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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Film

Monsters, Inc.

Monsters, Inc.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Monsters, Inc. is a 2001 animated comedy from Pixar about monster coworkers in Monstropolis who power their world with children's screams. The plot follows Sulley and Mike as they try to return a human toddler, Boo, safely home after she stumbles into their realm.

What it is

Directed by Pete Docter and released November 2, 2001, Monsters, Inc. centres on the energy company Monsters, Inc., which collects screams from human children. When Boo enters the monster world, top employee Sulley (voiced by John Goodman) and his partner Mike (voiced by Billy Crystal) team up to get her back, uncovering a deeper scam in the process.

Why it matters

The film was a critical and commercial hit, cementing Pixar's reputation for heartfelt, inventive stories. Its themes of fear vs. laughter later became a franchise, with prequel Monsters University (2013) and the series Monsters at Work (2021). It remains a staple of family animation and Canadian home media collections.

Key details

The film runs 1h 35m and features a cast including Mary Gibbs as Boo, Steve Buscemi as Randall, and James Coburn as Mr. Waternoose. It premiered in Los Angeles on October 28, 2001, and was distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Pictures.

In short

  • Monsters, Inc. is a 2001 Pixar film directed by Pete Docter.
  • The story follows monster duo Sulley and Mike as they help a human girl named Boo.
  • The film spawned a prequel (Monsters University) and a sequel series (Monsters at Work).
  • It was released in U.S. theatres on November 2, 2001.
Canadian angle

The film was distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Pictures and became part of the broader Pixar catalogue widely released to Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

Who voiced Mike Wazowski?
Billy Crystal voiced Mike Wazowski.
What is the name of the girl in Monsters Inc?
The girl is named Boo.
Is there a Monsters Inc sequel?
There is a prequel film, Monsters University, and a sequel series, Monsters at Work; a third film has also been reported as in development.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters,_Inc.
    Supports: Plot, cast, director, premiere date, U.S. release date, and franchise follow-ups.
  2. Disney — https://movies.disney.com/monsters-inc
    Supports: Official release date, runtime, genre, and premise.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/monsters_inc
    Supports: Premise, cast, Boo's name, and release date.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198781/
    Supports: Release date.