Films like Monsters, Inc.
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Monsters, Inc., going by its Boxlist taste profile: A larger-than-life animated family film that is wholesome, light and pacy. Best if you like the extraordinary over the everyday. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of unlikely connections, deep rivalry and resilience and survival, plus tags such as chameleon, infant and invisibility.
Here are 15 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Monsters, Inc. (2001).
- 1
The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019)
Film7.2
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also heightened and warm-hearted, with themes of deep rivalry. Common ground: rivalry, family.
- 2
Toy Story (1995)
Film8.0Darker
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also heightened and fast-paced, with themes of unlikely connections and deep rivalry. Common ground: rivalry, friends.
- 3
Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)
Film7.0
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also warm-hearted and heightened, with themes of unlikely connections. Common ground: best friend.
- 4
Despicable Me (2010)
Film7.2
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also warm-hearted and heightened, with themes of deep rivalry. Common ground: rivalry.
- 5
Ratatouille (2007)
Film7.8Darker
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also heightened, with themes of unlikely connections and resilience and survival.
- 6
Luca (2021)
Film8.0
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also warm-hearted and heightened, with themes of unlikely connections. Common ground: friends, monster.
- 7
Film7.7Darker
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also heightened, with themes of deep rivalry and resilience and survival. Common ground: rivalry.
- 8
The Peanuts Movie (2015)
Film6.8
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also heightened and warm-hearted. Common ground: family.
- 9
Zootopia 2 (2025)
Film7.6More intricate
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also warm-hearted and heightened, with themes of unlikely connections.
- 10
Trolls (2016)
Film6.7
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also heightened and warm-hearted, with themes of unlikely connections.
- 11
The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)
Film7.0
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also warm-hearted and heightened, with themes of unlikely connections.
- 12
Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Film6.9Darker
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also heightened and fast-paced, with themes of unlikely connections and resilience and survival. Common ground: best friend, family.
- 13
A Bug's Life (1998)
Film7.0Darker
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also heightened and light, with themes of resilience and survival.
- 14
Film6.8
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also warm-hearted and heightened.
- 15
Cars (2006)
Film6.8
Why it's like Monsters, Inc.: Also warm-hearted and heightened, with themes of unlikely connections.
Boxlist compares Monsters, Inc. with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
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Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Monsters, Inc.?
- Picks with a similar feel include The Angry Birds Movie 2, Toy Story, Shaun the Sheep Movie and Despicable Me. Each shares part of Monsters, Inc.'s taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 films.
- How are these films like Monsters, Inc. chosen?
- Boxlist compares Monsters, Inc. with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.