Frankenstein Movies: Universal Films

1931 - 19488 Films10h 4m3.7 Average

The Universal Frankenstein series forms the most coherent storyline in the franchise, with each film building on the events and characters of its predecessors. Bride of Frankenstein continues immediately from the 1931 film's ending, while Son of Frankenstein introduces Ygor, who becomes a crucial recurring character linking the later entries.

The films maintain clear narrative progression through plot developments like Ygor's brain transplantation in The Ghost of Frankenstein and culminates in monster crossovers that unite storylines from across Universal's horror catalog. While there are occasional inconsistencies in character fates and abilities between films, the Universal series makes a genuine effort to maintain continuing storylines.

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1
Frankenstein poster

Frankenstein

19311h 10m4.4
Director: James Whale
Cast: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff, Edward Van Sloan

Mad scientist Henry Frankenstein attempts to create life by assembling body parts, but his monstrous creation becomes violently destructive in a world that rejects him.

DramaHorrorScience Fiction
2
Bride of Frankenstein poster

Bride of Frankenstein

19351h 15m4.4
Director: James Whale
Cast: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Ernest Thesiger, Elsa Lanchester

Dr. Frankenstein is forced out of retirement when the mad Dr. Pretorius kidnaps his wife and demands help creating a mate for Frankenstein's still-living monster.

HorrorScience Fiction
3
Son of Frankenstein poster

Son of Frankenstein

19391h 39m3.8
Director: Rowland V. Lee
Cast: Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Josephine Hutchinson

The son of Dr. Frankenstein discovers his father's monster in a comatose state and brings it back to life, unaware that the creature is now under the influence of the vengeful Ygor.

HorrorScience Fiction
4
The Ghost of Frankenstein poster

The Ghost of Frankenstein

19421h 8m3.1
Director: Erle C. Kenton
Cast: Cedric Hardwicke, Ralph Bellamy, Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers

When Dr. Bohmer attempts to transplant Ygor's brain into Frankenstein's monster, his scheme to control the creature backfires spectacularly. The malevolent monster breaks free and embarks on a destructive rampage.

HorrorScience Fiction
5
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man poster

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man

19431h 14m3.4
Director: Roy William Neill
Cast: Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Patric Knowles, Ilona Massey, Maria Ouspenskaya

When grave robbers awaken the Wolf Man, he seeks out Dr. Frankenstein hoping to find a cure for his lycanthropic curse. Instead, he discovers that the doctor has died, but his famous monster still lurks in the shadows.

HorrorScience Fiction
6
House of Frankenstein poster

House of Frankenstein

19441h 11m3.2
Director: Erle C. Kenton
Cast: Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., J. Carrol Naish, John Carradine, Anne Gwynne

A mad scientist escapes from prison and takes over a traveling horror show, using it as a cover to revive classic monsters including Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Wolf Man.

HorrorScience Fiction
7
House of Dracula poster

House of Dracula

19451h 4m2.8
Director: Erle C. Kenton
Cast: John Carradine, Onslow Stevens, Lon Chaney Jr., Martha O'Driscoll, Jane Adams

A dedicated scientist seeks to cure the supernatural afflictions of both the Wolf Man and Count Dracula, but his noble efforts lead to unexpected and dangerous consequences. This classic Universal monster film brings together multiple iconic creatures in a tale of science versus the supernatural.

HorrorScience Fiction
8
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein poster

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

19481h 23m4.1
Director: Charles Barton
Cast: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange

Bumbling baggage handlers Bud Abbott and Lou Costello find themselves in a hilarious horror adventure when they accidentally encounter classic movie monsters including Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula, and the Wolf Man.

HorrorComedy