Tools for this page
Print

Monsters, Inc.

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Cuddly, adorable, kid-friendly monster movie.

Themes in this movie include:   friendship
updated 09.16.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Strong messages of friendship and that facing fears is a positive thing.
  • Role models:

    A closet monster learns to make kids laugh instead of scare them.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Comic peril, cartoon violence. The monsters are terrified of children for most of the film, which takes out some scariness. One of these closet monsters is scary and straps a toddler to a chair to catch her screams in a machine. Her monster friend saves her.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Toy Story toys are on the floor in one child's room.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Monsters, Inc.

Parents need to know that this movie is about closet monsters, but from their point of view -- scaring kids is their 9-to-5 job. Kids who are scared easily often come around, especially when the monster Sulley turns into a softy and takes care of the little girl in the story who isn't the least bit afraid of him. However there is one scene where a monster the child does fear straps her to a chair and tries to steel her screams. Kids will find it funny that most monsters fear any contact with kids -- when one monster gets a child's sock on him the whole factory panics and biohazard workers quarantine and shave him. Young kids may need help understanding what the monsters in yellow suits are doing to him and why.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what Sulley learns about kids and how he changes the factory for the better in the end.
  • They can also talk about how each kid was scared by a certain kind of monster. Why was Boo scared of Randall and not Sulley? Why was Sulley considered such a top-notch scarer then?
  • What would make you laugh the hardest if it came out of your closet?

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Monsters, Inc.?
  •  I think this movie is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review
See all 38 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great kid movie!!! worth waching

    LOVE and so does the whole family. WE can't stop laughing. A little scary at some parts with the kidnapping of Boo, but in the end it is all so so cute. The monsters turn out not to be so scary as thought to have been and the kids love monsters now and they have even wanted Sully or Mike to come into there room. Great Kid movie. Love your monsters!!!

  2. I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    pritty good

    tis movie is cute, funny, orignal,... but bare in mind kids that are under 5 might not understand the movie and probably will find it scary especially if that child is easily scared or is under the age of 4.

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great and original, one of Pixar's finest! Pehaps to scary for younger children.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    pretty good but might scare little ones

    one character has the life sucked out of him! I really liked this movie when I was a kid, but I understand why some kids might get scared. Monsters roar, and yeah... It's a little scary but it's another success.

  5. I rate this title off for age 4 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Not A Great Movie

  6. I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Still in luv with this movie

    i no i'm older and all but i can always sti down and watch this movie its so funny and it never gets old im sure it will always be one of my fav

  7. I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    good family movie

    but i watched this when i was 6 and igot scared of the monsters so dont be suprised if your little ones get a little scared but tis is a good movie well it was made by pixar all pixar movies are good

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    my 3 year old brother did not understand show 4 year olds can not understand it the drinking 18 year old drinks and the store stuff at monsters inc the scar that never ends in monster inc it has only scary movie posters and only scary stuff thats how little boys and girl see it as

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    my baby brother thats 3 loves this movie but I do not love it since I am a 7 year old but I did not but people three years to six years like it but just not 7 to 18 year olds but really old people which are moms dad do not care

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    one monster plans to scar the people world away and make them into scary monsters his name is randell is acts like a allen but he always is after the two main guys and a baby girl in the last part there is scary stuff but lots of peril the two mean words used by randell was jump to them the little girl will kiss randell in the head but randell never drinks any drinks in this G rated film that the mpaa made a little mastake it soud of been a PG because of the two mean words

  11. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    two mean words and a little bit of peril which is the fighting the scary parts are not that creepy when you get used to them but there is some marketing and eating at food places in monsters inc no kissing but there is some sexy stuff between girl monsters and when they eat they sometime have big monsters have wine and all cinds of drinks that 18 year olds have that are not for kids but not the bad ones that make you sick only the ones the make kids sick

  12. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Negative message

    Generally good, but not great

    Parents will want to discuss why, at the end of the movie, when the plant was closing and workers' job were threatened, the workers didn't organize to operate the plant collectively, but allowed Sullivan to (mysteriously) become CEO.

  13. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    best pixar yet!

    I think monsters inc. is a film of magic and surprises. It's a little scary because there jobs are to scare children. But, i love it!

  14. I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Pixar's Monsters Inc.

    I love this movie on of the best Pixar movies, it is funny and the ending is good. It is very good and highly recommend for children! The movie is about Monsters, young children might be scared to watch it at first but it isn't scary, just little children watch it without knowing it is about monsters.

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 3.0

    Monsters Inc review

    Children might be scared at the beginning of the movie, but when it gets toward the end, it starts to get funnier.

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    AMAZING! Another spectacular film by Pixar!

    This film might prove to be a bit too scary for your yongsters, mainly due to the fact that we are dealing with monsters who's job is to make little children scream. One particular scene with a "Scream Machine" is rather on the disturbing side. If you cna get around that, this is an amazing film. I reccomend it highly to EVERYONE aged 6 and older!

  17. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

  18. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off for age 4 and give it 4.0

    My 4 year old son was scared when he saw the monsters trying to scare the kids, even though he knew the monsters were nice. I think it seemed scary to him to think of being in the kids' place. He has woken us up 4 nights in a row saying he was scared of Monsters Inc., but not about anything specific. Just "the scaring."

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0

    Great movie, but may be scary for young ones.

    This is a cute movie. It's about a monster named Sully and his friend named Mike and they work at Monsters Incorporated. It's the monsters' jobs to scare kids. So, this might be a little scary when a child sees a monster coming up from the shadows of a kid's bedroom and scares the kid, if your child is sensitive to these things. The kids scream in terror when they're scared, so kids may be frightened about that too. Anyway, Sully finds a human girl and eventually becomes her friend. I don't want to spoil the rest, but it ends wonderfully. Despite the scary parts, kids will enjoy this movie.

  20. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Everyone Will Love It!

    This is a great movie for kids. There's no real bad stuff in it, and it definitely deserved its G-rating. Go see it.

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Where the Wild Things Are

    Where the Wild Things Are

    Sometimes-dark adaptation focuses on friendship, loneliness.

  • Issue Spotlight

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Set limits long before they get behind the wheel.

  • Book of the Week

    Shiver

    Shiver

    Does for werewolves what Twilight did for vampires.

  • Pick of the Week

    Spook-tacular Books

    Spook-tacular Books

    Fun Halloween picture books for young kids.

  • Sound Check

    "All Is Love" (CD single)

    "All Is Love" (CD single)

    Indie music star gives soundtrack single quirky appeal.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy