--- title: "Monsters, Inc.: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/monsters-inc/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/monsters-inc" critics_score: 83 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Monsters, Inc. (2001): what the critics said Critics' score 83 from 10 reviews: 10 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics greet Monsters, Inc. warmly, with praise clustering around its inventive premise, visual detail and humour. The animation attracts particular attention for Sulley’s fur, though the reviews generally find enough character and feeling to make the technical achievement matter. Sulley and Mike’s comic partnership and Sulley’s relationship with Boo are recurring strengths. Critics also admire how the monster workplace turns childhood fears into material for jokes and an affectionate story. The reservations mostly concern characterisation and comparisons with earlier Pixar films. The Independent finds the character work patchier than in Toy Story, while Empire sees the film as pitched slightly younger. The Los Angeles Times offers a firmer dissent, finding less wit and emotional appeal for adults than in Pixar’s predecessors, despite enjoying the monster city’s details. Eye for Film takes the opposite view, judging it an advance on earlier efforts; the spread is chiefly between enthusiasm and qualified approval. ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 2001. The film delivers on its clever premise about monsters harvesting children's screams for energy, with strong character work and emotional depth alongside inventive gags. Pixar excels here in blending technical prowess with heartfelt storytelling and a fully realized world. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/monsters-inc-1798192798) ## The Independent — J. Romney Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 February 2002. The critic praises the film's witty script, ingenious narrative, and especially its tactile, sensuous animation and textures (notably Sulley's fur). It excels in pacing, constant invention, and a thrilling action finale, though characterization is patchier than in Toy Story. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/monsters-inc-u-9231806.html) ## Time Out — NB Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 October 2016. The review calls it unfailingly lively entertainment with earned feeling and glorious action and gags. It singles out the vibrant, colourful underworld escapade and ideas about fear and polymorphity handled in stride. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/monsters-inc) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2002. Monsters, Inc. is called fantastic—sharp, clever, frighteningly funny, and feelgood—with flawless animation, strong storytelling, buddy chemistry between Sulley and Mike, and a thumpingly good narrative that includes tension, action, and a warm ending. It is not quite up to Toy Story 2 but stakes an early claim to the year's family entertainment crown. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/monsters-inc-review/) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). The review highlights the delicious premise, sumptuous animation, and strong voice performances by John Goodman and Billy Crystal. It celebrates the joyful, innocent tone, technical achievements, and inventive set pieces while noting it skews slightly younger than the Toy Story films. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/monsters-inc-review/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2002. The review praises the film's sophisticated CGI, especially the fur animation, and its strong narrative and characterisation that engage viewers beyond the visuals. It highlights the gentle subversion and escapist charm of the monster world while noting some cuddly character designs. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/features/ultimatefilm/chart/details.php?ranking=53) ## Slant Magazine Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2001. Pixar's latest is rock-solid Hollywood escapism that celebrates childhood fears while using a corporate recession backdrop to explore themes of greed and protocol. The humor is snappy with outstanding attention to detail, and the central relationship between Sulley and Boo provides genuine emotional resonance without cheap moralizing. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/monsters-inc/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2001. The review describes it as an entertaining work with memorable characters and hilarious situations that provides fun and relatable adventures. It singles out the breakthrough fur and hair animation and the witty, imaginative story drawing on children's fears. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/monsters-inc/407341.article) ## Los Angeles Times 2 November 2001. Though it has charms as a childhood entertainment, the film does not measure up to Pixar’s predecessors in smart, funny and emotionally resonant appeal for adults. The critic singles out the well-done setup of the monster city Monstropolis with its amusing details. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-02-ca-64450-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert 2 November 2001. The film is cheerful, high-energy fun with gags and references aimed at grownups. The critic singles out the roller-coaster chase scene involving hundreds of doors on a conveyor line. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/monsters-inc-2001) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating *****. 8 February 2002. The film is a brilliant, hi-tech Pixar triumph that is faster, lighter and more inspired than most family entertainment, revisiting themes from the Toy Story films with wit and visual spectacle. The central paradox of monsters scared of children is handled with humanity and a light touch, alongside dazzling animation and a generous array of witty lines and allusions. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/feb/08/artsfeatures) ## The New York Times — Elvis Mitchell Rating NYT Critic’s Pick. 2 November 2001. Pixar has streamlined its process to deliver a film packed with visual jokes and breakneck wit that covers paranoid thrillers and self-mythologizing media. The critic highlights the brightly colored computer-animated world of monsters mirroring our own. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/02/movies/film-review-monsters-of-childhood-with-feelings-and-agendas.html) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A. 21 December 2012. The review finds the film remains one of Pixar's funniest and most emotionally resonant entries, with standout interplay between the leads and a thrilling door-chase sequence enhanced in 3D. The heart and inventive world-building are highlighted as enduring strengths. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-monsters-inc-in-3d-is-just-as-much-fun-as-it-was-the-first-time-around-20121221/) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 November 2009. The critic considers Monsters, Inc. one of their favorite Pixar films, praising its inventive narrative and world-building as well as themes of parenthood and friendship. They highlight the technological achievements in animation, particularly the hair effects on Sulley, and the strong comedic performances. [Read the review](https://collider.com/monsters-inc-blu-ray-review/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Rating *****. 31 October 2001. The critic calls it a witty, heart-warming story with loveable characters that surpasses prior Pixar efforts through inventive animation and strong voice work. The expressive computer-generated faces and performances by John Goodman, Billy Crystal and Steve Buscemi are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/monsters-inc-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md