Corrected entry: In this film it is revealed that the Minions were around long before joining with Gru but in the first Despicable Me it is implied that Gru created the Minions himself. In the girls' room a poster can be seen on the wall showing a schematic of the Minions during their final stage of design.
Corrected entry: It is revealed that the moon landing is fake and filmed by Stanley Kubrick in this movie, and we see an entire set built for it. Yet in the first Despicable Me, Gru is watching the moon landing on T.V. as a child, and the entire set we see is different than what we see in "Minions" including the different looking astronauts and the different camera positions.
Correction: Obviously NASA had Mr Kubrick film multiple 'landings' as the Apollo programme progressed. The scene you see being filmed here, taking place a year before the first 'landing', must be a rehearsal.
Corrected entry: The minions emerge from the sewers to find themselves on Abbey Road while The Beatles are having their photo taken, but the picture of The Beatles walking on Abbey Road was actually taken in 1969, one year after this movie takes place.
Correction: That is not the Abbey Road shoot the minions gatecrash - it isn't even Abbey Road. None of the Beatles wore pinstripes during the shoot, and the fourth man (who stamps the manhole cover shut) is clean shaven - George had a full beard at the time. The famous white Volkswagen isn't there and the extensive parkland and huge trees on either side of Abbey Road have disappeared, replaced with houses and shops. There are four white lines on the road where the minions appear, six on the Abbey Road crossing. There is no manhole cover anywhere near the Abbey Road crossing.
Corrected entry: When the minions get into the car, the cardboard sign appears on the road. (00:19:00)
Correction: If you're referring to one of the billboard signs at the side of the road, there are two during the scene - one in the direction of NYC and one in the opposite direction. If you're referring to the hitchhiking Orlando cardboard sign, Kevin drops it onto the ground when he grabs Stuart and pushes him to the car.
Correction: Given Gru's genius and his need for more minions for him to follow, it is not unlikely that he and Dr. Nefario studied their anatomy (the poster on the wall) and figured out a way to duplicate or clone the minions to create more of them.
Scott215