Monsters vs. Aliens is a 2009 American animated science fiction comedy film directed by Conrad Vernon and Rob Letterman and written by Letterman, Maya Forbes, Wally Wolodarsky, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, it is the first installment in the Monsters vs. Aliens franchise. The film stars Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Paul Rudd, and Stephen Colbert. The film involves a group of misfit monsters tasked by the United States Armed Forces to stop the invasion of an extraterrestrial villain and save the Earth in exchange for freedom.