Monsters, Inc. (franchise)
Film franchise

Monsters, Inc.
Created by
Original workMonsters, Inc. (2001)
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
Years2001–present
Films and television
Film(s)
Short film(s)
Animated seriesMonsters at Work (2021–present)
Games
Video game(s)List of video games
Audio
Soundtrack(s)
Original musicMonsters, Inc. Scream Factory Favorites (2002)
Miscellaneous
Theme park attraction(s)
  • Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! (2006–present)
  • Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor (2007–present)
  • Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek (2009–present)
  • Monsters, Inc. Land (TBA)

Monsters, Inc. (also known as Monsters, Incorporated)[1] is a media franchise produced by Pixar and owned by The Walt Disney Company.[2] The franchise takes place in a fictional universe where monsters are the primary citizens of society and harness the energy of human children to power their cities. The company known as Monsters, Inc. accomplishes this with doors which lead to their bedroom closet doors.

Feature films

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. 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 and peaked as the second highest-grossing animated film of all time, behind 1994's The Lion King at the time.[3] It was one of the first animated films to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature but lost to Shrek.

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.

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.[4] On April 9, 2019, it was revealed that the show would be titled Monsters at Work and premiere in spring 2021.[5] Seven of the original cast would return, including John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprising their roles as Sulley and Mike, respectively.[6] On February 24, 2021, it was announced that it would be released on July 2,[7] followed by a delay to July 7.[8] 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 Gannaway and Anderson as showrunner and supervising director for season 2.[9] The second season was released on April 5, 2024, on Disney Channel and was released on Disney+ on May 5, 2024.[10]

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.[11]

Short films

Mike's New Car (2002)

Party Central (2013)

Party Central is a six-minute[12] 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,[13] before the film was pushed back to 2015. Instead, it was theatrically released on March 21, 2014, with Muppets Most Wanted.[12] The short was written and directed by Kelsey Mann, story supervisor on Monsters University.[12] 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.[14]

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 going on at the Roar Omega Roar fraternity.[13]

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 No. 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.[15][16]

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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19] Shockya, a subsidiary website of CraveOnline, estimated the budget to be $200 million, on par with Toy Story 3 and Cars 2.[20]

FilmU.S. release dateBox office grossAll-time ranking[21]BudgetRef.
U.S. and CanadaOther territoriesWorldwideU.S. and CanadaWorldwide
Monsters, Inc.November 2, 2001$289,916,256$272,900,000$562,816,256#114#196$115,000,000[22]
Monsters UniversityJune 21, 2013$268,492,764$475,066,843$743,559,607#125#123$200,000,000[17]
Total$558,143,926$747,966,843$1,306,110,769$315,000,000

Critical and public response

FilmCriticalPublic
Rotten TomatoesMetacriticCinemaScore
Monsters, Inc.96% (199 reviews)[23]79 (35 reviews)[24]A+[25]
Monsters University80% (203 reviews)[26]65 (41 reviews)[27]A[28]
Monsters at Work65% (26 reviews)[29]55 (9 reviews)[30]—

Cast and characters

List indicators

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in the Monsters, Inc. franchise.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  •  Y indicates a younger version of the character.
CharacterFeature filmsShort filmsTelevision series
Monsters, Inc.Monsters UniversityMike's New CarParty CentralMonsters at Work
James P. "Sulley" SullivanJohn Goodman
Michael "Mike" WazowskiBilly CrystalBilly Crystal
Noah JohnstonY		Billy Crystal
BooMary GibbsDrawing
Randall "Randy" BoggsSteve BuscemiSteve Buscemi
Henry J. Waternoose IIIJames CoburnPhotographPhotograph
Celia MaeJennifer TillyJennifer Tilly
Roxana Ortega
Roz
CDA Agent #001		Bob PetersonBob Peterson
Jeff FungusFrank OzChristopher Swindle
SmittyDaniel GersonStephen Stanton
Needleman
Jerry SlugworthSteve SusskindSilent cameo
YetiJohn RatzenbergerJohn Ratzenberger
Mrs. FlintBonnie HuntPhotographBonnie Hunt
Thaddeus "Phlegm" BileJeff PidgeonChristopher Swindle
George SandersonSam BlackSilent roleSilent cameoStephen Stanton
CharliePhilip ProctorSilent cameoChristopher Swindle
Peter "Claws" WardJoe RanftSilent cameo in end creditsSilent cameo
Dean Abigail HardscrabbleHelen Mirren
Professor Derek KnightAlfred MolinaAlfred Molina
Scott "Squishy" SquibblesPeter SohnPeter Sohn
Don CarltonJoel MurrayJoel Murray
Terry PerryDave FoleyDave Foley
Terri PerrySean P. HayesSean P. Hayes
ArtCharlie DayCharlie Day
Sherri SquibblesJulia SweeneyJulia Sweeney
Johnny J. Worthington IIINathan FillionNathan Fillion
Chet AlexanderBobby MoynihanBobby Moynihan
Carrie WilliamsBeth BehrsUnspecified voice actress
Brock PearsonTyler Labine
Claire WheelerAubrey PlazaAubrey Plaza
Mrs. Karen GravesBonnie Hunt
"Frightening" Frank McCayJohn KrasinskiSilent cameo
Rosie LevinColleen O'ShaughnesseyAlanna Ubach
RefereeBill Hader
SlugSilent cameo
Carla "Killer Claws" BenitezSilent cameoAlanna Ubach
MomColleen O'Shaughnessey
Dad / HenryJim Ward
TimmyCristina Pucelli
Tylor TuskmonBen Feldman
FritzHenry Winkler
Val LittleMindy Kaling
Duncan P. AndersonLucas Neff
Katherine "Cutter" SternsAlanna Ubach
RozeBob Peterson
RotoBobs Gannaway
Winchester "Banana Bread"Dee Bradley Baker
Gary GibbsGabriel Iglesias
OtisBobs Gannaway
Millie TuskmonAisha Tyler
Bernard TuskmonJohn Ratzenberger
Mr. CrummyhamCurtis Armstrong
Grandma TuskmonJenifer Lewis
Jack and JillJoe Lo Truglio
Ali Wong
Roger Rogers
Henry Waternoose IV		Rhys Darby

Crew

FilmDirector(s)Writer(s)Producer(s)Executive Producer(s)ComposerEditor(s)
Monsters, Inc.Pete Docter
co-directed by: Lee Unkrich and David Silverman		Original Story by: Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon and Ralph Eggleston
Screenplay by: Andrew Stanton and Daniel Gerson		Darla K. AndersonJohn Lasseter & Andrew StantonRandy NewmanRobert Grahamjones & Jim Stewart
Monsters UniversityDan ScanlonDaniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird and Dan ScanlonKori RaeJohn Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton & Lee UnkrichGreg Snyder

Video games

Theme park attractions

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 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.[31]

It opened on April 2, 2007, replacing the Circle-Vision attraction The Timekeeper. The characters from the 2001 and 2013 Disney/Pixar animated films Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University that appear in the attraction are Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and Roz (Bob Peterson). By November 2006, the attraction as Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club was going through a testing phase with expect regular operation in January 2007.[31] The attraction was nominated for the 6th Annual VES Awards - Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project in 2008, but lost to Dinosaurs - Giants of Patagonia.[32]

Subsequent to the 2013 release of Monsters University, a new "commercial" sequence was added during the pre-show which has Monsters University student Art (Charlie Day) advertise the "Monsters University School of Laughter", replacing the "Comedy Detection Agency" sequence that Wazowski introduces.

On October 27, 2020, following Walt Disney World's reopening after its temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the resort announced the layoff of several entertainment shows, including the Citizens of Hollywood at Disney's Hollywood Studios. These layoffs were the result of a dispute between the Actors' Equity Association and Walt Disney World, which also affected the cast providing live voices for Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. The attraction has since reopened.[33]

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 is based on the 2001 Disney/Pixar animated film Monsters, Inc. It opened on January 22, 2006.[34] The audio animatronic of Roz is the only figure in the ride that is fully animated, complete with a moving mouth and interactivity. The attraction replaced the short-lived Superstar Limo dark ride.[35]

This attraction had two major closures: on April 15, 2012 before, during, and after the deresolution (derezzolution) of ElecTRONica (albeit with scaffolding, yellow/brown canvas, and scrims covering the building alongside blue construction walls) and in August-September 2022 with scaffolding, blue canvas, and scrims covering the building alongside large yellow construction walls.

Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek

Similar to Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, Ride & Go Seek is an interactive dark ride attraction in Tokyo Disneyland at Tokyo Disney Resort.

Monsters, Inc. Land

In August 2024 at the D23 expo event, it was announced that a Monsters, Inc. themed land will be built at Disney's Hollywood Studios beginning in 2025, which will include Disney’s first ever suspended roller coaster themed to the door factory in the film.[36][37][38]

Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster

It was announced on August 10, 2024 that a suspended roller coaster attraction would be built in the Monsters Inc. land at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. This coaster will be Disney's first in-park use of a suspended roller coaster.

References

  1. ^ Disney Television Animation (April 20, 2024). "Field of Screams". Monsters at Work. Season 2. Episode 6. Event occurs at 25:35. Disney Channel. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Disney+. Monsters characters TM of Pixar.
  2. ^ Graser, Marc (April 22, 2010). "Disney drawing 'Monsters Inc.' sequel". Variety. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  3. ^ Price, p. 201
  4. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (November 9, 2017). "New 'Star Wars' Trilogy in Works With Rian Johnson, TV Series Also Coming to Disney Streaming Service". Variety. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  5. ^ @tranloan (February 26, 2020). "Stephen Anderson confirms that a 10 episode season of Monsters At Work will tentatively premiere on Disney+ in the spring of 2021. Kelly Marie Tran will loan her voice to the show as Val Little. (Source: @podWAM)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 9, 2019). "'Monsters At Work': Billy Crystal & John Goodman To Reprise 'Monsters, Inc.' Voice Roles On Disney+ Animated Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  7. ^ "'Zenimation' Renewed For Season 2 By Disney+; 'Monsters At Work' Gets Premiere Date; First-Look Images". uk.news.yahoo.com. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "Breaking News From Monstropolis: Disney+ Original Series 'Monsters at Work' Gets New Premiere Date of Wednesday, July 7". Business Wire. June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  9. ^ Pedersen, Lise (June 15, 2022). "Disney Reveals Animated Series Slate at Annecy Festival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  10. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (March 5, 2024). "Monsters at Work, Season 2: Exclusive Trailer and Premiere Date for the Disney Series". Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Paz, Maggie (June 10, 2021). "Monsters at Work Trailer Previews Pixar's New Disney+ Series". comingsoon.net. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Rottenberg, Josh (January 7, 2014). "Disney to showcase new Pixar short 'Party Central' in front of 'Muppets Most Wanted' - EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Fischer, Russ (August 9, 2013). "'Monsters University' Short Film 'Party Central' Revealed". /Film. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  14. ^ "Just Released: First Look at Party Central Short". Disney Insider. January 7, 2014. Archived from the original on July 18, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  15. ^ "Monsters, Inc. – Weekend Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  16. ^ "Top Weekends: 2nd – 12th — Weekend Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  17. ^ a b "Monsters University (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  18. ^ "Monsters University (G)". Box Office. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  19. ^ "Box Office report: 'Monsters University' scares up $82 million, 'World War Z' shatters expectations". Entertainment Weekly. June 23, 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  20. ^ Belcastro, Joe (June 30, 2013). "Box Office Report: Monsters University schools The Heat and White House Down". Shockya. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  21. ^ "Franchises". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  22. ^ "Monsters, Inc". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  23. ^ "Monsters, Inc.". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  24. ^ "Monsters, Inc.". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  25. ^ Geier, Thom (December 1, 2020). "53 Movies With A+ CinemaScore Since 2000, From 'Remember the Titans' to 'Just Mercy' (Photos)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  26. ^ "Monsters University". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  27. ^ "Monsters University". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  28. ^ Finke, Nikki (June 23, 2013). "Monsters University' Global Total $136.5M: #1 N.A. With $82M For Pixar's 2nd Biggest; 'World War Z' Zombies $112M Worldwide: $66M Domestic Is Biggest Opening For Original Live Action Film Since 'Avatar'; Superman Still #1 Overseas With $400M Cume". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  29. ^ "Monsters at Work: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  30. ^ "Monsters at Work: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  31. ^ a b Boyd, Christopher; Powers, Scott (November 20, 2006). "Monsters, Inc. comedy act gives material a test". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  32. ^ "6th Annual VES Awards". www.visualeffectssociety.com. March 24, 2015. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  33. ^ "Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor". Walt Disney World. Disney. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  34. ^ Krosnick, Brian (June 9, 2012). "Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue". Theme Park Tourist. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  35. ^ Eades, Mark (December 14, 2015). "Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  36. ^ Avila, Daniela (August 10, 2024). "Disney Announces a Villains Land, Monsters Inc. Land, Ride Based on Encanto Plus More Updates for Walt Disney World". people.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  37. ^ Cripe, Michael (August 11, 2024). "Monsters, Inc. Land is coming to Disney Hollywood Studios". ign.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  38. ^ Barnhardt, Adam (August 11, 2024). "Monsters, Inc. Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios". comicbook.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
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