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Monsters, Inc. poster

Movies that feel likeMonsters, Inc. (2001)

Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it's the monsters who are scared silly, and it's up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home.

If you loved Monsters, Inc., the closest films we have are Shrek 2 (2004), Ratatouille (2007) and My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999). All three share Monsters, Inc.'s whimsical and witty feel, which is what we rank on before quality.

Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is The Boxtrolls (2014).

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If Monsters, Inc. hit the spot, these will too

Looking for the series itself? Also in this series: Monsters University (2013)

Shrek 2 poster
Shrek 2
2004 · dir. Conrad Vernon
🍅 89%★ 7.4animation · comedy · familyPeacock

Monsters as the heroes of their own comic world

The difference: Fairy-tale satire, romance central

Happily ever after never seemed so far far away when a trip to meet the in-laws turns into a hilariously twisted adventure for Shrek and Fiona. With the help of ever-faithful Donkey, Shrek takes on the potion-brewing Fairy Godmother, pompous Prince Charming, and infamous ogre-killer Puss In Boots.

Ratatouille poster
Ratatouille
2007 · dir. Brad Bird
🍅 96%★ 8.1animation · comedy · familyHuluDisney+

Pixar's gift for workplaces where the impossible is routine

The difference: A kitchen instead of a scare floor

In one of Paris's finest restaurants, Remy, a determined young rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Torn between his family's wishes and his true calling, Remy and his pal Linguini set in motion a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down.

My Neighbors the Yamadas poster
My Neighbors the Yamadas
1999 · dir. Isao Takahata
🍅 78%★ 7.1animation · comedy · familyMax

Gentle domestic comedy where the small stuff is the story

The difference: Sketch-like Ghibli with no plot to carry you along

The Yamadas are a typical middle class Japanese family in urban Tokyo and this film shows us a variety of episodes of their lives. With tales that range from the humorous to the heartbreaking, we see this family cope with life's little conflicts, problems, and joys in their own way.

Hotel Transylvania poster
Hotel Transylvania
2012 · dir. Genndy Tartakovsky
🍅 45%★ 7animation · comedy · familyHuluParamount+

Monsters running an institution with rules about humans

The difference: Frenetic gag machine, less heart

Welcome to Hotel Transylvania, Dracula's lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up and no humans are allowed. One special weekend, Dracula has invited all his best friends to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis's 118th birthday. For Dracula catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem but the party really starts when one ordinary guy stumbles into the hotel and changes everything!

Toy Story 2 poster
Toy Story 2
1999 · dir. John Lasseter
🍅 100%★ 7.9animation · comedy · familyHuluDisney+

Comic invention and genuine tenderness held in one scene

The difference: Melancholy runs deeper — it's about being outgrown

Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen, owner of Al's Toy Barn kidnaps Woody. Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.

The Boxtrolls poster
The Boxtrolls
2014 · dir. Graham Annable
🍅 78%★ 6.8animation · comedy · familyMaxHulu

Both land whimsy and wit at once

An orphaned boy raised by underground creatures called Boxtrolls comes up from the sewers and out of his box to save his family and the town from the evil exterminator, Archibald Snatcher.

Antz poster
Antz
1998 · dir. Eric Darnell
🍅 92%★ 6.5animation · comedy · familyNetflix

A rigid society and one worker who won't fit its slot

The difference: Cynical and adult-pitched — very little warmth in it

A neurotic worker ant in love with a rebellious princess rises to unlikely stardom when he switches places with a soldier. Signing up to march in a parade, he ends up under the command of a bloodthirsty general. But he's actually been enlisted to fight against a termite army.

Alvin and the Chipmunks poster
Alvin and the Chipmunks
2007 · dir. Tim Hill
🍅 28%★ 5.3comedy · family · fantasyDisney+

Small chaotic creatures upending a grown-up's ordered life

The difference: Live-action novelty comedy, no world-building

A struggling songwriter named Dave Seville finds success when he comes across a trio of singing chipmunks: mischievous leader Alvin, brainy Simon, and chubby, impressionable Theodore.

Chicken Run poster
Chicken Run
2000 · dir. Peter Lord
🍅 97%★ 7.1animation · comedy · familyRent or buy

Handmade world where the gags are built, not drawn

The difference: A prison-break with real peril and British dryness

The creators of Wallace & Gromit bring you an exciting and original story about a group of chickens determined to fly the coop–even if they can’t fly! It’s hardly poultry in motion when Rocky attempts to teach Ginger and her feathered friends to fly…but, with teamwork, determination and a little bit o’ cluck, the fearless flock plots one last attempt in a spectacular bid for freedom.

Encanto poster
Encanto
2021 · dir. Byron Howard
★ 7.2animation · comedy · familyDisney+

A magical institution powered by something it misunderstands

The difference: Family musical, the magic domestic

The tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family's last hope.

The Grinch poster
The Grinch
2018 · dir. Yarrow Cheney
🍅 60%★ 6.4animation · comedy · familyRent or buy

A grump whose cold operation melts on contact with one child

The difference: Holiday remake sweetness, stakes tiny

The Grinch hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville plan their annual holiday celebration. But a certain little who might change things.

Turning Red poster
Turning Red
2022 · dir. Domee Shi
🍅 95%★ 6.9animation · family · comedyDisney+

A furry transformation upending expectations at school and home

The difference: Adolescent metaphor, Toronto-specific

Thirteen-year-old Mei is experiencing the awkwardness of being a teenager with a twist – when she gets too excited, she transforms into a giant red panda.

In the mood for more whimsical?

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The best-reviewed films that share Monsters, Inc.’s defining feeling.