Universal Classic Monsters | |
---|---|
Production company | |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date | 1913-present |
Country | United States |
The Universal Monsters (also known as Universal Classic Monsters and Universal Studios Monsters) media franchise includes characters based on a series of horror films produced by Universal Pictures and released between 1913-1956.
While the early installments were initially created as stand-alone films based on published novels, their financial and critical success resulted in various cross-over releases. Following the positive response to various viewings of these movies via television redistribution which began airing in the 1950s, the studio began developing the characters for other media. In the 1990s, it became priority for Universal to promote their catalogue with official packaging that presented the movies with the official franchise title. Through a number of VHS editions, their popularity continued into contemporary entertainment. This included additional development through modern-filmmaking adaptations such as Stephen Sommers' The Mummy (1999) and Van Helsing (2004).
Modern analyses describes the titular characters as "pop culture icons". [1]
Universal's early horror films were adaptations of work from familiar authors and texts to give their films a prestige appeal. These included Dracula (1931), whose success led to the production of other works such as Frankenstein (1931). [2] [3] Frankenstein's ending was changed by studio head Carl Laemmle Jr., who wanted Universal to be able deploy key characters from the film into subsequent Universal productions. [3] Following the release of other Universal films such as The Mummy (1932) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935) there was a dry spell of horror films. [4] [5] [6] [7] Universal only returned to the style following a successful theatrical re-release of Dracula and Frankenstein which led to new works starting with Son of Frankenstein (1939). [4] [5] [6]
Universal would only introduce a few new monsters in the 1940s, with the most famous being Lon Chaney Jr. as The Wolf Man. [8] The decade had Universal's horror output include many remakes and sequels, with films often directly reusing old sets, footage, and narratives to replicate moments in their earlier horror productions. [9]
Universal's first transmedia properties were from the 1940s and 1950s with the films Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944) and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). [10] In these films, the monsters from the studio's earlier films "team up" against various characters. Author Megan De Bruin-Molé suggested that the Universal Classic Monsters films exist as a loose mash-up, which allowed for Dracula to exist and be watched separately from Frankenstein but allowed their characters to be systemically and consistently brought together and developed in other films and media. [11] These productions made were often crossovers and sequels, such as Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), House of Frankenstein and several occurrences in comedy films of Abbott and Costello meeting the monster starting with Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and ending with Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955). [11] [12] De Bruin-Molé wrote that this approach from Universal was for commercial marketing terms, as it would establish the company as the "real" home of horror and that their films contain a world where potentially all monsters may dwell. [13] The sole new monster movies Universal produced in the 1950s were the Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and The Mummy (1959) which was co-produced with the British Hammer Film Productions. [14]
Towards the 1960s the Universal monsters grew beyond film and became more consistently transmedial. Initially, this began in 1957 when Universal struck a ten-year television deal with Screen Gems to distribute 52 of their own titles. [14] These television screenings and the films being included on Mel Jass' Mel's Matinee Movie (1958-1979) would also prove to be popular, with Stephen Sommers, director of The Mummy (1999), stating that his introduction to the series was on Jass's program. [15] Universal became part of Music Corporation of America (MCA) in 1962. By 1964, Universal Studios tours would eventually include appearances from Frankenstein's monster. [16] Several products based on the characters from Universal's film series were released, ranging from plastic model kits, Halloween masks, figures, plush dolls, toys, drinking glasses, coloring books and postage stamps. While some of these objects bare similarity to the actors who portray them, others are more generic interpretations. [17] Other mediums featured the Universal monsters in tandem, such as Bobby "Boris" Pickett's 1962 popular song "Monster Mash" and the television series The Munsters (1964) which was based on the Universal characters likeness. [16]
In 1990, Universal was part of a merger between Matsushita, now known as Panasonic, and several other corporations. Between 1991 and 1995, Universal released VHS home video editions from their catalogue of horror films. This was the first time these films were packed together as "Classic Monster" line with a newly designed logo. [16] Prior to this home video series, the Universal films that featured multiple monsters were called "Super-Shocker[s]" or "monster rallies". [18] Louis Feola was the head of Worldwide Home Video for Universal Studios said the most important thing was the packaging of their sales, and that it "probably our single biggest priority and has been for a number of years", and that it was key to make the series of films "look like a line". [19] [20] He added in a 1999 interview that creating the series was to "reinvigorate and re-market" the Universal catalog, specifically with their series of Dracula , Frankenstein , The Invisible Man , The Phantom of the Opera, The Wolf Man , and The Mummy . [20]
The 1990s also saw a trend in the merchandising of Universal Monsters material as part of a trend for the decade of recycling and reinventing old material from the past. [16] This led to the release of Stephen Sommer's The Mummy (1999) and a "monster rally"-styled film with Van Helsing (2004). [21] Merchandizing of the characters in formats such as clothing and board games has continued into the 21st century. [22] [23] The franchise will be featured in the Dark Universe portion of Universal's upcoming Orlando theme park, Universal Epic Universe. [24]
Film | U.S. release date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | March 6, 1913 | Herbert Brenon | Carl Laemmle | ||
The Hunchback of Notre Dame | September 2, 1923 | Wallace Worsley | Edward T. Lowe, Jr. & Perley Poore Sheehan | ||
The Phantom of the Opera | November 25, 1925 | Rupert Julian and Lon Chaney and Edward Sedgwick and Ernst Laemmle & Frank McCormick | Walter Anthony, Elliott J. Clawson, Bernard McConville, Frank M. McCormack, Tom Reed, Raymond L. Schrock, Jasper Spearing & Richard Wallace | ||
Dracula | February 14, 1931 | Tod Browning | Garrett Fort | Tod Browning and Carl Laemmle, Jr. | |
Drácula | April 24, 1931 | George Melford | Baltasar Fernández Cué and Garret Fort | Garret Fort | Carl Laemmle Jr. and Paul Kohner |
Frankenstein | November 21, 1931 | James Whale | Francis Edward Faragoh & Garrett Fort | John L. Balderston | Carl Laemmle Jr. |
The Mummy | December 22, 1932 | Karl Freund | John L. Balderston | Nina Wilcox Putnam & Richard Schayer | |
The Invisible Man | November 13, 1933 | James Whale | R. C. Sherriff | ||
The Bride of Frankenstein | April 20, 1935 | James Whale | William Hurlbut | William Hurlbut & John L. Balderston | |
Werewolf of London | May 13, 1935 | Stuart Walker | John Colton, Robert Harris, Harvey Gates, Edmund Pearson, James Mulhauser & Aben Kandel | Robert Harris | Stanley Bergerman |
Dracula's Daughter | May 11, 1936 | Lambert Hillyer | Garrett Fort | Oliver Jeffries | E. M. Asher |
Son of Frankenstein | January 13, 1939 | Rowland V. Lee | Wyllis Cooper | Rowland V. Lee | |
The Invisible Man Returns | January 12, 1940 | Joe May | Kurt Siodmak & Lester Cole | Curt Siodmak & Joe May | Ken Goldsmith |
The Mummy's Hand | November 20, 1940 | Christy Cabanne | Griffin Jay and Maxwell Shane | Ben Pivar | |
The Invisible Woman | December 12, 1940 | A. Edward Sutherland | Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo & Gertrude Purcell | Curt Siodmak & Joe May | Burt Kelly |
The Wolf Man | December 12, 1941 | George Waggner | Curt Siodmak | George Waggner | |
The Ghost of Frankenstein | March 13, 1942 | Erle C. Kenton | W. Scott Darling | Eric Taylor | |
Invisible Agent | April 17, 1942 | Edwin L. Marin | Curtis Siodmak | Frank Lloyd | |
The Mummy's Tomb | October 23, 1942 | Harold Young | Griffin Jay & Henry Sucher | Neil P. Varnick | Ben Pivar |
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man | March 5, 1943 | Roy William Neill | Curt Siodmak | George Waggner | |
Phantom of the Opera | August 12, 1943 | Arthur Lubin | Samuel Hoffenstein & Eric Taylor | John Jacoby | |
Son of Dracula | November 5, 1943 | Robert Siodmak | Eric Taylor | Curtis Siodmak | Ford Beebe and Donald H. Brown |
The Invisible Man's Revenge | June 9, 1944 | Ford Beebe | Bertram Millhauser | Ford Beebe | |
The Mummy's Ghost | July 7, 1944 | Reginald LeBorg | Griffin Jay, Henry Sucher & Brenda Weisberg | Griffin Jay & Henry Sucher | Ben Pivar |
House of Frankenstein | February 16, 1945 | Erle C. Kenton | Edward T. Lowe | Curt Siodmak | Paul Malvern |
The Mummy's Curse | December 22, 1944 | Leslie Goodwins | Bernard Schubert | Leon Abrams & Dwight V. Babcock | Oliver Drake |
House of Dracula | June 29, 1945 | Eric C. Kenton | Edward T. Lowe | Dwight V. Babcock & George Bricker | Paul Malvern |
She-Wolf of London | March 29, 1946 | Jean Yarbrough | George Bricker | Dwight V. Babcock | Ben Pivar |
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein | May 17, 1946 | Charles T. Barton | Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo & John Grant | Robert Arthur | |
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man | March 19, 1951 | Charles Lamont | Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo & John Grant | Hugh Wedlock Jr. & Howard Snyder | Howard Christie |
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | August 12, 1953 | Charles Lamont | Lee Loeb & John Grant | Sidney Fields & Grant Garrett | |
Creature from the Black Lagoon | February 12, 1954 | Jack Arnold | Harry Essex & Arthur Ross | Maurice Zimm | William Alland |
Revenge of the Creature | March 11, 1955 | Jack Arnold | Martin Berkeley | William Alland | William Alland |
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy | May 23, 1955 | Charles Lamont | John Grant | Lee Loeb | Howard Christie |
The Creature Walks Among Us | April 26, 1956 | John Sherwood | Arthur Ross | William Alland |
Film | U.S. release date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dracula | July 13, 1979 | John Badham | W. D. Richter | Marvin Mirisch and Walter Mirisch | |
The Mummy | May 7, 1999 | Stephen Sommers | Stephen Sommers and Lloyd Fonvielle & Kevin Jarre | Sean Daniel and James Jacks | |
The Mummy Returns | May 4, 2001 | Stephen Sommers | |||
The Scorpion King | April 19, 2002 | Chuck Russell | William Osborne & David Hayter and Stephen Sommers | Stephen Sommers & Jonathan Hales | Sean Daniel, James Jacks, Kevin Misher and Stephen Sommers |
Van Helsing | April 7, 2004 | Stephen Sommers | Stephen Sommers and Bob Ducsay | ||
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor | August 1, 2008 | Rob Cohen | Alfred Gough & Miles Millar | Sean Daniel, James Jacks, Stephen Sommers and Bob Ducsay | |
The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior | August 19, 2008 | Russell Mulcahy | Randall McCormick | Sean Daniel and James Jacks | |
The Wolfman | February 12, 2010 | Joe Johnston | Andrew Kevin Walker & David Self | Sean Daniel, Scott Stuber, Benicio del Toro and Rick Yorn | |
The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption | January 10, 2012 | Roel Reiné | Brendan Cowles & Shane Kuhn | Randall McCormick | Leslie Belzberg |
Dracula Untold | October 10, 2014 | Gary Shore | Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless | Michael De Luca | |
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power | January 6, 2015 | Mike Elliott | Michael D. Weiss | Mike Elliott and Ogden Gavanski | |
The Mummy | July 9, 2017 | Alex Kurtzman | David Koepp and Christopher McQuarrie and Dylan Kussman | Jon Spaihts and Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet | Alex Kurtzman, Chris Morgan, Sean Daniel and Sarah Bradshaw |
The Scorpion King: Book of Souls | October 23, 2018 | Don Michael Paul | David Alton Hedges & Frank DeJohn | Mike Elliott | |
The Invisible Man | February 28, 2020 | Leigh Whannell | Jason Blum and Kylie du Fresne | ||
Renfield | April 14, 2023 | Chris McKay | Ryan Ridley | Robert Kirkman | Chris McKay, Samantha Nisenboim, Bryan Furst, Sean Furst, Robert Kirkman and David Alpert |
The Last Voyage of the Demeter | August 11, 2023 | André Øvredal | Bragi Schut Jr. & Zak Olkewicz | Bragi Schut Jr. | Bradley J. Fischer, Mike Medavoy and Arnold W. Messer |
Abigail | April 19, 2024 | Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett | Stephen Shields & Guy Busick | William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein, Tripp Vinson and Chad Villella | |
Wolf Man | January 17, 2025 | Leigh Whannell | Leigh Whannell & Corbett Tuck and Lauren Schuker Blum & Rebecca Angelo | Jason Blum | |
This table includes the Universal Monster characters and their respective actors for each movie in the franchise. Additional characters include recurring primary characters of the Universal Studios Monsters franchise.
Title | Author | Publication Date | Publisher | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Return of the Wolfman | Jeff Rovin | January 1, 1999 | Berkley Boulevard Books | — | [120] |
Universal Monsters - Dracula: Return of Evil | Larry Mike Garmon | August 3, 2006 | Scholastic, Incorporated | Part of Larry Mike Garmon's Universal Monsters series | [121] |
Universal Monsters - The Wolf Man: Blood Moon Rising | August 6, 2006 | [122] | |||
Universal Monsters - Frankenstein: Anatomy of Terror | March 24, 2009 | [123] | |||
Universal Monsters - The Mummy: Book of the Dead | February 1, 2002 | [124] | |||
Universal Monsters - Creature from the Black Lagoon: Blackwater Horror | March 24, 2009 | [125] | |||
Universal Monsters - Bride of Frankenstein: Vow of Vengeance | September 1, 2009 | [126] | |||
Dracula: Asylum | Paul Witcover | April 12, 2006 | Dark Horse Comics | — | [127] |
Frankenstein: The Shadow of Frankenstein | Stefan Petrucha | July 26, 2006 | — | [128] | |
Creature from the Black Lagoon: Time's Black Lagoon | Paul Di Filippo | August 23, 2006 | — | [129] | |
The Mummy: Dark Resurrection | Michael Paine | October 3, 2007 | — | [130] | |
The Wolf Man: Hunter's Moon | Michael Jan Friedman | October 3, 2007 | — | [131] | |
The Bride of Frankenstein: Pandora's Bride | Elizabeth Hand | December 5, 2007 | — | [132] | |
Title | Creatives | Publication Date | Publisher | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Writer | Artist(s) | Editor | Designer | Premiere date | Finale date | ||
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein [133] | Den Beauvais | Den Beauvais | Dan Thorsland | Scott Tice | May 1, 1993 | Dark Horse Comics | |
Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon [134] | Steve Moncuse | Arthur Adams (Penciller, Cover); Terry Austin (Inker); Lois Buhalis (Letterer); Matt Hollingsworth (Colorist); Terry Austin (Cover) | Dan Thorsland | Scott Tice | August 1, 1993 | ||
Universal Monsters: Dracula [135] | Dan Vado | Jonathon D. Smith (Artist, Cover); Clem Robins (Letterer) | Dan Thorsland | Scott Tice | October 1, 1993 | ||
Universal Monsters: The Mummy [136] | Dan Jolley | Tony Harris (Artist, Cover); Lois Buhalis (Letterer); Matt Hollingsworth (Colorist) | Dan Thorsland | Scott Tice | November 1, 1993 | ||
Universal Monsters: Cavalcade of Horror [137] | Collection edition of Universal Monsters releases by Dark Horse; Eric Powell (Cover) | January 11, 2006 | |||||
Universal Monsters: Dracula [138] [139] | 1–4 | James Tynion IV | Martin Simmonds | October 25, 2023 | January 24, 2024 | Skybound Entertainment | |
Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! [140] | Dan Watters Ram V | Matthew Roberts | Dave Stewart | April 24, 2024 | July 24, 2024 | ||
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein [141] | Michael Walsh | Toni Marie Griiffin | August 28, 2024 | TBA |
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is a 1948 American horror comedy film directed by Charles Barton. The film features Count Dracula who has become partners with Dr Sandra Mornay, in order to find a brain to reactivate Frankenstein's monster ; the ideal brain they find belonging to Wilbur Grey.
Frankenstein is a 1931 American pre-Code science fiction horror film directed by James Whale, produced by Carl Laemmle Jr., and adapted from a 1927 play by Peggy Webling, which in turn was based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The Webling play was adapted by John L. Balderston and the screenplay written by Francis Edward Faragoh and Garrett Fort, with uncredited contributions from Robert Florey and John Russell.
The Mummy is a 1932 American pre-Code supernatural horror film directed by Karl Freund. The screenplay by John L. Balderston was adapted from a treatment written by Nina Wilcox Putnam and Richard Schayer. Released by Universal Studios as a part of the Universal Monsters franchise, the film stars Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan and Arthur Byron.
The Wolf Man is a 1941 American gothic horror film written by Curt Siodmak and produced and directed by George Waggner. The film stars Lon Chaney Jr. in the title role. Claude Rains, Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers, and Maria Ouspenskaya star in supporting roles. The title character has had a great deal of influence on Hollywood's depictions of the legend of the werewolf. The film is the second Universal Pictures werewolf film, preceded six years earlier by the less commercially successful Werewolf of London (1935). This film is part of the Universal Monsters movies and is of great cinematic acclaim for its production.
Dracula is a 1931 American pre-Code supernatural horror film directed and co-produced by Tod Browning from a screenplay written by Garrett Fort and starring Bela Lugosi in the title role. It is based on the 1924 stage play Dracula by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, which in turn is adapted from the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. Lugosi portrays Count Dracula, a vampire who emigrates from Transylvania to England and preys upon the blood of living victims, including a young man's fiancée.
The Invisible Man is a 1933 American science fiction horror film directed by James Whale based on H. G. Wells's 1897 novel, The Invisible Man, produced by Universal Pictures, and starring Gloria Stuart, Claude Rains and William Harrigan. The film involves a stranger named Dr. Jack Griffin (Rains) who is covered in bandages and has his eyes obscured by dark glasses, the result of a secret experiment that makes him invisible, taking lodging in the village of Iping. Never leaving his quarters, the stranger demands that the staff leave him completely alone until his landlady and the villagers discover he is invisible. Griffin goes to the house of his colleague, Dr. Kemp and tells him of his plans to create a reign of terror. His fiancée Flora Cranley, the daughter of his employer Dr. Cranley, soon learn that Griffin's discovery has driven him insane, leading him to prove his superiority over other people by performing harmless pranks at first and eventually turning to murder.
Son of Frankenstein is a 1939 American horror film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. The film is the third in Universal Pictures' Frankenstein series and is the follow-up to the 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein. Son of Frankenstein stars Rathbone as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein who, with his wife Elsa and son Peter, returns to his late father's estate. Near the castle lives Ygor, a crazed blacksmith whose neck was broken in an unsuccessful hanging attempt. Among the castle's remains, Frankenstein discovers the remains of the Monster and decides to try to save his family name by resurrecting the creature to prove his father was correct. He finds, however, the Monster only responds to Ygor's commands.
Son of Dracula is a 1943 American horror film directed by Robert Siodmak with a screenplay based on an original story by his brother Curt Siodmak. The film stars Lon Chaney Jr., Louise Allbritton, Robert Paige, Evelyn Ankers, and Frank Craven. The film is set in the United States, where Count Alucard has just taken up residence. Katherine Caldwell (Allbritton), a student of the occult, becomes fascinated by Alucard and eventually marries him. Katherine begins to look and act strangely, leading her former romantic partner Frank Stanley (Paige) to suspect that something has happened to her. He gets help from Dr. Brewster (Craven) and psychologist Laszlo who come to the conclusion that Alucard is a vampire.
House of Frankenstein is a 1944 American horror film starring Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and John Carradine. It was directed by Erle C. Kenton and produced by Universal Pictures. Based on Curt Siodmak's story "The Devil's Brood", the film is about Dr. Gustav Niemann, who escapes from prison and promises to create a new body for his assistant Daniel. Over the course of the film, they encounter Count Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's monster. The film is a sequel to Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943).
House of Dracula is a 1945 American horror film released and distributed by Universal Pictures. Directed by Erle C. Kenton, the film features several Universal Horror properties meeting as they had done in the 1944 film House of Frankenstein. The film is set at the castle home of Dr. Franz Edelmann, who is visited first by Count Dracula and later by Larry Talbot, the Wolf Man, who are trying to cure their vampirism and lycanthropy, respectively. Talbot is eventually cured, which leads him to discover the body of Frankenstein's monster in a cave below the base of the castle. Edelemann takes the monster's body back to his laboratory but finds Count Dracula has awakened and by attacking his assistants, he captures Edelmann and forces a reverse blood transfusion, which gives Edelmann a split personality and makes him a killer.
The Mummy's Hand is a 1940 American horror film directed by Christy Cabanne and produced by Ben Pivar for Universal Studios. Shot in black-and-white, the film is about the ancient Egyptian mummy of Kharis, who is kept alive with a brew of tana leaves by The High Priest and his successor Andoheb. Meanwhile, archeologists Steve Banning and Babe Jenson persuade magician Solvani to finance an expedition in search of the tomb of Princess Ananka. They are joined by Solvani's daughter Marta, and followed by Andoheb who is also the professor of Egyptology at the Cairo Museum. Kharis is ordered to kill off expedition members Dr. Petrie and Ali, while Andoheb becomes attracted to Marta who he plans to kidnap and make immortal.
The Mummy's Tomb is a 1942 American horror film directed by Harold Young and starring Lon Chaney Jr. as Kharis the mummy. Taking place 30 years after the events of The Mummy's Hand, where Andoheb has survived and plans revenge on Stephen Banning and his entire family in Mapleton, Massachusetts. With the help of the high priest Mehemet Bey, Andoheb and the mummy Kharis Bey takes up a job as a caretaker of a graveyard. At the first full moon, the mummy is fed tanna leaves which allow him to break into the Banning residence and kill the now elderly Stephen. Banning's son then seeks assistance from Babe Hanson, one of the members of the original Banning expedition to Egypt to stop Andoheb and Kharis.
Castle Films was a film company founded in California by former newsreel cameraman Eugene W. Castle (1897–1960) in 1924. Originally, Castle Films produced industrial and advertising films. Then in 1937, the company pioneered the production and distribution of 8 mm and 16 mm films for home projection, moving its principal office to New York City. It became a subsidiary of Universal Pictures and was eventually renamed Universal 8 from 1977 before folding in the early 1980s due to competition from home video.
The Brute Man is a 1946 American horror thriller film starring Rondo Hatton as the Creeper, a murderer seeking revenge against the people he holds responsible for the disfigurement of his face. Directed by Jean Yarbrough, the film features Tom Neal and Jan Wiley as a married pair of friends the Creeper blames for his deformities. Jane Adams also stars as a blind pianist for whom the Creeper tries to raise money for an operation to restore her vision. The film is a prequel to House of Horrors (1946).
Coming Soon is a 1982 American direct-to-video documentary film directed by John Landis for Universal Pictures. Landis used trailers of old Universal horror and thriller films to create his own contribution to his favorite film genres. The film is narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Shock Theater is a package of 52 pre-1948 classic horror films from Universal Studios released for television syndication in October 1957 by Screen Gems, the television subsidiary of Columbia Pictures. The Shock Theater package included Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man and The Wolf Man as well as a few non-horror spy and mystery films. A second package, Son of Shock, was released for television by Screen Gems in 1958, with 20 horror films from both Universal and Columbia.
Frankenstein is a film series of horror films from Universal Pictures based on the play version by Peggy Webling and the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. The series follow the story of a monster created by Henry Frankenstein who is made from body parts of corpses and brought back to life. The rest of the series generally follows the monster continuously being revived and eventually focuses on a series of cross overs with other Universal horror film characters such as The Wolf Man. The series consists of the following films: Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), House of Dracula (1945) and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948).
Dracula is a film series of horror films from Universal Pictures based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker and its 1927 play adaptation. Film historians had various interpretations of what constitutes being in the film series, with Ken Hanke finding that only Dracula (1931), Dracula's Daughter (1936), and Son of Dracula (1943) could be considered a part of any series while Gary D. Rhodes included House of Frankenstein (1944) and House of Dracula (1945), stating these films would require an audience to be familiar with Count Dracula portrayed by Bela Lugosi and the various character traits the actor established in the original 1931 film.
The Invisible Man is a film series by Universal Pictures. The series consists of The Invisible Man, The Invisible Man Returns, The Invisible Woman, Invisible Agent, The Invisible Man's Revenge and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man. The film series borrows elements from H. G. Wells's novel The Invisible Man, but it focuses primarily on the idea of a serum that causes someone to go invisible and its side-effects.
The Wolf Man is the title of several horror film series centered on Larry Talbot, a man who upon being bitten by a werewolf becomes one himself, and his subsequent attempts to cure himself of his murderous condition. The franchise was created by Curt Siodmak.