The Core Universal Monster Movies Ranked Worst To Best

“Where should we be if no one tried to find out what lies beyond?”

With the unexpected success of Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was the logical next step. Of Universal's two 1931 monster movie hits, Frankenstein is far superior in many ways. As Dracula had been, Frankenstein was adapted very loosely from Shelley's novel, instead primarily drawing from a popular stage adaptation of the story. This is less obvious and distracting in Frankenstein than it is in Browning's film, and that's because of Whale's masterful direction.

It was hoped that Bela Lugosi's new-found fame would draw the crowds in, but he was understandably insulted and outraged that he had been chosen to play a mute, grunting and heavily make-uped creature. Lugosi reluctantly did a make-up test for the role, and his version of the monster reportedly bore a heavy resemblance to Paul Wegener's Golem. It's difficult to say whether or not Lugosi would've made a memorable Frankenstein's Monster, had his inflated ego allowed it. It's just as difficult to imagine any creature design besides Jack Pierce's iconic vision.

Boris Karloff, credited simply as "?", is absolutely brilliant in Frankenstein; it's amazing how expressive he still manages to be underneath his heavy prosthetics. Karloff had to endure a hell of a lot for this movie, even to the point of permanent injury. Karloff wasn't even considered important enough to receive an invitation to the film's premiere.

Frankenstein himself, Colin Clive, doesn't receive nearly enough recognition from modern horror fans. Clive is probably the best actor to have starred in any of the core Universal monster movies.