In 2017, the top-grossing animated film franchise worldwide was reported by various sites, but one of the most notable mentions was by Box Office Mojo. According to their data, the "Despicable Me" franchise, which includes the "Minions" movie, became the highest-grossing animated film franchise at that time. This franchise surpassed other popular series like "Shrek" and "Ice Age" in terms of global box office earnings.

For more detailed information, you can visit Box Office Mojo's website or similar box office tracking sites that provide comprehensive data on film earnings.