“Monster Trucks” is a 2016 American film that combines live action and computer animation. It was produced by Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Movies, and Disruption Entertainment for Paramount Pictures. Directed by Chris Wedge, the film stars Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Amy Ryan, Rob Lowe, Danny Glover, Barry Pepper, and Holt McCallany.
The story revolves around a high school student named Tripp Coley, played by Lucas Till. Tripp works at a junkyard and builds a pickup truck with the hope of leaving his town. One night, he encounters a subterranean creature that feeds on oil and names it Creech. Tripp befriends Creech and modifies his truck to give Creech control, essentially turning it into a vehicle that Creech can operate.
Meanwhile, Terravex Oil is conducting a fracking operation in North Dakota, which unintentionally releases three subterranean creatures. Two of them are captured by Terravex, but one escapes. The CEO of Terravex, Reece Tenneson (Rob Lowe), decides to protect the company’s image by drilling poison into the underground tunnels where the creatures live. He also sends a hired mercenary named Burke to kill the captured creatures.
Tripp, along with his friend Meredith (Jane Levy), seeks help from Tripp’s father but is betrayed and handed over to Burke. They manage to escape in the modified truck with Creech. The group is chased by Burke and his team but successfully evades them.
Creech senses that something bad will happen to the other creatures and leads Tripp and Meredith to Terravex headquarters. They find Creech’s parents there but are attacked by Terravex workers. Creech is captured, and Tripp and Meredith are taken to Tenneson.
With the help of Jim, a geologist who objects to the mistreatment of the creatures, Tripp and Meredith set out to rescue the creatures. They acquire two more trucks and modify them for Creech’s parents to control. Jim assists them by stealing the truck carrying Creech’s parents. The group escapes and heads towards the tunnels where the creatures reside.
Terravex pursues them up the mountain, but Tripp and his group manage to escape with the creatures. During the chase, Rick helps them escape from Burke. Tripp engages in a head-on battle with Burke, resulting in the destruction of the poison machine and Burke’s demise. Creech saves Tripp from drowning, and the creatures return home.
Terravex’s harmful experimentation and Tenneson’s crimes are exposed, leading to Tenneson’s arrest. Tripp and Rick reconcile and rebuild the truck’s engine together, while Tripp and Meredith start a romantic relationship.
“Monster Trucks” received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office failure, grossing $64 million worldwide against its $125 million budget.