10 Movies to Watch If You Love Monsters, Inc.

Finding a movie with the same comic monsters, lively friendships and surprising warmth as Monsters, Inc. can be tricky. This countdown gathers ten films to watch if you love Pixar’s story of Mike, Sulley and Boo, from stop-motion Halloween adventures to a college comedy about how the monster duo became friends.

Part of the original’s charm is how it flips a familiar childhood fear. The monsters may be the ones who scare children, but Sulley soon discovers that Boo is not dangerous at all. Pixar’s official page for Monsters, Inc. (https://www.pixar.com/monsters-inc) describes the bright, candy-coloured creatures and the industrial world they inhabit. Under all those funny designs, the film is about changing your mind when someone you fear turns out to be someone you care about.

The movies below take several approaches to that appeal. Some build entire communities of strange creatures; others pair supernatural characters with ordinary people, or find comedy in a friendship between two very different personalities. A few are spooky, but most are more funny than frightening. I’ve kept the order from your list, counting down from #10 to your #1 choice, Monsters University.

Streaming notes are for the UK and can change. The linked listings let you check what is currently available before movie night. For more autumn-friendly family viewing, see 10 Cozy Disney+ Movies for Autumn Nights (https://www.thatlovepodcast.com/post/10-cozy-disney-movies-for-autumn-nights).

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10. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

If the monster world in Monsters, Inc. is the sort of place you want to explore, The Nightmare Before Christmas offers a much stranger neighbourhood. It is a stop-motion musical about Halloween Town’s Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, who becomes captivated by the cheer and colour of Christmas Town.

Jack is tired of the same old scares and decides he can take over Christmas for a year. His plan goes wrong in ways that are funny, eerie and occasionally quite sweet. Sally, the rag-doll creature who understands Jack better than he understands himself, tries to warn him before the festivities get out of hand.

Henry Selick’s stop-motion animation gives the characters and sets a tactile, handmade quality that still feels special. Danny Elfman’s songs help balance the spooky visuals with theatrical fun. Jack is a charming lead because his problem is not malice; he is simply trying to find something new without thinking through the consequences. That makes him a fitting companion to Sulley, whose assumptions about children change when he meets Boo.

At number 10, this is the darkest and most musical movie on the list. It is a good choice for families who enjoy Halloween stories with memorable songs, but its skeletons and monsters may be too eerie for very young viewers.

Where to watch: The UK listing currently shows Disney+. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/the-nightmare-before-christmas) for current availability.

9. Corpse Bride (2005)

Corpse Bride gives its supernatural characters an emotional life that feels closer to a gothic fairytale than a standard ghost story. Like Monsters, Inc., it has fun with the idea that a world full of monsters may be more welcoming than the ordinary human world.

Victor is a nervous young man preparing for an arranged marriage to Victoria. While practising his wedding vows in the woods, he accidentally places a ring on the finger of Emily, a deceased bride who rises from the ground and believes they are now married. Victor is taken to the Land of the Dead, where he has to find a way back to Victoria and make sense of Emily’s story.

The stop-motion animation is full of charming details, from the blue-grey living world to the lively, colourful afterlife. Johnny Depp voices Victor with anxious politeness, while Helena Bonham Carter gives Emily a mix of humour and heartbreak. The movie is less joke-driven than Monsters, Inc., but it shares a fondness for odd-looking characters and the idea that appearances can mislead.

This is number nine because it has a more romantic, melancholy tone than a broad family comedy. Still, if you love animated monsters with personality and want a spooky film that is more touching than terrifying, Corpse Bride is a lovely pick.

Where to watch: UK listings include NOW TV Cinema and HBO Max. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/corpse-bride) for the latest.

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8. The Addams Family (1991)

The 1991 live-action The Addams Family is a playful reminder that “monstrous” families can be more loving than the people who judge them. The Addamses are strange, spooky and entirely comfortable with who they are—qualities that make them easy to root for.

When a man claiming to be long-lost Uncle Fester returns after years away, Gomez is overjoyed to welcome him home. Morticia is less convinced, especially as Fester cannot remember the details of his life with the family. The Addamses soon discover that someone may be trying to trick them, and their delightfully macabre home becomes the setting for a family mystery.

Raúl Juliá and Anjelica Huston make Gomez and Morticia feel completely devoted to one another, while Christina Ricci’s Wednesday delivers deadpan jokes with perfect timing. The film’s humour comes from treating the family’s odd habits as normal and everyone else’s reactions as the strange part. That inversion has a little of Monsters, Inc.’s playful perspective shift: what looks frightening from outside can feel perfectly ordinary from within.

At number eight, it is not animated, but it is an excellent family comedy about a tight-knit group of outsiders. Watch it for the cast, the gothic set design and the reminder that being odd together can be its own kind of home.

Where to watch: UK listings currently show Paramount+. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/the-addams-family) for updated options.

7. Frankenweenie (2012)

Frankenweenie is another Tim Burton stop-motion film, but its heart is a boy’s love for his dog. That relationship gives it a connection to Monsters, Inc.: beneath the spooky appearance and supernatural premise is a story about loving someone who matters to you.

Victor Frankenstein is a quiet young science enthusiast whose dog, Sparky, is his closest companion. When Sparky dies, Victor uses electricity to bring him back. At first, he tries to keep the secret, but his classmates discover what he has done and soon attempt their own experiments—with far less predictable results.

The black-and-white stop-motion style gives the film a classic monster-movie look, while the neighbourhood and school scenes keep it recognisably about childhood. Charlie Tahan voices Victor with a withdrawn sincerity, and the film’s affectionate references to old horror cinema add flavour without turning the story into a parody. Sparky’s joyful reunion with Victor is the emotional anchor, though some scenes involving the resurrected creatures may unsettle very young children.

It ranks seventh because it is creepier and more melancholy than the lighter movies near the top. But if you enjoy strange creatures, loyal friendships and a story that never mistakes an unusual appearance for a bad heart, Frankenweenie is a rewarding family film.

Where to watch: The UK listing currently shows Disney+, with digital rental and purchase options as well. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/frankenweenie) for changes.

6. The Boxtrolls (2014)

The Boxtrolls are small underground creatures who wear cardboard boxes and scavenge in the city at night. They are blamed for a series of crimes, but the truth is more complicated—a familiar kind of twist for fans of Monsters, Inc., where the creatures humans fear turn out to be more sympathetic than expected.

The story centres on Eggs, a human boy raised by the Boxtrolls beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When an ambitious exterminator threatens the creatures, Eggs has to venture above ground and find help. He meets Winnie, the daughter of a wealthy family, and together they try to expose the truth about the Boxtrolls before it is too late.

Laika’s stop-motion animation gives every box, tunnel and cobblestone a handmade texture. The Boxtrolls themselves communicate mostly through odd noises and gestures, so the film’s comedy comes from their physical behaviour and the way they care for one another. Isaac Hempstead Wright voices Eggs with a quiet earnestness, while Elle Fanning brings Winnie a sharp, adventurous streak.

At number six, it is a little more eccentric than Monsters, Inc. and includes some peril, but its central message is similar: the label “monster” is often just what people call someone they do not understand. It is a great pick for families who enjoy imaginative creatures, inventive animation and underdog stories.

Where to watch: The UK listing currently shows ITVX Premium, with a free ad-supported ITVX option. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/the-boxtrolls) for current availability.

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5. ParaNorman (2012)

ParaNorman is about a boy who sees ghosts and has to save his town from a centuries-old curse. The premise sounds like a straight horror story, but the film uses supernatural comedy to explore loneliness, bullying and the danger of judging people too quickly.

Norman Babcock is used to being dismissed when he talks about the dead. His ability makes him an outcast at school and a source of embarrassment at home. When his eccentric uncle warns him that an old ritual must be completed to protect the town, Norman finds himself facing ghosts, zombies and the consequences of a long-buried injustice.

Kodi Smit-McPhee gives Norman a quiet, thoughtful voice, while Anna Kendrick and Christopher Mintz-Plasse add energy as his sister Courtney and new friend Neil. The stop-motion animation is expressive and wonderfully detailed, but the film is not afraid to let its story become sad or frightening. Its best idea is that the “monster” is sometimes the person a community has decided not to listen to.

This lands at number five because its tone is more mature than the silly monster comedy of Monsters, Inc., and the ghost and zombie sequences may be too intense for young children. For older kids and adults who like clever spooky animation with a real point of view, it is one of the strongest films here.

Where to watch: UK listings currently show ITVX Premium and free, ad-supported ITVX, with rental options available. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/paranorman) for the latest.

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4. Shrek (2001)

Shrek is a fairy-tale comedy, not a monster movie in the same sense as Pixar’s, but its lovable ogre is exactly the sort of character Monsters, Inc. fans might root for. He looks frightening, prefers to be left alone and turns out to have a softer side once people get to know him.

Shrek’s quiet life in the swamp is interrupted when Lord Farquaad banishes fairy-tale creatures to his land. Shrek sets out to confront Farquaad, with Donkey following close behind. Farquaad offers a deal: rescue Princess Fiona from a tower guarded by a dragon, and the creatures will be removed from Shrek’s home.

Mike Myers gives Shrek a gruff voice that slowly reveals the character’s insecurity, while Eddie Murphy’s Donkey supplies a constant stream of chatter and energy. Cameron Diaz brings Fiona a lively independence that the story uses to play with fairy-tale expectations. The movie’s jokes are broad, self-aware and still surprisingly sharp, especially when it teases the idea that heroes and villains have to look a certain way.

At number four, Shrek is the funniest alternative for viewers who like a grouchy character learning to trust a friend. It is a classic animated family movie with a strong ensemble, silly jokes for children and enough fairy-tale satire for adults.

Where to watch: UK listings currently show Netflix and Disney+. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/shrek) for current streaming options.

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3. Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Lilo & Stitch is a story about an alien who looks like a troublemaker and a lonely child who sees a friend. That found-family theme makes it a natural pick if you love Monsters, Inc. for the bond between Sulley and Boo.

Lilo is a spirited girl growing up in Hawaii with her older sister, Nani. She adopts a strange blue creature from the animal shelter, thinking he is a dog. Stitch is actually a runaway alien experiment designed for destruction. As the authorities close in, Lilo tries to teach Stitch how to be part of a family—and he begins to understand what “ohana” means.

Daveigh Chase’s Lilo is funny, stubborn and vulnerable, while Chris Sanders gives Stitch a chaotic physical presence and a surprising emotional range. The Hawaiian setting and Elvis songs give the film a distinct warmth, but the story does not shy away from Nani’s stress or the fear of losing their home. The result is both a lively science-fiction comedy and a genuine family drama.

It ranks third because its central relationship is one of Disney’s most affecting, and Stitch’s transformation from destructive experiment to devoted family member is as satisfying as Sulley learning to protect Boo. If you want animated comedy with an outsider at its centre, this is a must-watch.

Where to watch: The UK listing currently shows Disney+. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/lilo-and-stitch) for updates.

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2. Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Hotel Transylvania brings a whole crowd of classic monsters together, then gives them family problems to solve. It is the most direct monster-comedy pick after Monsters University, and its central character is a protective parent who has to make room for someone new in his daughter’s life.

Count Dracula runs a luxury hotel where monsters can relax away from humans. For Mavis’s 118th birthday, he invites his monster friends to celebrate. The party takes an unexpected turn when Jonathan, a human traveller, wanders into the hotel and falls for Mavis. Dracula’s attempts to keep the two apart turn into a string of comic disasters.

Adam Sandler voices Dracula with exaggerated energy, while Selena Gomez makes Mavis curious and determined to see more of the world. Andy Samberg’s Jonathan is a cheerful contrast to Dracula’s old-fashioned rules. Director Genndy Tartakovsky gives the characters elastic movement and fast comic timing, making the monster guests feel like a whole ecosystem of visual jokes.

It lands at number two because it is packed with monsters, but its heart is a father-daughter story about trust and growing up. If you like Mike and Sulley’s comic partnership, Dracula’s frantic attempts to control a hotel full of supernatural guests should be right up your street.

Where to watch: UK listings currently include Amazon Prime Video, Sky Go and NOW TV Cinema. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/hotel-transylvania) for availability.

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1. Monsters University (2013)

Monsters University takes the top spot because it brings us back to the world of Monsters, Inc. and gives Mike and Sulley’s friendship a whole new story. The film is a prequel, but it does not simply repeat the original’s jokes. It shows how two monsters with very different ideas of success learn to work together.

Mike Wazowski arrives at Monsters University determined to become a top Scarer. He has studied the subject for years and believes hard work will get him there. Sulley, by contrast, relies on natural talent and a famous family name. The two become rivals, but after a mistake gets them removed from the elite Scaring Program, they have to join an unlikely fraternity and compete in the Scare Games.

Billy Crystal and John Goodman bring back the characters’ familiar voices, but the younger versions of Mike and Sulley feel more impulsive and less sure of themselves. The university setting gives the movie a lively college-comedy rhythm, with misfit students, academic competition and a campus full of monsters. Pixar’s official film page (https://www.pixar.com/monsters-university) describes the prequel as the story of how the pair overcame their differences and became friends.

At number one, Monsters University is the best follow-up because it expands the original’s world while strengthening the relationship at its centre. It is funny, colourful and unusually honest about the fact that not everyone reaches a dream by following the same path.

Where to watch: The UK listing currently shows Disney+. Check JustWatch (https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/monsters-university) for current options.

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Conclusion

The movies that work best after Monsters, Inc. understand that a monster is only frightening until you get to know them. The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman and The Addams Family each play with that idea, while Lilo & Stitch and Hotel Transylvania turn it into stories about family and belonging.

If you want the most similar Pixar experience, start with Monsters University. For a goofy monster ensemble, choose Hotel Transylvania. And if you want something funny and heartfelt that is still a little spooky, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a great seasonal pick. Monsters University earns the top spot because it returns to Mike and Sulley without taking their friendship for granted; it lets us see how it was built.

Which one would you put first? Tell us what you would rank differently—or share another movie you would recommend to a Monsters, Inc. fan.

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FAQs

1. What is the best movie to watch if you love Monsters, Inc.?

Monsters University is the closest match because it returns to Mike and Sulley, expands their world and shows how their friendship began. For a different monster-filled comedy, try Hotel Transylvania, or choose Lilo & Stitch for another story about an unusual creature becoming part of a family.

2. What movies are similar to Monsters, Inc.?

Monsters University, Hotel Transylvania and The Boxtrolls are the closest matches if you want animated movies with memorable creatures and a funny ensemble. Shrek and Lilo & Stitch are good alternatives if you enjoy stories about characters who are judged by their appearance.

3. Is Monsters University a sequel to Monsters, Inc.?

It is a prequel. The film takes place before the events of Monsters, Inc. and follows Mike and Sulley at university, when they first meet and become rivals. You can watch it on its own, but the original gives the friendship’s later moments extra meaning.

4. Which movie on this list is the funniest?

Shrek and Hotel Transylvania are the broadest comedies, with plenty of fast jokes and eccentric characters. Monsters University has more of the workplace and college humour that made the original Monsters, Inc. so appealing.

5. Which movies are good for Halloween family movie night?

The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie and ParaNorman all bring spooky animation, though they vary in tone and intensity. The Nightmare Before Christmas is the most musical, while ParaNorman has the most frightening scenes.

6. Is ParaNorman scary for children?

It includes ghosts, zombies and a curse, so it may be intense for very young viewers or children sensitive to spooky images. It is also a funny, thoughtful story about loneliness and empathy. Check the film’s rating and consider your child’s comfort with supernatural scenes.

7. What should I watch if I like Sulley and Boo’s relationship?

Try Lilo & Stitch. Its central relationship is between a lonely child and a strange creature who learns what it means to belong to a family. Frankenweenie is another option if you want a story about a child’s deep attachment to a loyal companion.

8. Where can I stream these movies in the UK?

At the time of checking, UK listings show Monsters University, Frankenweenie, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Lilo & Stitch on Disney+. Other titles are listed on services such as ITVX, Netflix, Paramount+, NOW TV and Amazon Prime Video, or may be available to rent. Streaming libraries change, so check the linked listings.

9. Are these movies suitable for young children?

Several are family comedies, but the spooky titles vary in intensity. Shrek, Hotel Transylvania and Monsters University are lighter picks; ParaNorman, Frankenweenie and Corpse Bride include more frightening imagery. Check age ratings and choose according to the child watching.

10. What should I watch after Monsters, Inc.?

Start with Monsters University if you want more Mike and Sulley, or Hotel Transylvania for another animated comedy full of supernatural characters. For a different kind of heartfelt creature story, Lilo & Stitch is an excellent choice.

For more film details, visit Pixar’s official feature film guide (https://www.pixar.com/feature-films) and Rotten Tomatoes’ animated movie listings (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/browse/moviesathome/genres:animation).

If you’re on the hunt for your next favorite TV show or movie, these websites are useful places to continue your search:

ScreenRant (https://screenrant.com/) – News, reviews and features on movies, television and entertainment trends.

CBR (https://www.cbr.com/) – Coverage of comics, movies, television and pop culture.

Collider (https://collider.com/) – Film and TV news, trailers, interviews and reviews.

IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/) – Cast information, credits, trivia and audience reviews.

Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/) – Critic reviews, audience scores and film information.

Metacritic (https://www.metacritic.com/) – Reviews and scores for film, television and games.

TV Guide (https://www.tvguide.com/) – Streaming guides, television news and recommendations.

Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/) – Entertainment news, features, interviews and reviews.

Deadline (https://deadline.com/) – Film and television industry news.

The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/) – News and analysis from the entertainment industry.

Explore these platforms for more recommendations, reviews and stories about animation.

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12 Alternative Article Titles

1. 10 Best Movies to Watch If You Love Monsters, Inc.

2. Movies Like Monsters, Inc.: 10 Animated Adventures to Watch Next

3. What to Watch After Monsters, Inc.: 10 Monster Movies

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