Monsters, Inc. Parent Guide

Parent Movie Review
by Kerry Bennett

Just when you’ve convinced your children it’s safe to sleep in the dark, along comes Monsters Inc., an engaging animated film that’s sure to boost the market value of nightlights. Despite what parents may say, this movie confirms what every youngster suspects: There really are scary creatures hiding in the shadows of the bedrooms. And in this specific case, the bedroom closet is a secret passage into the thriving city of Monstropolis.

Employees at Monsters, Inc., the city’s local utility company, supply the beasts’ energy needs by sneaking through these hidden portals to frighten sleeping children. They capture the resulting screams in heavy, metal canisters and transform them into power. Big hairy James P. “Sulley” Sullivan (voice of John Goodman) and his green one-eyed partner Mike Wazawski (voice of Billy Crystal) make up the company’s top scoring scare team. As well as lining the employee-of-the-month wall, they are the featured spokesmen in the company’s latest T.V. ad campaign. But Randall Boggs (voice of Steve Buscemi), a sneaky, disappearing lizard, is out to take the title from the well-liked pair.

However, the competition goes on hold when a tiny human intruder innocently slips through an open closet door and into the monsters’ world. Considered to be highly toxic, the pig-tailed toddler has the metropolis running scared and their Child Detection Agency on high alert. Fearing for their lives and jobs, Sulley and Mike bravely attempt to avoid contamination while tucking the giggling girl (voice of Mary Gibbs) safely back into her own bed. Unfortunately, their efforts are complicated when they uncover a sinister plot brewing in the power plant.

Monsters, Inc. portrays the softer side of big scary monsters while showing that even they must solve life’s problems and face their fears. Like its Toy Story predecessors, this film has enough savvy to engage most adult viewers while capturing the interest of the younger set. However, parents of young children will need to be sensitive to this movie’s scare factor. (Some portrayals of growling monsters with bared teeth and loud explosions set by the detox unit were too much for the preschooler sitting behind me). Yet, for children who’ve overcome their qualms with the closet, this may be a perfect way to spend an evening.

Original Theatrical Release Date: 1 November 2001

3D Theatrical Release: December 19, 2012

Directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich. Starring John Goodman, Billy Crystal. Running time: 91 minutes. Theatrical release November 2, 2001. Updated July 17, 2017

About author

Kerry Bennett

Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for over 15 years. As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes.

Monsters, Inc.
Rating & Content Info

Why is Monsters, Inc. rated G? Monsters, Inc. is rated G by the MPAA

Overall: A-
Two power plant employees make an important discovery about facing their fears of the unknown in this animated and slightly scary film about monsters in the closet. A short film called For The Birds precedes the movie. (Content notes are at the end of the Grades list.)

Violence: B
Scary scene of monster hiding in child’s closet and under the bed. Child screams. Monster hit with ball trips on toys and falls on jacks. Characters discuss highly toxic substance. Characters engage in brief benign scuffle. Character tripped by jumping rope. Newspaper starts on fire. Character falls through sidewalk grate. Monster co-worker slaps partner on several occasions. Characters discuss their fears. Helicopters, paratrooper-like characters and detox unit descend on contaminated factory. Troopers use power pack guns to disintegrate toxic object. Character loses hair after going through decontamination process. Extended scene of character being scared by child. Nervous character tries to get rid of evidence by flushing it down toilet. Child spits at another character. Characters try to avoid toxic contamination and detection by authority figures. Character pushes over TV and breaks it. Disinfectant sprayed in character’s eye. Monster falls in garbage can and books fall on his head. Monsters hide from bad character. Character twists arms of another, causing pain. Character fears for safety of person caught in garbage disposal system. Character believed to be dead. Character bitten. Children scared by roaring characters on numerous occasions. Characters banished in blizzard. Characters threatened with and attacked by vacuum-like machine. Character slides down snow covered mountain and crashes. Character nearly strangled during fights with invisible foe. Extended scene of characters hanging high above ground includes doors slammed on body parts, characters falling, and character who tries to push another. Character attacked and hit with bat. Character falls and lands on behind. Characters discuss kidnapping of children, loss of employment, and serious energy shortage. Character taken into custody by authorities.

Sexual Content: A-
Character discusses plans for romantic birthday evening. Embarrassed hairless monster covers self. Character kisses his girlfriend on at least two occasions.

Language: A-
Some name calling.

Alcohol / Drug Use: A
None.

From the featured short film For The Birds: Birds mock newcomer and peck at his feet in attempt to make him fall. Birds catapulted into the air lose all their coverings. Featherless bird hits ground with some force. Denuded birds cover private areas with wings or leaves.

Page last updated July 17, 2017