Monsters Inc. is one of Pixar's greatest movies, putting a great twist on characters that are usually meant to be scary and instead, making them loveable, relatable and funny. The movie has loads of really fun characters, but the movie is all about the duo of Mike and Sulley.
They're one of the best duos in Pixar history, bouncing off each other throughout the whole film. While they might squabble and argue, they also love each other and are always there for each other, which makes them the best of friends.
They go through an incredible journey during the movie, trying to keep their secret quiet and then trying to place Boo back into her home. However, which character is the true star of the movie? Within this list, we will rank five reasons why Sulley was the best, and five why it's Mike.
Sulley: His Rivalry With Randall
One of the big parts of Monsters Inc. is the relationship that Randall has with the other characters, and while he is horrible to pretty much everyone, his main rival is Sulley. The two of them are in major competition throughout the movie to get the record number of scares, which is a huge part of Randall's behavior.
They have a serious dislike for one another and seeing that take shape over the course of the entire film really is a highlight of the movie. It's something that brings a lot of action to the movie and that adds some huge issues throughout.
Mike: Saving The Day
Despite the fact that Sulley is the character that Randall really hates, Mike isn't someone who gets away with avoiding his wrath. He is easily picked on mainly because of his smaller stature, but that doesn't stop him working incredibly hard to help out where he can.
It is through Mike that most things in the film get solved. He is smart enough to help with hiding Boo and then getting her back to her door, which includes several encounters with Randall himself where Mike really steps up to the plate.
Sulley: He Doesn't Let Success Go To His Head
Sulley is one of the most famous monsters in the world that this film is set. He is the person who brings in the most scares, and because of that everyone knows him and wants to spend time with him. It could have been easy for Pixar to create an egotistical character out of him, but they didn't.
Instead, Sulley is still down to earth and is kind to everyone he interacts with. That's a brilliant part of his personality and is why he is so much fun as a character and why is incredibly likeable.
Mike: The Better Friend
While Mike and Sulley both care about each other a lot, as they are best friends, it is Mike who is the better friend out of the pair. Despite the fact, he doesn't get the limelight that Sulley does due to his scaring career, Mike never complains and is constantly working just as hard to get things right.
When Boo comes around, all he does is try to protect Sulley as best as possible and even when they end up fighting and falling out, he still returns and saves his partner from Randall, as previously mentioned.
Sulley: Breaks Stereotypes
Typically in the history of the movie industry, when a character looks like Sulley does, you would expect him to be the villain. He's tall, fairly scary looking and has an incredible scream that frightens the life out of children around the world.
However, outside of his job terrifying people, Sulley is an incredibly nice and hospitable person. The fact that he's such a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover is what makes him such an amazing character.
Mike: Fixing The Door
Mike might not have always supported Sulley's friendship with Boo, but even he eventually warms up to the young human and it leads to an incredibly emotional scene. Boo obviously returns to the human world, but Mike pieces together Boo's door from the shards of wood in order for his friend to see her once more.
This is the final scene of the movie and it left things on a major cliffhanger which fans have always wanted to know more about. However, the fact Mike goes to those lengths to cheer his friend up shows why he is really the better of the two characters.
Sulley: His Scaring
Even though it's not showcased too much, the actual scaring that takes place in the movie is a lot of fun. Seeing the various monsters heading in the doors and watching their unique methods at scaring people is a lot of fun, which is why it was expanded upon even more in Monsters University.
These scenes are amongst the most fun in the entire movie, and Sulley is involved in plenty of them. This is where he really gets to shine in the lead role as he showcases his true skill to the audience.
Mike: Googly Bear
There isn't much in the way of romance within Monsters Inc., but Mike does have a relationship in the movie with the receptionist at the scare factory, Celia. She is crazy over Mike and has several nicknames for him, including the classic "Googly Bear."
Their interactions are absolutely hilarious throughout the movie and while Celia sadly doesn't appear too often, when she does it really enhances the film. That all comes through Mike and his closeness with her, adding to his overall character as well.
Sulley: Relationship With Boo
While the monsters that inhabit this world are scary to look at, they're not horrible people and Sulley proves that. He goes against the normal relationship that monsters are supposed to have with humans when Boo ends up in the world of the monsters.
Instead of scaring her or ditching her, he does everything possible to look after the young girl. The two of them end up becoming attached and incredibly close which creates an incredibly emotional relationship that really is the heartbeat of the entire movie.
Mike: He's Funnier
Mike Wazowski is one of the two lead roles within Monsters Inc., however, he is also the comedic relief at points as well. He constantly provides humor throughout the film, which really helps to make the movie so energetic and exciting.
Whether it's the physical comedy of him falling around which entertains Boo, or the snidey comments that he often brings out, Mike is hilarious. Having that level of comedy against Sulley, who is quite dry, makes Mike seem even funnier and it really helps bring the film to life.