream on Netflix now.

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