An impeccable, flawless masterpiece. You could argue this is Pixar’s best. You’d be wrong (which in and of itself is amazing), but you could argue it. Toy Story 2 is one of my earliest theatre memories (I saw it with a friend when I was around 8 or 9), but this is the first Pixar film I remember being gobsmacked by. Arguably it’s the one that really cemented them as a company that could think outside the toy box (A Bug’s Life would be great for any other studio, but for Pixar, it’s a sophomore slump).
One thing I love about this: there’s remarkably little exposition. Most films would basically strap Keanu Reeves (or his stand-in) to a chair and explain how the universe works for 20 minutes. Monsters, Inc never does that. It just drops single-sentence world-building bombs. “Remember Big Foot? Loch Ness? We’ll end up banished like them!” Great, that’s all I need to know, thanks! It’s perfect.
Billy Crystal is king. The script is air tight; it’s Chinatown by way of Pixar. The score slaps. And the ending just owns. If you don’t cry at the end, you’re actually the monster, incorporated.