Monsters vs Aliens
A newly giant woman and a secret team of misfit monsters defend Earth from an invading alien mastermind.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- upbeat
- family movie night
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film energetic and entertaining for families, with ample humor and visual effects but less depth than the strongest animated features.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Susan Murphy’s change into Ginormica reframes an unwanted transformation as a source of confidence and heroic agency.
The secret compound, giant monsters, alien villain, and giant robot are presented through witty family-friendly genre spoofing.
Susan, B.O.B., Dr. Cockroach, and The Missing Link are recruited as a last-resort defense force despite being treated as abnormal outcasts.
Ginormica’s giant size, alien attacks, and battles with a giant robot exploit exaggerated scale and DreamWorks Animation’s 3D presentation.
Films like Monsters vs Aliens, and why
The Incredibles
animated science fiction comedy with colorful alien invasion action, eccentric heroes, and broad family humor
Megamind
family-oriented animated adventure combining superhero-like teamwork, comic villains, and large-scale visual spectacle
Planet 51
animated alien invasion comedy driven by an unconventional ensemble and playful genre parody
Movie Details
- Directors
- Conrad Vernon, Rob Letterman
- Release Date
- 2009-03-19
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (5141)
Cast
- Reese Witherspoon
- Seth Rogen
- Hugh Laurie
- Rainn Wilson
- Will Arnett
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Paul Rudd
- Stephen Colbert
- Julie White
- Jeffrey Tambor
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Monsters vs Aliens about?
- A newly giant woman and a secret team of misfit monsters defend Earth from an invading alien mastermind.
- What is Monsters vs Aliens like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Monsters vs Aliens as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Monsters vs Aliens violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Monsters vs Aliens as mild.
- What did critics think of Monsters vs Aliens?
- Critics broadly found the film energetic and entertaining for families, with ample humor and visual effects but less depth than the strongest animated features.
- Which films are like Monsters vs Aliens?
- Films with a similar feel include The Incredibles, Megamind, and Planet 51.
- How long is Monsters vs Aliens?
- Monsters vs Aliens runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Monsters vs Aliens?
- In United States, Monsters vs Aliens is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
