Monsters, Inc. (also known as Monsters, Incorporated and simply Monsters) is an American media franchise of Pixar. The franchise began with the 2001 film Monsters, Inc.;it takes place in a world parallel to the Earth where monsters are the citizens of society and harness the energy of human children to power their cities. The company known as Monsters, Inc. accomplishes this with portal doors which lead to their bedrooms.
Feature films
Film Release date Director Screenplay by Story by Produced by Monsters, Inc. Pete Docter Andrew Stanton & Daniel Gerson Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon & Ralph Eggleston Darla K. Anderson Monsters University Dan Scanlon Dan Scanlon, Dan Gerson & Robert L. Baird Kori Rae
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters, Inc. introduces the monster world, where Monstropolis is powered by the screams of human children as monsters enter the human world at night and scare children through their bedroom closets. One evening when a little girl called "Boo" accidentally enters the monster world, friends James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski must find a way to hide her from the authorities and return her to her world and, in the process, they learn that not everything they have been led to believe about humans is true.
The film was released on November 2, 2001, in the United States, surpassing Toy Story 2 (1999) and peaked as the second highest-grossing animated film of all time, behind Disney Animation's The Lion King (1994) at the time.Price, p. 201 Monsters, Inc. was one of the first animated films to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Monsters University (2013)
A prequel to the first film, Monsters University tells Sulley and Mike's backstory. The future friends meet at college and initially start off as enemies, but end up on the same team in the university's "Scare Games", where they and their team of misfits must beat the odds and win the competition, or be expelled from school. As the team struggles, the two learn to work together, and slowly become best friends. The film was released in the United States on June 21, 2013.
Untitled third film (TBA) In March 2026, reports circulated that a third film in the franchise was in development.
Television series
Monsters at Work is a sequel television series to Monsters, Inc. produced by Disney Television Animation for Disney+. It was announced in a Disney press release on November 9, 2017, as part of a list of in development series for the Walt Disney Company's then-upcoming streaming service. On April 9, 2019, it was revealed that the show would be titled Monsters at Work and premiere in spring 2021. Seven of the original cast would return, including John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprising their roles as Sulley and Mike, respectively. On February 24, 2021, it was announced that it would be released on July 2, followed by a delay to July 7. In September 2021, it was indicated that a second season is in development. It was later officially announced at Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2022, with Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers replacing Bobs Gannaway and Stephen Anderson as showrunner and supervising director for season 2. The second season was released on April 5, 2024, on Disney Channel and was released on Disney+ on May 5, 2024.
The series begins the day after Monsters, Incorporated has switched to laugh power and follows Tylor Tuskmon (Ben Feldman), who hopes to be promoted to the Laugh Floor alongside Mike and Sulley.
Short films
Mike's New Car (2002)
Party Central (2013)
Party Central is a six-minute short animated film, featuring characters from Monsters University. It premiered on August 9, 2013, at the D23 Expo. The short was set to be released theatrically with The Good Dinosaur in 2014, before the film was pushed back to 2015. Instead, it was theatrically released on March 21, 2014, with Muppets Most Wanted. The short was written and directed by Kelsey Mann, story supervisor on Monsters University. The cast consists of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Peter Sohn, Julia Sweeney, Charlie Day, Nathan Fillion, Dave Foley, Sean Hayes, Bobby Moynihan, and Joel Murray.
Set shortly after the events of Monsters University, the Oozma Kappa fraternity organizes a party, but no one shows up. Mike and Sulley arrive and use door stations to steal visitors from another party at the Roar Omega Roar fraternity.
Reception Box office performance The film series has grossed a total of $1,306,110,769, making the Monsters, Inc. franchise the 15th highest-grossing animated film franchise.
Monsters, Inc. ranked 1 at the box office its opening weekend, grossing $62,577,067 in North America alone. The film had a small drop-off of 27.2% over its second weekend, earning another $45,551,028. In its third weekend, the film experienced a larger decline of 50.1%, placing itself in the second position just after Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In its fourth weekend, however, there was an increase of 5.9%. Making $24,055,001 that weekend for a combined total of over $562 million. It is the seventh biggest (in US$) fourth weekend ever for a film.
Monsters University has earned $268,227,670 in North America, and $475,066,843 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $743,294,513. The film earned $136.9 million on its opening weekend worldwide. For unknown reasons, Disney declined to provide a budget for the film, although Boxoffice.com cites a budget of a total of $270 million. Entertainment Weekly speculated that it was higher than that of Brave ($185 million), mostly due to high cost of John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprising their roles. Shockya, a subsidiary website of CraveOnline, estimated the budget to be $200 million, on par with Toy Story 3 (2010) and Cars 2 (2011).
Film U.S. release date Box office grossAll-time ranking Budget U.S. and Canada Other territories Worldwide U.S. and Canada Worldwide Monsters, Inc. $289,916,256 $272,900,000 $562,816,256 #114 #196 $115,000,000 Monsters University $268,492,764 $475,066,843 $743,559,607 #125 #123 $200,000,000 Total $558,143,926 $747,966,843 $1,306,110,769 $315,000,000
Critical and public response
Film Critical Public Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore Monsters, Inc. 79 (35 reviews) Monsters University 65 (41 reviews) Monsters at Work 65% (26 reviews) 55 (9 reviews)
Cast and characters
Character Feature films Short films Television series Monsters, Inc. Monsters University Mike's New Car Party Central Monsters at Work Season 1 Season 2 James P. "Sulley" Sullivan John Goodman Michael "Mike" Wazowski Billy Crystal Billy Crystal Billy Crystal Boo Mary Gibbs colspan="4" Randall "Randy" Boggs Steve Buscemi colspan="3" Steve Buscemi Henry J. Waternoose III James Coburn rowspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="2" Celia Mae Jennifer Tilly colspan="2" Jennifer Tilly Roxana Ortega Roz Bob Peterson colspan="2" Bob Peterson Jeff Fungus Frank Oz colspan="3" Christopher Swindle Smitty Daniel Gerson colspan="3" Stephen Stanton Needleman colspan="3" Jerry Slugworth Steve Susskind colspan="3" Yeti John Ratzenberger colspan="2" John Ratzenberger Mrs. Flint Bonnie Hunt colspan="2" Bonnie Hunt Thaddeus "Phlegm" Bile Jeff Pidgeon colspan="3" Christopher Swindle George Sanderson Sam Black Stephen Stanton Charlie Phil Proctor colspan="2" Christopher Swindle Peter "Claws" Ward Joe Ranft colspan="2" colspan="2" Dean Abigail Hardscrabble Helen Mirren colspan="4" Professor Derek Knight Alfred Molina colspan="2" Alfred Molina Scott "Squishy" Squibbles Peter Sohn Peter Sohn colspan="2" Don Carlton Joel Murray Joel Murray colspan="2" Terry Perry Dave Foley Dave Foley colspan="2" Terri Perry Sean P. Hayes Sean P. Hayes colspan="2" Art Charlie Day Charlie Day colspan="2" Sherri Squibbles Julia Sweeney Julia Sweeney colspan="2" Johnny J. Worthington III Nathan Fillion Nathan Fillion Nathan Fillion Chet Alexander Bobby Moynihan Bobby Moynihan Bobby Moynihan Carrie Williams Beth Behrs colspan="2" Brock Pearson Tyler Labine colspan="4" Claire Wheeler Aubrey Plaza colspan="3" Aubrey Plaza Mrs. Karen Graves Bonnie Hunt colspan="4" "Frightening" Frank McCay John Krasinski colspan="3" Rosie Levin Colleen O'Shaughnessey colspan="2" Alanna Ubach Referee Bill Hader colspan="4" Vinny colspan="2" Carla "Killer Claws" Benitez colspan="2" Alanna Ubach Mom colspan="3" Colleen O'Shaughnessey colspan="2" Dad / Henry colspan="3" Jim Ward colspan="2" Timmy colspan="3" Cristina Pucelli colspan="2" Tylor Tuskmon colspan="4" Ben Feldman Fritz colspan="4" Henry Winkler Val Little colspan="4" Mindy Kaling Duncan P. Anderson colspan="4" Lucas Neff Katherine "Cutter" Sterns colspan="4" Alanna Ubach Roze colspan="4" Bob Peterson Roto colspan="4" Bobs Gannaway Winchester "Banana Bread" colspan="4" Dee Bradley Baker Gary Gibbs colspan="4" Gabriel Iglesias Otis colspan="4" Bobs Gannaway Millie Tuskmon colspan="4" Aisha Tyler Bernard Tuskmon colspan="4" John Ratzenberger Mr. Crummyham colspan="4" Curtis Armstrong Virginia Tuskmon colspan="5" Jenifer Lewis Jack colspan="5" Joe Lo Truglio Jill colspan="5" Ali Wong Roger Rogers colspan="5" Rhys Darby
Crew Role Films Monsters, Inc. Monsters University Director(s) Pete DocterLee UnkrichDavid Silverman Dan Scanlon Producer(s) Darla K. Anderson Kori Rae Writer(s) Andrew StantonDaniel GersonPete DocterJill CultonJeff PidgeonRalph Eggleston Daniel GersonRobert L. BairdDan Scanlon Executive Producer(s) John LasseterAndrew Stanton John LasseterAndrew StantonPete DocterLee Unkrich Composer Randy Newman Editor(s) Robert GrahamjonesJim Stewart Greg Snyder Studio Pixar Animation Studios Distributor Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Video games Monsters, Inc. (Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2) Monsters, Inc. Scream Team (PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2) Monsters, Inc. Scream Arena (GameCube) Monsters, Inc. Scream Team Training (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X) Monsters, Inc. Bowling for Screams (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X) Monsters, Inc. Eight Ball Chaos (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X) Monsters, Inc. Monster Tag (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X) Monsters, Inc. Pinball Panic (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X) Mike's Monstrous Adventure (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X) Cars Mater-National Championship (PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, Wii) Cars Race-O-Rama (PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable) Monsters, Inc. Run (iOS) Monsters University: Catch Archie (Android, iOS) Disney Infinity (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS) Disney Magic Kingdoms (Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows) Lego The Incredibles (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS) Kingdom Hearts III (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows) Disney Heroes: Battle Mode (Android, iOS) Disney Mirrorverse (Android, iOS) Disney Dreamlight Valley (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS)
Theme park attractions Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! is a dark ride attraction in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It opened on January 22, 2006 and replaced the Superstar Limo dark ride. It was originally scheduled to close in early 2026 to make way for an Avatar–themed land. However, in February 2026, it was announced that the closing date was delayed to 2027.
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is an interactive animated comedy club show attraction based on the Monsters, Inc. franchise in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.