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Monsters, Inc. (franchise)

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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 universe parallel to the real world 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 doors which lead to their bedroom closet doors.

Feature films

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Monsters, Inc. (2001)

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Main article: Monsters, Inc.

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 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)

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Main article: Monsters University

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

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Main article: Monsters at Work

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 Bobs Gannaway and Stephen J. 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

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Mike's New Car (2002)

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Main article: Mike's New Car

Party Central (2013)

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Main article: Party Central

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

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Box office performance

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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]

Each film is linked to the "Box office" section of its article.
Film U.S. release date Box office gross All-time ranking[21] Budget Ref.
U.S. and Canada Other territories Worldwide U.S. and Canada Worldwide
Monsters, Inc. November 2, 2001 $289,916,256 $272,900,000 $562,816,256 #114 #196 $115,000,000 [22]
Monsters University June 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

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Each film and television series is linked to the "Critical response" section of its article
Film Critical Public
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore
Monsters, Inc. 96% (199 reviews)[23] 79 (35 reviews)[24] A+[25]
Monsters University 80% (203 reviews)[26] 65 (41 reviews)[27] A[28]
Monsters at Work 65% (26 reviews)[29] 55 (9 reviews)[30] —

Cast and characters

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Main article: List of Monsters, Inc. characters
List indicators

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

  • An empty 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.
Character Feature films Short films Television series
Monsters, Inc. Monsters University Mike's New Car Party Central Monsters at Work
James P. "Sulley" Sullivan John Goodman
Michael "Mike" Wazowski Billy Crystal Billy Crystal
Noah JohnstonY 		Billy Crystal
Boo Mary Gibbs Drawing
Randall "Randy" Boggs Steve Buscemi Steve Buscemi
Henry J. Waternoose III James Coburn Photograph Photograph
Celia Mae Jennifer Tilly Jennifer TillyS1
Roxana OrtegaS2
Roz
CDA Agent #001 		Bob Peterson Bob Peterson
Jeff Fungus Frank Oz Christopher Swindle
Smitty Daniel Gerson Stephen Stanton
Needleman
Jerry Slugworth Steve Susskind Silent cameo
Yeti
Abominable/Adorable Snowman 		John Ratzenberger John Ratzenberger
Mrs. Flint Bonnie Hunt Photograph Bonnie Hunt
Thaddeus "Phlegm" Bile Jeff Pidgeon Christopher Swindle
George Sanderson Sam Black Silent role Silent cameo Stephen Stanton
Charlie Philip Proctor Silent cameo Christopher Swindle
Peter "Claws" Ward Joe Ranft Silent cameo in end credits Silent cameo
Dean Abigail Hardscrabble Helen Mirren
Professor Derek Knight Alfred Molina Alfred Molina
Scott "Squishy" Squibbles Peter Sohn Peter Sohn
Don Carlton Joel Murray Joel Murray
Terry Perry Dave Foley Dave Foley
Terri Perry Sean P. Hayes Sean P. Hayes
Art Charlie Day Charlie Day
Sherri Squibbles Julia Sweeney Julia Sweeney
Johnny J. Worthington III Nathan Fillion Nathan Fillion
Chet Alexander Bobby Moynihan Bobby Moynihan
Carrie Williams Beth Behrs Unspecified voice actress
Brock Pearson Tyler Labine
Claire Wheeler Aubrey Plaza Aubrey Plaza
Mrs. Karen Graves Bonnie Hunt
"Frightening" Frank McCay John Krasinski Silent cameo
Rosie Levin Colleen O'Shaughnessey Alanna Ubach
Referee Bill Hader
Slug Silent cameo
Carla "Killer Claws" Benitez Silent cameo Alanna Ubach
Mom Colleen O'Shaughnessey
Dad / Henry Jim Ward
Timmy Cristina Pucelli
Tylor Tuskmon Ben Feldman
Fritz Henry Winkler
Val Little Mindy Kaling
Duncan P. Anderson Lucas Neff
Katherine "Cutter" Sterns Alanna Ubach
Roze Bob Peterson
Roto Bobs Gannaway
Winchester "Banana Bread" Dee Bradley Baker
Gary Gibbs Gabriel Iglesias
Otis Bobs Gannaway
Millie Tuskmon Aisha Tyler
Bernard Tuskmon John Ratzenberger
Mr. Crummyham Curtis Armstrong
Virginia Tuskmon
Grandma Tuskmon 		Jenifer Lewis
Jack and Jill Joe Lo Truglio
Ali Wong
Roger Rogers
Henry J. Waternoose IV 		Rhys Darby

Crew

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Film Director(s) Writer(s) Producer(s) Executive Producer(s) Composer Editor(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. Anderson John Lasseter & Andrew Stanton Randy Newman Robert Grahamjones & Jim Stewart
Monsters University Dan Scanlon Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird and Dan Scanlon Kori Rae John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich Greg Snyder

Video games

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Theme park attractions

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Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

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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!

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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

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Main article: 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.

Monstropolis

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In August 2024 at the D23 expo event, it was announced that a Monsters, Inc. themed land, which is under the name Monstropolis, 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] In November 2024, Disney announced that the land would replace Muppet*Vision 3D and the Muppet Courtyard area as Grand Avenue.[39]

Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster

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It was announced on August 10, 2024 that a suspended roller coaster attraction would be built in the Monsters Inc. land as Monstropolis 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

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  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. Edit this at Wikidata
  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. Edit this at Wikidata
  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.
  39. ^ "Monsters and Muppet Updates for Hollywood Studios". Disney Parks Blog. November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
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