Bello! It is July. The month of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Madonna’s Confessions II, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is upon us. But wait? What’s that coming over the hill? Is it a monster? Is it a monster? Well, actually, it’s more than a monster — It’s Minions & Monsters. Yes, those adorable yellow henchmen (who may or may not have allied themselves to Hitler once upon a time — Google it!) are back this month in an Old Hollywood adventure filled with Citizen Kane homages, toilet humour, pure Minionese sequences, and *checks notes* a baby Cthulhu. Thank the maker!
With the Minions back on our screens, this time with a whole buttload of many-eyed and monstrous friends, we here at Empire HQ have gone a little bit monster mad. And the result? Well, we’ve only gone and pulled out three more animated monster movies for you, your friends, and the whole family to stream as soon as you get back from the multiplex, little yellow friend themed cup and popcorn bucket in hand.
So kick back, relax, and join us as Empire’s own Kevin, Stuart, and Bob — namely Deputy Online Editor Ben Travis, Social Media Editor Harry Stainer, and Online Writer Jordan King — present your post-Minions & Monsters must-sees. Enjoy…
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Directors: Pete Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich | Runtime: 1hr 33m | Streaming on: Disney+
Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly
No doubt about it: Monsters, Inc. is still pure genius. Pixar’s buddy-movie creature-feature sees big fuzzy scare-king Sully (John Goodman) and little green sarcastic orb Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) forced to chase a tiny human toddler set loose in the world of Monstropolis – with all the monsters deathly terrified of humans, naturally. Packed with toothy, tentacley life forms, it’s a beautifully-designed film that revels in the history of monster cinema – keep an eye out for Harryhausen’s restaurant. And when you’re done, why not double up and treat yourself to underrated, similarly easter egg-stuffed sequel Monsters University, a fun prequel that follows a young Mike and Sully at — you guessed it — Monster University! BT
Read Empire’s review of Monsters, Inc..
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (2005)
Directors: Steve Box, Nick Park | Runtime: 1hr 25m | Streaming on: Prime Video
Starring: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham-Carter, Peter Kay
The only way to top a murderous chicken ahem penguin is to go all in on an old-school monster movie. And that’s exactly what Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit does. The duo’s first feature-length adventure embraces full-fledged mayhem as their town comes under threat from a vegetable-stealing, carrot-obsessed creature. Packed with delightfully absurd British Aardman humour — from wrestling nuns to Ralph Fiennes’ gloriously ridiculous Lord Victor Quartermaine and his over-the-top toupee — the film lands every joke like a 24-carrot bullet to the funny bone. Aardman’s unmistakable love of classic monster movies is also on full display, delivering spooky imagery and a plot that is way less predictable than you’d think, all this amounts to a yarn that both adults and children can happily sink their teeth into. Cracking stuff! HS
Read Empire’s review of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit.
The Sea Beast (2022)
Director: Chris Williams | Runtime: 1hr 59m | Streaming on: Netflix
Starring: Karl Urban, Zaris Angel-Hator, Jared Harris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dan Stevens
Having first co-helmed Disney’s Big Hero Six and Bolt, Chris Williams’ criminally underseen solo directorial debut was a total breath of fresh air when it hit Netflix in 2022. A swashbuckling seafaring animated adventure with shades of Moana and How To Train Your Dragon woven into its surprisingly complex narrative, Williams’ film is as impressive for what it says about our world as for the brilliantly animated way it says it. Karl Urban is a hoot as legendary monster hunter Jacob Holland (think Guybrush Threepwood with muscles), who is joined by feisty, wide-eyed stowaway Maisie (Zaris Angel-Hator) on a monster hunt that soon has them questioning who the real monsters in their story truly are. Come for the adorable wonder of creature design that is Red and a monster movie all the family can enjoy; stay for a thoughtful, nuanced reckoning with the legacy of colonialism. Yippee! JK
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Finished watching these monster mashes? Why not check out The 59 Best Movies Streaming On Netflix UK? Or our guide to what to watch on Disney+? Or, for more family friendly fare, our rundown of the 50 best kids’ movies has got you covered. Dive right in!
