Monsters University

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1:04

Monsters University

G

Released Jun 21, 2013

1h 42m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Fantasy

Adventure

Animation

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

199 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Ever since he was a kid monster, Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) has dreamed of becoming a Scarer. To make his dream a reality, he enrolls at Monsters University. During his first semester, he meets Sulley (John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. Sulley and Mike engage in a fierce rivalry that ultimately gets them both kicked out of MU's elite Scare Program. To make things right, Mike and Sulley -- along with a bunch of misfit monsters -- will have to learn to work together.

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Critics Consensus

Offering Monsters, Inc. fans a return visit with beloved characters, Monsters University delivers funny and thoughtful family entertainment for viewers of any age.

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Christy Lemire

ChristyLemire.com

It is essentially Revenge of the Nerds, with fur. And scales. And whatever gooey, gelatinous substance comprises the outer coating of various other oddball creatures in this crazy parallel world.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 8, 2013

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Wesley Morris

Grantland

Studios don't often seem to be thinking about the ideal moviegoer, just about the maximum number of moviegoers ... Pixar is no different in that regard, but even in this relatively fallow period ... it's never stopped thinking the most of us.

Rated: A-

Jul 26, 2013

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

So many movies, these days, are about nerds and their market value. Dan Scanlon's prequel is the newest, but already feels old.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 12, 2013

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Although not wholly original or as monumental as some of Pixar’s other work, it’s a film that embraces the studio’s drive for timeless, universally appealing animation.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 2, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Lacks the substantial level of unbridled creativity and emotional punch found in its predecessor.

Rated: 8/10

Dec 3, 2020

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Randy Newman's original music gives the film a heartfelt yet fun aura.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 17, 2020

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Michael

Monsters Inc was much better

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/02/25

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 42 minutes!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $268,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Didn't watch this when it first came out, but saw it recently on Disney+ with my 4-year old. She thoroughly loved the crazy monster designs on display, whilst I enjoyed the more emotional beats of the story. Mostly predictable and a little clichéd, but there's a reason why these underdog tales keep getting retold, they offer a feel-good time that isn't always available in the real world. That having been said, the fact that the film chooses to show Mike's journey to become a scarer, something that we ultimately know he won't achieve, does add a little intensity to the proceedings. There are, of course, the inevitable call backs to the original Monsters Inc. but these either serve the story or are "background" enough that they don't interfere with proceedings. (aside from Randal's appearance, which mostly seemed there just because he was a cool character) Worth a watch if you (or your child) are a fan of the original. Just accept that it is a prequel which falls into all the usual trappings.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

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Pedro Henrique C

This may be one of Pixar's weakest films, it's very boring and slow at times, it's 1h 43m long but feels like two hours.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/17/25

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Keron C

Over rated - not one of the better Pixar films - not sure about the high ratings from others.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

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Stephen L

Smart, funny and surprisingly insightful, Monsters University is a rare prequel that justifies its existence. While it doesn’t reinvent the universe the way Monsters Inc. did, it refines the formula with sharper humor and an emotional ending that sticks. The animation is vibrant, the cast of voice actors is strong across the board and the story leans into college-life tropes with charm instead of cringe. The final act lands beautifully, with themes of failure, adaptation and earned success tying together in ways that feel earned. A worthy addition to the Pixar lineup.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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Dan Scanlon

Director

Billy Crystal

Mike Wazowski

John Goodman

Sulley

Steve Buscemi

Randy Boggs

Helen Mirren

Dean Hardscrabble

Peter Sohn

Scott "Squishy" Squibbles

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Monsters University: 'It All Began Here' Trailer

1:04

Monsters University: Final Trailer

2:30

Monsters University: Trailer 3

2:34

Monsters University: Trailer 2

2:23

Monsters University: 'Pony' Teaser

1:08

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Synopsis

Ever since he was a kid monster, Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) has dreamed of becoming a Scarer. To make his dream a reality, he enrolls at Monsters University. During his first semester, he meets Sulley (John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. Sulley and Mike engage in a fierce rivalry that ultimately gets them both kicked out of MU's elite Scare Program. To make things right, Mike and Sulley -- along with a bunch of misfit monsters -- will have to learn to work together.

Director: Dan Scanlon
Producer: Kori Rae
Screenwriter: Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon
Distributor: Walt Disney
Production Co: Pixar Animation Studios
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 21, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 13, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $268.5M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, SDDS, Datasat
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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