LEGO has missed a trick with the first Monsters, Inc. set
The LEGO Group has missed a trick with its first Monsters, Inc. model, but such a clever inclusion might be more of an obstruction in promotion.
The first LEGO Monsters, Inc. set has been officially revealed. 40861 Sulley, Mike and Boo Figures finally brings the classic Disney and Pixar movie into the LEGO portfolio with caricatures of the three characters, in turn celebrating the 25th anniversary of the film.
There’s just one missed opportunity in the model, though; the box art has Mike in clear view. A meme that has surfaced from the first film is that Mike’s face is always partially covered in merchandise, promotional material and even on streaming services.
A simple 25th-anniversary icon coincidentally covering Mike on the box art of 40861 Sulley, Mike and Boo Figures would have been an amazing reference to this moment and meme. However, covering part of your product on the packaging isn’t necessarily a good idea.
The LEGO Group is going to aim to sell as many copies of 40861 Sulley, Mike and Boo Figures as they can when it launches on March 1, 2026, as any business would. Part of the all-important promotion of the set is going to be the box art itself, which ideally needs to depict everything included in the set.
Covering LEGO BrickHeadz Mike would ultimately undermine that goal, as funny as it would be. Another solution might have been to cover the render of Mike on the side of the box with something, since that part won’t be front-facing on shelves. Either way, the LEGO Group has opted to leave everything uncovered.
Despite this missed opportunity, 40861 Sulley, Mike and Boo Figures is our first LEGO Monsters, Inc. set, and it has been a long time coming. There’s always the opportunity for the LEGO Group to cover Mike’s face with something in the future, should there be any other models based on the film. Look forward to the launch of 40861 Sulley, Mike and Boo Figures and 40881 Supply Llama & Fishstick Figures on March 1.
Confirmed and rumoured LEGO BrickHeadz 2026 sets
| LEGO set | Price | Pieces | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40856 Mandalorian & Grogu: Allies and Villains | TBC | TBC | May 1, 2026 |
| 40860 TBC | TBC | TBC | June 1, 2026 |
| 40861 Sulley, Mike and Boo Figures | £19.99 / $24.99 / €24.99 | 303 | March 1, 2026 |
| 40879 Eleven, Max, Demogorgon and Holly Figures | £34.99 / $39.99 / €39.99 | 584 | January 1, 2026 |
| 40880 TBC | TBC | TBC | April 1, 2026 |
| 40881 Supply Llama & Fishstick Figures | £19.99 / $24.99 / €24.99 | 300 | March 1, 2026 |
| 40922 Angel | £10.99 / $12.99 / €12.99 | 133 | January 1, 2026 |
| 40923 TBC | TBC | TBC | June 1, 2026 |
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