Gold Heart Pin Returns for Minions & Monsters: Here's How to Get Yours

Illumination and Universal Pictures have collaborated with Variety - the Children's Charity to create a limited-edition gold heart pin featuring new characters from Illumination's rambunctious, all-new animated action comedy, Minions & Monsters, which arrives in theaters July 1, 2026. The exclusive collector's pin —featuring one of the unforgettable new Minion stars, James, and a many-eyed monster named Irene— will be available for a minimum donation of $3.00 in movie theatres throughout the U.S.

Everyone who purchases a Minions & Monsters gold heart pin will directly support the children and their families served by Variety – the Children's Charity of Texas.

About Variety - the Children's Charity of Texas

Since 1936, Variety of Texas has connected families with thousands of pieces of essential equipment—such as electric wheelchairs, adaptive bikes, communication devices, and mobility aids—that increase access and support each child's preferred ways of moving, communicating, and engaging. Over the last 20 years, we have invested more than $3.5 million in health and therapeutic resources for families who encounter gaps in traditional coverage. Our programs foster inclusive environments that honor each child's strengths and support meaningful participation, confidence, and joy.

About Illumination's Minions & Monsters

Fresh off the worldwide blockbuster success of summer 2024's funniest comedy, Despicable Me 4, Illumination expands its joyful animated universe with a riotous new chapter, featuring all-new characters, in the biggest global animated franchise in history: Minions & Monsters.

This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.

The acclaimed voice cast includes Academy Award® winner Allison Janney, two-time Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz, Academy Award® winner Jeff Bridges, two-time Academy Award® nominee Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch (Nouvelle Vague) and Academy Award® nominee and comedy iconoclast Trey Parker, co-creator of South Park. The cast also includes Saturday Night Live alum Bobby Moynihan and Phil LaMarr (Futurama, King of the Hill).

Minions & Monsters is directed by Academy Award® nominee Pierre Coffin, a director of the first three Despicable Me films and the first Minions film. Coffin has also provided the voice for the Minions since their film debut in 2010. The film is written by Brian Lynch (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets films) and Pierre Coffin and is produced by Illumination's Academy Award® nominated founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Bill Ryan (executive producer, The Super Mario Bros. Movie). The executive producer is Brian Lynch.

More than ten years after their creation, the Minions have become the most iconic animated characters of their generation. Globally recognized and beloved by fans of all ages, they have propelled Illumination's Despicable Me and Minions to a global box office of more than $5.6 billion.

Where to find a pin

Participating theaters include AMC Theatres, Apple Cinemas, B&B Theatres, Carver Cinemas, Cinema Café, Cinemark Theatres, Cinema West, Classic Cinemas, Coming Attractions Theatres, Coral Cliffs VIP Cinema, Crowne Pointe Theatre, D'Place Entertainment, Dipson, Emagine Entertainment, Galaxy Theatres, Malco Theatres, Metropolitan Theatres, MJR Theatres, Movies at Meadville, NCG Cinemas, Paragon Theatres, Penn Cinema, Phoenix Theatres, R/C Theatres, Regal Theatres, Regency Theatres, Ridgecrest Cinemas, Santa Rosa Cinemas, Starlight Cinemas, TCL Chinese Theatres, Tristone Cinemas, UltraStar, Village Centre Cinemas, and Xscape.

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