The minions of “Despicable Me 2” ran off with the July Fourth box office, leaving Johnny Depp’s “The Lone Ranger” gasping from afar.

The Universal animated sequel took in $82.5 million over the weekend and $142.1 million through the five-day holiday window, according to studio estimates.

As for Gore Verbinski’s reimagining of the iconic lawman and “his faithful Indian” companion, it came in at just $29.4 million for the weekend and $48.9 million since Wednesday — a trouncing made especially painful by reports that the Western cost at least $225 million to make.

Fact is, the Disney vehicle, from the team that made “Pirates of the Caribbean” a lucrative franchise, drew few positive reviews.