MANILA, July 01, 2013 – Disney/Pixar’s comedy adventure “Monsters University” graduated at the top of Philippine box-office with honors as it amassed a sensational P58.22-million nationwide gross for its five-day opening weekend June 26-30. This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines.
“Monsters University’s” opening now represents the most successful launch for a Pixar title, outpacing the old record of 2010’s “Toy Story 3” at P55.6-million. Industry-wide, it nabbed the second biggest opening ever for an animated title, as well as the fifth highest bow ever for a Disney film – animated or live-action. In the U.S., the prequel to the 2001 blockbuster “Monsters, Inc.” was No. 1 for the second consecutive weekend, reaching a stellar $171 million through Sunday. The movie has so far earned just north of $300 million worldwide, including nearly $130 million from 37 overseas territories. Back in the Philippines, “Monsters U” rolled out in 132 screens, posting its largest receipts from SM North EDSA with P2.71-M, followed by SM Mall of Asia with P2.46-M and Trinoma at P2.38-M. Also performing exceedingly well are Power Plant (P2.36-M), SM Megamall (P2.01-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.74-M), Eastwood (P1.52-M), Greenbelt 3 (P1.40-M), Alabang Town Center (P1.38-M) and SM Southmall (P1.32-M). Rounding up the Top 20 cinemas are Newport City (P1.17-M), Gateway (P1.14-M), SM Fairview (P1.09-M), Robinsons Galleria (P1.027-M), Festival Mall (P1.025-M), Shang Cineplex (P1.01-M), SM Marikina (P 979,642), SM San Lazaro (P 958,300), Ayala Cebu (P 906,156) and Robinsons Ermita (P 876,422). Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, “Monsters University” tells of the early adventures of monsters Mike and Sulley as college students. Ever since Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Now playing across the Philippines in Disney Digital 3D, 2D and regular theaters, “Monsters University” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.
Reviewing Monsters University courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Philippines. Opens June 29 and featuring the voices of Billy Crystal and John Goodman as Mike and Sully respectively.
It's a return engagement to the world of Sully and Mike Wozawski this time however, we take a step back to that time before the events of Monsters Inc. to find out the origin of Mike and Sully's friendship as well as how they actually got to where they are. In the grand scheme of things, Monsters University is the first daring risk that Walt Disney and Pixar has taken. They've always been known for making sequels but never a prequel. Did they pass the mark? Did they actually do good in this type of feature film story telling? The answer is yes.
There's a lot of cute moments here in Monsters U that will appeal to folks of different ages. It's also chock full of meta stuff, which is amusing considering that all that plus more is wrapped in such a movie. Still after all these years, I'm also still impressed with how Disney managed to cast it's traditional magic in this new movie. The characters are also evenly matched to their voices; Serenity's Nathan Fillion comes into the film as Johnny the Jaw, Sean Hayes [of Will and Grace] as Terri, Charlie Day as Art and Helen Mirren as Dean Hardscrabble all fit the characters to the T.
Being that it's a prequel, nothing earth-shattering or career ending happens here. No villain dies and Randell Boggs [played by Steve Buscemi] is still alive and still the laughing stock in one form or another. As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of metas that come into play in this movie. One of the most recurring ones happen to revolve around Mike and how he pines to be a scarer, no, the top scarer for Monsters Inc. Of course that doesn't happen in the first movie as its actually Sully who becomes that. While Toy Story delved around friendship and acceptance of what you are, Monsters University focuses more on friendship and growing up together. It's an evolving friendship as seen in the relationship between the two main characters.
Another great thing about Monsters University is the gags. It starts slow but by the time we get to see the big scare fest, you'll be chuckling not only at the antics of Mike and Sully but also with the other OK (Oozma Kappa) members such as Art and Terri & Terry.
Major props to the production crew for giving us a couple of easter eggs in the movie. Oh and to answer your question, YES, THERE IS ANOTHER POST-CREDIT SCENE and you do not want to miss that.
Overall, Monsters University is a great movie to catch this weekend. Be sure to bring the kids and make it a family bonding moment. Oh and I also advice you to watch it in 3D as it gives more life to the already lively gang of would-be scary monsters. Special thanks once again to Walt Disney Studios Philippines. Catch Monsters University as it is released today (June 26).
