Here's the right order to watch the Minions cinematic universe as 'Despicable Me 4' hits theaters

"Despicable Me" is the perfect introduction to the wacky world of the Minions.

In this film, you meet Gru (Steve Carell) — a clumsy supervillain who is terrible at being evil — his horde of Minions, and his mad scientist, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand).

To complete his mission to steal the moon, Gru decides to adopt three girls, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher).

Although the prequel movies explain how Gru and the Minions became who they are, the sweet relationship between Gru and his adopted children helps viewers feel invested in the characters and the franchise.

"Minions" was released after "Despicable Me 2," but it could be helpful to understand the Minions backstory before watching the remaining "Despicable Me" movies.

The prequel explains that neither Gru nor Dr. Nerfario created the Minions.

Instead, they evolved to serve the most evil being they could find. (They lived in a cave in the Arctic during both world wars to avoid any awkward conversations).

After years of boredom, three Minions named Kevin, Stuart, and Bob head to 1968 New York to try to find a new evil master.

At the end of the movie, the trio meets young Gru.

"Minions: The Rise of Gru" is set eight years after the first movie, when the Minions are serving an 11-year-old Gru.

Don't think too much about how that would make Gru three years old in the first film. The timeline doesn't make sense.

In this film, Gru aims to join a supervillain team but is captured after a heist goes wrong. So Kevin, Stuart, and Bob must learn Kung Fu to save Gru and stop the supervillain team.

This movie establishes how powerful the Minions can be and introduces the Anti-Villain League, which will become important later. The mid-credit scene also explains how Dr. Nefario joined Gru's team.

After learning the Minions' backstory, you can return to the "Despicable Me" movies and watch them in release order.

In "Despicable Me 2," Gru tries to raise his children and gets recruited by the Anti-Villain League (AVL).

Gru's love interest, AVL agent Lucy Wilde (Kristin Wiig), is introduced, and Dr. Nefario quits Gru's team. Also, multiple Minions are kidnapped and turned into indestructible monsters, showing the creatures' full potential.

In "Despicable Me 3," Gru and Lucy are married but are kicked out of the AVL after a failed mission.

Gru then meets a long-lost twin, Dru, while some of the Minions, disillusioned with their non-evil master, leave him.

According to the trailer, "Despicable Me 4" follows Gru and Lucy as they raise their newborn baby alongside their adopted children.

But the AVL must put the whole family into witness protection after an old villain escapes prison.

Meanwhile, five Minions are given superpowers and are being called MegaMinions.

"Despicable Me 4" is out now in US theaters.