Universal Monsters: The Complete History & Ultimate Guide

The Universal Monsters franchise is one of the most iconic and influential series in cinematic history, shaping horror for over a century. Beginning in the early 20th century, Universal Pictures crafted a lineup of legendary horror films that introduced audiences to some of the most enduring figures in pop culture, including Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Over the decades, these characters have been reinvented, reimagined, and revived in various forms, from classic horror masterpieces to modern cinematic universes, comic books, games and even theme park attractions.

Even after the Golden Age ended, these monsters never truly faded away. Universal has revived and reinvented them multiple times in film, television, and even theme park attractions. In this ultimate guide, we’ll take a deep dive into the history of Universal Monsters, exploring their origins, cultural impact, and the evolution of their films, series, books and spin-offs from the Golden Age of Hollywood to today.

The Birth of Universal Monsters (1913-1925)

Before the official Universal Monsters era began, Universal dabbled in gothic horror and monster storytelling. These three early films set the stage for what was to come over the next one hundred years and beyond.

🎥 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913)

Based on the 1886 gothic novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, producer Carl Laemelle's company IMP (Independent Moving Pictures Co. of America) - later turning into Universal Pictures - hired Herbert Brenon to direct this 26 minute silent film. It is the first horror film that Universal produced and along with their next two films, became the precursors to the Universal Monsters franchise. 

🎥 The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)

Starring Lon Chaney as the deformed Quasimodo, this adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel is considered a major precursor to Universal’s monster films. While not a supernatural horror film, its grotesque makeup and tragic character influenced later monster designs. Get The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) on Amazon here.

🎥 The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Also starring Lon Chaney, The Phantom of the Opera (1925) features Chaney's self-applied, terrifying makeup for the Phantom. This film had a haunting atmosphere that carried into Universal’s later horror films. Get The Phantom of the Opera (1925) on Amazon here.

These three films were commercially successful for Universal Pictures, proving that audiences had a taste for the macabre. And with the arrival of films with sound in 1927, Universal found an opportunity to go all-in on horror.

The Golden Age of Universal Monsters (1931-1956)

The 1930s and 1940s brought forth Universal’s most legendary monster movies, with unforgettable performances from Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Lon Chaney Jr. These movies and its characters are largely what has defined what we now call Universal Monsters. The iconic characters, classic stories and groundbreaking movie making have gone on to define horror in film to this day. 

 🎥 Dracula (1931)

Based on the 1924 stage play adaption of the Bram Stoker novel, 1931's Dracula featured Bela Lugosi’s iconic performance as Count Dracula, which defined the vampire archetype for decades. In 2000, Dracula (1931) was selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". As Dracula was filming, a Spanish language version was being shot at the same time, using the same sets, but featuring a different cast. Get Dracula (1931) on Amazon here.

🎥 Frankenstein (1931)

Adapted from a 1927 play by Peggy Webling, which was based on Mary Shelley's classic 1818 novel Frankenstein, the film stars Colin Clive as Dr. Henry Frankenstein who becomes obsessed with creating a living being from body parts. Boris Karloff became a horror legend as Frankenstein’s Monster - whose character is often incorrectly called Frankenstein. Get Frankenstein (1931) from Amazon here.

🎥 The Mummy (1932)

Once again, Boris Karloff stars in a Universal Monsters movie, this time as Imhotep, a cursed Egyptian high priest who was killed for trying to resurrect his lover.  The Mummy singlehandedly created the mummy archetype in pop culture and Halloween festivities from then on. Get The Mummy (1932) from Amazon here. 

🎥 The Invisible Man (1933)

Arguably more science fiction then traditional horror and loosely based on H.G. Wells 1897 novel, The Invisible Man (1933) stars Claude Rains as a mysterious man who is suffering from the results of an experiment that render him invisible. The Invisible Man is widely considered to be one of the first horror films to mix dark humor with terror. Get The Invisible Man (1933) from Amazon here. 

🎥 Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

A sequel to Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935) brings back Boris Karloff and Colin Clive to reprise their roles, with Elsa Lanchester as The Bride. Taking place immediately after the first film, this movie takes its story from a subplot in the original novel, finding Dr. Frankenstein being blackmailed into creating a bride for the Frankenstein Monster. Get The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) from Amazon here. 

🎥 The Wolf Man (1941)

In Universal Pictures second attempt at a werewolf film (the first being 1935's Werewolf of London), Lon Chaney Jr. stars as Larry Talbot, a man cursed to become a werewolf. The Wolf Man (1941) was the first media to introduce silver bullets and full moon transformations to the werewolf lore. Get The Wolf Man (1941) from Amazon here.

🎥 Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Blending monster horror with the sci-fi media boom of the 1950's, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) tells the story of a half man / half fish creature living in the depths of the Amazon. Shot in 3D with groundbreaking underwater cinematography, the film helped to popularize water as a fear element in movies. Get Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) from Amazon here.

The Monster Crossover Era (1943-1948)

While Universal had done a number of sequels and follow ups, as Universal Monsters became increasingly popular, the studio began crossing their iconic characters over into movies with each other - a sort of, Marvel's The Avengers before the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These films became known as "Monster Rallies".

🎥 Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)

The first monster crossover, featuring Lon Chaney Jr.’s Wolf Man and Bela Lugosi’s Frankenstein’s Monster, found the two iconic titans meeting up for the first time. The film received lukewarm reviews, but is credited with setting a precedent for future genre films like Freddy vs. Jason and Godzilla vs. Kong. Get Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) on Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (Blu-Ray) on Amazon here. 

🎥 House of Frankenstein (1944)

A monster rally featuring Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein (1944) serves as a sequel to Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) and follows a Doctor who escapes from prison and promises a new body for his assistant. Get House of Frankenstein (1944) on Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (Blu-Ray) on Amazon here. 

🎥 House of Dracula (1945)

Originally titled "Wolf Man vs. Dracula", this monster rally brought together Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man. Serving as a sequel to House of Frankenstein (1944), House of Dracula (1945) follows Count Dracula as he begs a doctor to cure him of his vampirism. Get House of Dracula (1945) on Dracula: Complete Legacy Collection (Blu-Ray) on Amazon here.

🎥 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

A horror-comedy classic, featuring Bela Lugosi’s return as Dracula, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), comedically follows Count Dracula as he employs a doctor to find the brain of a simpleton in order to revive Frankenstein's Monster. The film was the most successful Frankenstein related film since the original in 1931 and is widely considered an American comedy classic. Get Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) on Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (Blu-Ray) on Amazon here. 

The Universal Monsters in the 1950s-1970s

As horror evolved in the 1950s, science fiction and sci-fi infused horror took over, and the Universal Monsters had faded from the cultural zeitgeist they once were. However, their undeniable influence remained strong.

Revivals & TV Appearances

• 📺 The Munsters (1964-1966) – A satirical sitcom parodying the Universal Monsters that ran for 70 episodes across two seasons on CBS. The Munsters also spawned two theatrical films, two made for television films, an animated special (The Mini-Munsters), a syndicated series (The Munsters Today), a modern reboot pilot (Mockingbird Lane), and a Netflix prequel film (The Munsters (2022)). Get The Munsters on DVD from Amazon here.

• 📺 Creature Features (1950s-70s) – In October of 1957, Screen Gems released a bundled package of old Universal horror movies to syndicated television across the United States. These were largely shown on Friday and Saturday nights and often had hosts that would introduce the films and occasionally commentate between scenes. Creature Features helped to not just keep Universal Monsters alive, but created a whole new generation of fans.

The Hammer Horror Era & Universal Monsters in the 1980s-1990s

While Universal slowed down, British film studio Hammer Horror revived the monsters in color, with Christopher Lee as Dracula and Peter Cushing as Frankenstein. These films were not associated with or related to the Universal Monsters movies, but used much of the same, public domain source material.

Meanwhile, Universal experimented with TV movies, retellings and tributes:

🎥 Dracula (1979) – A feature length, gothic retelling of the Dracula story starring Frank Langella. Get Dracula (1979) (Blu-Ray) from Amazon here.

🎥 The Monster Squad (1987) – A cult-classic horror-comedy featuring the Universal Monsters. While the film was unsuccessful at the box office upon its release, it has become a beloved cult classic in the decades since. Get The Monster Squad (1987) (4K Blu-Ray) from Amazon here.

Universal Monsters in the 2000s-2010s

In 1999, Universal Pictures began to revive the Universal Monsters franchise with The Mummy (1999), among other projects. While The Mummy franchise proved successful, the other projects led to mixed results.

Major Films:

🎥 The Mummy (1999) – A successful action-horror reboot starring Brendan Fraser. The Mummy spawned 2 direct sequels and the spinoff film The Scorpion King, which itself had 4 sequels.

🎥 Van Helsing (2004) – Hugh Jackman battles classic Universal monsters in a CGI-heavy action film.

🎥 The Wolfman (2010) – A dark, gothic retelling of The Wolf Man starring Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt.

The Dark Universe : A One Film Falter (2017)

After Universal Pictures abandoned pre-production work on a fourth Mummy film, The Mummy: Rise of the Aztecs, they attempted once again to reboot and relaunch its Universal Monsters franchise, this time in a Marvel-style shared universe. Dracula Untold was thought to be the launch of the "Dark Universe", however producers later clarified that the first official film would be the Tom Cruise led The Mummy (2017). In the film, Dr. Jekyll, played by Russell Crowe, works for Prodigium, an organization dedicated to tracking monsters. Dr. Jekyll was meant to be the glue that connected each of the films in the Dark Universe.

Having grossed $410 million at the box office, The Mummy (2017) needed over $450 million to break even from its reported $195 million budget. While Bride of Frankenstein with Angelina Jolie was announced, and announcements regarding Johnny Depp as The Invisible Man and Javier Bardem as Frankenstein's Monster were made for future films, the Dark Universe was cancelled with the disappointment of The Mummy (2017).

The Universal Monsters in the 2020s and Beyond

After the cancellation of the Dark Universe, Universal pivoted to releasing director driven, stand alone reboots of individual character films. 

Recent Films:

• 🎥 The Invisible Man (2020) – A psychological horror hit starring Elisabeth Moss grossed $144 million on a $7 million budget, while having had its theatrical run end after just 3 weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Get The Invisible Man (2020) (4K Blu-Ray) from Amazon here.

• 🎥 Renfield (2023) – A horror-comedy focusing on Dracula’s servant, Renfield, starring Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage and Akwafina. Get Renfield (4K Blu-Ray) from Amazon here.

• 🎥 Abigail (2024) - A modern day reimagining of Dracula's Daughter, Abigail follows a group of kidnappers who adduct the daughter of a powerful underworld figure, not knowing who she or her father is. While the film just broke even at the box office, it's become a big hit on digital and streaming. Get Abigail (2024) (Blu-Ray) from Amazon here.

• 🎥 Wolf Man (2025) - Another modern day reboot, Wolf Man (2025) tells the story of a man who moves to a rural house to seek a fresh start but quickly finds himself on the defensive against an unseen creature. Check out my review of Wolf Man (2025) here. Get Wolf Man (2025) (4K Blu-Ray) from Amazon here.

The Universal Monsters franchise has had ups and downs, but these creatures remain horror icons. With new films in development, it’s clear that Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man will never truly die.