Last time around, we shared a movie night guide for the 2001 Disney Pixar classic, Monsters Inc. Tonight, the next film in our Disney Sunday Night Movie series is also the next film in that franchise: Monsters University, from 2013. Like, Monsters Inc, the charming Monsters University is rated G, and we really appreciate that when making family movie night choices.
Monsters University takes us to the campus of MU, and we get to be in the room where Mike and Sulley first meet. We watch them as they each attempt to become great scarers and make a place for themselves at school.
One thing to keep in mind for your Monsters University movie night is that this film was made a dozen years after Monsters Inc, but it is actually set earlier. You see, in Monsters Inc, we encounter Mike and Sulley: two longtime best friends working at the titular Monsters Inc. In Monsters University we go back to Mike and Sulley’s college days to find out how they met. So, it’s up to you how you would like to order your Monsters movie nights: either way works!
Monsters University (2013) Disney Sunday Night Movie Guide
Our Disney Sunday Night Movie posts are simple guides for movie nights that bring people together. We like to offer suggestions for easy activities involving little or no prep and on-theme snack ideas. The heart of our movie night guides are discussion questions meant to help you connect with your loved ones. We think family movie night should be about drawing closer together and not being perfect or camera-ready.
As always, we encourage you to use the pieces of this guide that work for you and forget the rest.
Easy Snacks and Supplies for Monsters University Movie Night
For Monsters snack ideas, we are going to refer you back to our Monsters, Inc. Movie Night Discussion, Snack & Activity Guide. Those snacks will all work really well here too. You could also go the classic college study food route and get a few pizzas to fuel your fun.
Outside recipe ingredients, the only supplies you will need for this Monsters Inc. movie night are pencils (or crayons, markers, etc) and paper. If you want to do the “Scare Games” activities below, you will use items you already have around your movie viewing space, like furniture and throw pillows.
Watch Monsters University for Movie Night
Disney and Pixar’s Monsters University (2013) is available for streaming on Disney+. If you do not have this streaming service, we recommend that you borrow the movie from a friend or your library. We are thrilled with how many films—even new releases—we can find at our own local library. And if they do not have the film we want, the librarians find it at another library and put it on hold for us. Seriously, check-out your library!
In addition to Monsters University, Disney and Pixar have also created the film Monsters, Inc (see that movie night guide here) and the series Monsters at Work. On Disney+, you can also find two short films featuring Mike and Sulley. We have watched and enjoyed all of these. Incidentally, if you do have Disney+ we suggest checking-out this article: How to Use Disney+ to Plan a Better Disneyland Trip, 5 Tips
Now, time to get to class and start this Monsters University movie night!
Monsters University Movie Night Activities
After the movie is over, but before you jump into discussion, help everyone loosen-up with a Monsters University activity. Getting a little goofy can help conversation flow later. We have two ideas for you, and you can use one, both or none if you are just ready to talk. Some of our snack ideas from the Monsters, Inc movie night also double as activities… snack-tivities.
Monsters University Scare Games
The Scare Games are central to the plot of Monsters University. Mike, Sulley and their Oozma Kappa brothers compete in the Scare Games, which consist of several events. You can recreate Scare Games events in your own home with simple supplies you already have on hand. Here are some ideas:
Monsters University “Toxicity Challenge”
“A child’s room is where you scare, but avoid the toxicity lurking there.”
Line your group up on one side of your room. (You may want to head outside or into a hallway or larger room if your movie-viewing space is small.) Have everyone in your group find a partner. One partner in each pair will be the guide while the other will be the scarer.
The scarers must cross your room (here standing-in for a child’s room) without bumping into any obstacles like furniture or walls. The trick is that the scarers will not be able to see: have them close their eyes and have their guides lead them by the hand.
For an extra challenge, strew some throw pillows around the room or have the guides stand across the room and guide the scarers only with their words.
Scarers who bump into “toxic” obstacles are eliminated from the game.
Monsters University “Avoid the Parent”
“If a kid hears you coming, they’ll call Mom or Dad. Then you’d better run fast, or things will get bad.”
In Monsters University, competitors crept through the university library and tried to avoid getting caught by the librarian. For your Monsters University movie night, you can play a variation on the childhood game “Mr. Bear.”
Choose one person to be Mr. Bear, except today, we are calling that person “Librarian.” The Librarian should turn his or her back to the rest of the group, the scarers, and wait quietly. The scarers should line-up across the room touching an object designated as the safe “base.”
To begin the game, the scarers should chant “oh Librarian, oh librarian, are you awake?” The Librarian should pretend not to hear them, and the scarers should continue their chant. With each chant, the scarers should creep closer to the Librarian. When the Librarian feels the scarers are within catching distance and likely to be taken by surprise, the Librarian should roar “Yes!” and try to catch as many scarers as possible before they reach the safe base.
Monsters University “Hide & Sneak”
“Someone is coming. This could ruin your night. Stay hidden, take cover, and stay out of sight.”
This one is easy! Stage a game of hide and seek in your home. You can add some twists to make it extra monstrous like turning off the lights or playing the Monsters University soundtrack in the background. Last one found is the greatest scarer!
Be the Professor
Mike and Sulley attend Monsters University to learn how to be the best scarers they can be, and they have experienced professors ready to teach them all of the finer points of scaring.
You have something to teach as well: everyone has some skill or knowledge to share. Have each person in your movie night crew come up with something they can teach the rest of you about. Each class should only be less than five minutes.
Demonstrate a cartwheel, share five amazing dinosaur facts, show everyone how to draw a ladybug, give a five minute lecture on art of play dough sculpture. Really, each one of us has something to share! Discover your group’s hidden expertise at Monsters University movie night!
Conversation Guide for Monsters University Movie Night
The most important parts of our Disney Sunday Night Movie posts are our discussion guides. These questions and conversation prompts are meant to guide you into a discussion about Monsters University. More than that, we hope this movie night guide will help you connect with yourself and the people (or monsters) important to you. To aid you in having a meaningful discussion, we have some…
Helpful Tips for Leading a Discussion
We have a few quick tips to help everyone in your group feel comfortable sharing. While Mike and Sulley wanted to be champion scarers, the best thing they got out of their time in the Scare Games was their friendship. So let us take some time to focus on helping everyone feel comfortable sharing and connecting.
Create a Cozy and Comfortable Space
Try to create a welcoming space for everyone in your group. A simple but inviting environment can go a long way towards helping people feel comfortable inside and out. Gentle lighting and a seating arrangement where everyone can see each other is usually best. With our words and a cozy space, we let everyone know that their thoughts are valued.
Writing & Drawing Can Help People Share
Whether we have a room full or introverts or those prone to speaking before thinking, we find that making time for drawing or writing can be really fruitful. Before we ask our group to share, we read discussion questions out loud and give our group members five to ten minutes to draw or journal. Many people need individual time to process their thoughts before they share.
Group members might choose to show their writing and artwork, or they may just use it as a starting place for themselves.
Listen Well
When people choose to share something difficult, it can be hard to know how to respond. Just let that person know you are listening with empathy. Try to avoid the temptation to minimize a problem or offer suggestions right away. Be attentive and acknowledge their feelings. You can say things like, “How did you feel when that happened?” Or, “That sounds very hard. Thank you for sharing this with me.”
Reflection Questions for Disney Sunday Night Movie: Monsters University
Now on to our reflection questions for Monsters University movie night. As group leader, we suggest you read these questions aloud one at a time. After each question, give your group members time to think, write and even draw if they wish. After everyone has had time to reflect, invite each person to share their responses.
These questions are designed to start at the surface level and then prompt your group to go deeper.
Reflection Questions for Monsters University Movie Night
- Imagine you attend Monsters University, what fraternity or sorority would you join? Would it be one of the existing groups we saw in the movie or would you create your own.
- Draw a portrait of your sorority or fraternity or write a list of the attributes valued by your members. Share them with the group when you are ready.
- Mike and Sulley do not get along when they first meet, but they gradually become best friends. On the other hand, Randall and Mike seem to get along, but we see their relationship change too. Think of a time when your impression of someone changed after you got to know them.
- What changed your mind about that person?
- How has that experience affected the way you approach new people today?
- In the beginning of the film, Mike’s greatest wish is to be a scarer. But, he does not seem to have the natural gifts that others—like Sulley—have for scaring.
- Do you think Mike should keep trying to be a scarer? Why or why not?
- Sulley makes a poor choice and rigs the last event of the Scare Games to help Mike and Oozma Kappa win. Mike makes a dangerous choice and sneaks through a door into a summer camp. The two eventually reconcile but are kicked-out of MU.
- Were you surprised to see the movie end with Mike and Sulley making choices that got them kicked-out of school? How do you feel about Mike and Sulley and their relationship by the end of the film?
- We all make mistakes. What have you learned from the mistakes in your life? How can you figure out how to forgive yourself and keep growing?
Thank you for reading this movie night guide for Monsters University
We hope you have found some simple but fun ideas for your own movie night. Do not forget to visit our Monsters, Inc. Movie Night Discussion, Snack & Activity Guide for more fun ideas and those monsters-themed snacks.
Be sure to check-out our other Disney Sunday Night Movie guides here.We have other Pixar classics including Inside Out and Cars, plus other films like The Muppets. For another guide to a great Pixar sequel, see Disney Movie Night Discussion Guide: Inside Out 2 And please consider subscribing to our free newsletter for fun future ideas. Thanks again for reading
