After 'Jurassic World', 'Minions' adds big bucks to Universal's kitty

Illumination Entertainment's Minions, about small, yellow and cylindrical, creatures, is officially the second-highest grossing animated movie of all time after opening to US $20.1 million in China.

The big China debut pushed the movie's international gross to US $748 million, reported Ace Showbiz.

With the US total of US $332 million, the Universal film, which is a prequel/spin-off to the Despicable Me franchise, raked in a total of US $1.08 billion worldwide.

Disney's Toy Story 3 previously held the second position at US $1.06 billion. Frozen (2013) is still holding strong to its top position with US $1.28 billion.

Minions will add to its number when it opens in Greece on September 24.

The animated movie's box office success contributes to Universal's overall triumph in 2015.

The studio has a fruitful year thanks to Jurassic World, Furious 7, Straight Outta Compton, Pitch Perfect 2, and Fifty Shades of Grey.