---
title: "Monsters University"
year: 2013
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/monsters-university"
fi1m_id: "monsters-university"
imdb_id: "tt1453405"
tmdb_id: 62211
wikidata_id: "Q641362"
fi1m_score: 72
critics_score: 63
critics_reviews: 25
published: "2026-10-01T22:39:19.623848+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-01T22:39:19.940125+00:00"
region: "DK"
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 University (2013)

Directed by Dan Scanlon · 1h 44m · Medierådet 7 · Animation, Family, Comedy, Fantasy

## Identity

Monsters University

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/monsters-university
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** monsters-university
- **IMDb ID:** tt1453405
- **TMDB ID:** 62211
- **Wikidata ID:** Q641362
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1453405/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/62211, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q641362

**Fi1m score: 72** · Critics 63 from 25 reviews

*In a sentence:* A campus full of monsters, and the dean is still the most frightening person there

> *Monsters University* is a warm, funny college comedy held back by familiar plotting. Billy Crystal and John Goodman make the friendship worth following, while the monster designs offer more invention than most of the student pranks.

## Synopsis

Mike (Billy Crystal) arrives at university with ambitions that may not match his abilities. Among the monster students are Sullivan (John Goodman) and Randy (Steve Buscemi), while Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren) presides over their education with little apparent warmth. Mike wants to prove himself, but the campus has its own tests of who belongs. Student pranks and the competitive Scare Games surround a developing friendship between Mike and Sullivan, who have to discover what they can offer each other. These are their college days, before the events of *Monsters, Inc.*.

## Review

*Monsters University* is an enjoyable college comedy whose strongest reason to exist is still the friendship between its leads. Dan Scanlon takes the characters back to their student days, where an underdog story offers plenty of opportunities for jokes and fewer for surprise. The film is good company, though its campus is more inventive than much of what happens there. Its more interesting concern is how ambition survives contact with actual ability, a useful subject for a family film to approach without scolding.

Billy Crystal and John Goodman do most of the work that makes this worth following. Billy Crystal gives Mike a restless urgency, while John Goodman’s Sullivan has enough ease to keep their exchanges from becoming a competition for the funniest line. As the friendship develops, the animation pays attention to how the pair move together, letting their changing relationship appear in their physical behaviour. That careful physical acting gives the familiar friendship story some credibility, even when the plot around it is easy to anticipate.

Ricky Nierva’s production design gives the university enough detail to reward looking beyond whoever is speaking. The peripheral monsters have shapes and proportions that make them funny before they have done anything, and their variety is a pleasure in itself. Cinematographers Jean-Claude Kalache and Matt Aspbury keep the crowded campus legible rather than letting all that detail compete for attention. The visual clarity matters in a comedy with this many characters, allowing the individual designs to remain distinct within the busy surroundings.

The screenplay by Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon and Dan Gerson is much less adventurous. The Scare Games give the students something to do, but the underdog competition follows too many familiar steps to generate much suspense. Several college pranks feel as though they could have been written for human students, which seems a waste of such a flexible cast of creatures. The middle stretch is where the film most needs a stranger idea, and where it most often settles for another familiar contest.

Greg Snyder’s editing keeps those stretches moving, and the pace is brisk without making the friendship feel hurried. At 104 minutes, however, the film has room for more supporting characters than it can make memorable. Randy Newman’s marching-band music supplies the proper collegiate bustle, then keeps supplying it after the setting has made its point. The insistence becomes tiring, and some jokes would land better with less encouragement.

Helen Mirren gives Dean Hardscrabble an amusing lack of patience. We laughed at her stony delivery, because she treats this ridiculous institution as though its standards were beyond discussion. Her severity stops these scenes from becoming quite as cosy as the rest. Steve Buscemi’s Randy gets less opportunity to register, and several of the supporting monsters are more memorable for their appearance than anything they say.

Family comedies can become exhausting when every ambition comes with a guarantee of success, and this one is interested in what happens when enthusiasm is not enough. It takes young hopes seriously while allowing some doubt about where they might lead. That gives adults something to discuss without making children sit through a lecture. Give it a family evening, with some patience reserved for the more routine student antics.

*Fi1m score 72, published 1 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean towards qualified approval: most critics find Monsters University entertaining, though many see it as a lesser companion to Monsters, Inc. Praise centres on the detailed campus, imaginative monster designs and carefully choreographed animation. Mike and Sulley’s rapport also earns broad affection, alongside the sight gags and Helen Mirren’s stern Dean Hardscrabble. Even several less enthusiastic reviews acknowledge the humour and the pleasure of returning to these characters.

The main divide concerns the storytelling, with verdicts ranging from enthusiastic to sharply dismissive. Reservations cluster around familiar college-comedy routines, predictable underdog plotting and a weaker emotional pull than the original. Collider, however, praises the intelligence of its treatment of friendship, failure and finding one’s strengths. Empire finds the plotting smart and unpredictable, while The Hollywood Reporter regards the story and Scare Games as tame and uninspired. The visual craft commands much wider agreement than the writing.

## Straight answers

**Is Monsters University worth watching?**

*Monsters University* is worth watching for a warm, funny family evening, and we score it 72 out of 100. Mike and Sullivan’s developing friendship and the inventive monster designs make it good company, though the familiar underdog competition and routine student pranks leave us wishing the story took more chances.

**How long is Monsters University, and what is it rated?**

*Monsters University* runs 1h 44m and is rated 7 by the Medierådet in Denmark. It is an animation and family film.

**Where can I watch Monsters University in Denmark?**

*Monsters University* is streaming on Disney+ in Denmark, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV from kr 39.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Monsters University compare to Kiki's Delivery Service?**

*Monsters University* offers a busier college comedy, while *Kiki’s Delivery Service* is the gentler fantasy and earns our warmer recommendation for its humour and feeling. Both follow young hopefuls learning the limits of their abilities; we favour *Monsters University* for campus antics and an engaging friendship, but *Kiki’s Delivery Service* for its attention to the courage ordinary work requires.

**What should I watch after Monsters University?**

After *Monsters University*, try [*Kiki's Delivery Service*](https://film.one/film/kikis-delivery-service) (1989, Fi1m 86): Another young hopeful discovers that learning a job also means learning limits. Then [*Ernest & Celestine*](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine) (2012, Fi1m 84): An unlikely friendship, expressive animation and rather less patience for institutional rules; and [*School of Rock*](https://film.one/film/the-school-of-rock) (2003, Fi1m 84): Misfit students find their strengths, with enough noise to excuse the familiar plotting.

### Reviews we read (25)

- **Empire**, Olly Richards (85/100, inferred): Richards finds the prequel clever, funny, and successful as a film in its own right. He especially praises its smart, unpredictable plotting and how it enriches the original. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/monsters-university-review/)
- **Radio Times**, Terry Staunton (4/5): Staunton presents the prequel as a gag-packed return to the characters’ college days. He singles out Helen Mirren’s performance as the stony-faced Dean Hardscrabble for praise. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-f7ktod/monsters-university/)
- **Time Out**, Trevor Johnston (4/5): Johnston awards the prequel four out of five stars, indicating a favorable verdict. The available page text says only that the premise initially sounds like a comedown for Pixar, without revealing what he singles out for praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/monsters-university-1)
- **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (B): Dowd finds the prequel charming but minor, saying it echoes rather than enriches the original. He praises the returning Mike-and-Sully pairing, while faulting the college-comedy plot for lacking comic inspiration. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/monsters-university-1798177149)
- **IndieWire**, Charles Solomon (70/100, inferred): Solomon finds the film a lot of fun despite its predictable, thin story and weaker emotional core than Monsters, Inc. He praises the animation, especially the carefully choreographed scenes showing Mike and Sulley’s growing friendship. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-monsters-university-122845/)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (70/100, inferred): Ebiri finds the prequel funny, fast, and likable, but ultimately a disappointment beside the original. He praises its visual surprises and offhand gags, while faulting its reliance on familiar underdog-story beats. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2013/06/movie-review-monsters-university.html)
- **Screen Daily**, Mark Adams, chief film critic (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is unavailable in the visible text. No specific praise or complaint can be confirmed from the accessible content. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/monsters-university/5057161.article)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (64/100, inferred): The review’s verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be verified from the inaccessible page. No reliable account of the critic’s assessment is available here. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/movies/monsters-university-unfolds-before-monsters-inc.html)
- **Total Film**, Neil Smith (3/5): The critic finds it an entertaining, exuberant romp, though short on fresh ideas and far from a classic. The colorful peripheral characters and their inventive designs are singled out as the film’s main selling point. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/monsters-university-review/)
- **Variety**, Justin Chang (60/100, inferred): Chang calls the prequel agreeable entertainment, though artistically middling and less ambitious than Pixar’s best. He praises its richly detailed campus and visual design, while noting that its cuddly monsters rarely feel genuinely scary. [Read](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-monsters-university-1200494184/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Nick McCarthy (2/4): McCarthy finds the film stale and formulaic, lacking the original’s wit and charm. He praises the detailed campus setting and colorful animation, but says predictable storytelling overwhelms them. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/monsters-university/)
- **Evening Standard**, The Standard (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the prequel entertaining but ultimately stale, with little of the original’s moral complexity. They praise its spry one-liners and ravishing animation, while faulting the thin characterization and limited screen time for Randall. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/monsters-university-film-review-8703419.html)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (35/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the prequel funny but regards it as a standard buddy movie that fails to restore Pixar to greatness. He criticizes its sanitized, barely recognizable reference to Carrie. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jul/11/monsters-university-review)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (30/100, inferred): Sharkey finds the prequel fine but forgettable, criticizing its stale storytelling and predictable college antics. She praises the animation and the chemistry between Billy Crystal and John Goodman, but says the pranks lack invention and the score’s marching-band music irritates. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-monsters-university-20130621-story.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (15/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the prequel a notably uninspired, underachieving Pixar film. He faults its predictable story and tame Scare Games for lacking the inventiveness and surprises of the studio’s best work. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/monsters-university-film-review-564746/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): Goldberg praises the film as intelligent, funny, and a return to form for Pixar. He singles out its thoughtful message about discovering your strengths through friendship and failure. [Read](https://collider.com/monsters-university-review/)
- **/Film**, Germain Lussier (9/10): Lussier calls the prequel a great, heartfelt film that works on nearly every level, despite an obvious-feeling second act. He praises how the character-driven third act delivers excitement through interaction and misdirection. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/526578/monsters-university-review-a-hilarious-heartfelt-return-to-the-monsters-universe/)
- **Den of Geek**, Louisa Mellor (4/5): Mellor finds the prequel an entertaining family comedy with a touching emotional story, though not quite as vital as Pixar’s finest films. She especially praises the imaginative monster designs and meticulous animation that bring the university world to life. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/monsters-university-review-2/)
- **The Skinny**, Nathanael Smith (★★★★): Smith finds the prequel funny and enjoyable, but ultimately lacking the invention of the original. He praises Pixar’s razor-sharp humour and the sight gags filling its monster-filled college world. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/edinburgh-festivals/film/monsters-university)
- **Paste**, Curt Holman (7.0): Holman finds the prequel entertaining and emotionally affecting, though it lacks the imaginative scope of Pixar’s best. He praises its thoughtful lesson about mismatched aspirations and Mike and Sully’s partnership, while faulting the forgettable Oozma Kappas and a climax that falls short of the original. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/monsters-university)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (65/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film enjoyable but less memorable and focused than Monsters, Inc. She praises the vibrant animation and the chemistry between Mike and Sulley, while wishing the film spent less time on its large cast of new characters. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/monsters-university-2013-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The accessible page contains no review verdict. Its anti-crawler notice prevents identifying any specific praise or complaint. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-disneypixars-monsters-university-20130617/)
- **Digital Spy**, Ben Rawson-Jones (3/5): The reviewer finds the prequel uneven and predictable, though ultimately rewarding. They praise Helen Mirren’s vocal performance and the clever climax that improves the film’s closing stretch. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a492132/monsters-university-review-edinburgh-film-festival-2013/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Jamie Neish (3/5): Neish finds the film charming and entertaining, though less inventive and emotionally affecting than its predecessor. He singles out the animation and the reunion of Mike and Sully for praise. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/eiff-2013-monsters-university-review/)
- **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the film sweet and entertaining but ultimately average and forgettable. They praise the leads’ comfortable rapport while faulting the familiar plot and lack of Pixar-level wit and poignancy. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/monsters-university-review-wait-didnt-we-see-all-internship-96186/)

## Details

- **Director:** Dan Scanlon
- **Director:** Dan Scanlon
- **Screenplay:** Dan Gerson, Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon
- **Story:** Dan Scanlon, Dan Gerson, Robert L. Baird
- **Cinematography:** Jean-Claude Kalache, Matt Aspbury
- **Editor:** Greg Snyder
- **Music:** Randy Newman
- **Production design:** Ricky Nierva
- **Producer:** Kori Rae
- **Cast:** Billy Crystal as Mike (voice); John Goodman as Sullivan (voice); Steve Buscemi as Randy (voice); Helen Mirren as Dean Hardscrabble (voice); Peter Sohn as Squishy (voice); Joel Murray as Don (voice); Sean Hayes as Terri (voice); Dave Foley as Terry (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 44m
- **Certificate (Medierådet):** 7
- **Release (Denmark):** 1 August 2013
- **Genres:** Animation, Family, Comedy, Fantasy
- **Budget:** $200 million
- **Box office:** $744 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBzPioph8CI

## Where to watch in Denmark

- Disney+: streaming, hd
- Apple TV: rent kr 39.00, hd
- Apple TV: buy kr 139.00, sd

*Checked 2026-10-01.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2014: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2013: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2013: Best Animated Feature (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Kiki's Delivery Service* (1989), Fi1m 86: Another young hopeful discovers that learning a job also means learning limits. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/kikis-delivery-service.md)
- *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: An unlikely friendship, expressive animation and rather less patience for institutional rules. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.md)
- *School of Rock* (2003), Fi1m 84: Misfit students find their strengths, with enough noise to excuse the familiar plotting. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-school-of-rock.md)
- *A Town Called Panic* (2009): For those who prefer the strange creatures and slapstick to the coursework.
- *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: An unusual friendship carries the comedy, with considerably more emotional weight behind it. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/monsters-university