Universal Classic Monsters
Official franchise logo as displayed on home video releases
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
CountryUnited States

Universal Classic Monsters (also known as Universal Monsters and Universal Studios Monsters) is a home video line based on a series of horror films primarily produced by Universal Pictures from the 1930s to the 1950s. Although not initially conceived as a franchise, the enduring popularity and legacy of the films and the characters featured in them has led the studio to market them under the collective brand name of Universal Studios Monsters.[1] Steve Jones of USA Today described Universal's most famous monsters as "pop culture icons", specifically Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man.[2]

Merchandising

Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula in 1931

After the Universal horror films were syndicated to television, this led to a rise in the popularity of merchandise based on Frankenstein's monster and Dracula.[3] Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, the Universal monsters were promoted via merchandizing which included: Halloween costumes, Aurora model kits, paperback novelizations, makeup how-to manuals, T-shirt iron-ons, posters, trading cards, and more.[4] Since 1991, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Destinations & Experiences have featured characters from the Universal Classic Monsters franchise. From 2006 to 2014, the characters also appeared in the year-round walk-through attraction, Universal's House of Horrors, at Universal Studios Hollywood. The franchise is also the central theme of Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show. The live show opened in 1990 at Universal Studios Florida and is still in operation.[5] Merchandizing of the characters in formats such as clothing and board games has continued into the 21st century.[6][7] The franchise will be featured in the Dark Universe portion of Universal's upcoming Orlando theme park, Epic Universe.[8]

Home video line

Louis Feola was the head of Worldwide Home Video for Universal Studios and said in 1999 that "a couple of years ago" he decided to "reinvigorate and re-market" Universal's Classic Monsters catalog which included the series Dracula, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Phantom of the Opera, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy.[1] In 1992, in an interview with Billboard, Feola stated that to market and sell home video, the most important thing was the packaging of their sales which was "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".[9]

In 1995, MCA/Universal released a collection of the films on home video under the title The Universal Studios Monsters Classic Collection.[10] This series included Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon series.[10] A collection of stamps featuring Universal Classic Monsters were also released in September 1997 titled the "Universal Classic Movie Monsters series".[11] Other characters in the series included the Mummy, Frankenstein's monster (Boris Karloff), the Phantom of the Opera (Claude Rains), and the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.).[12]

Films

The columns show the subsequent home video releases.

Universal Studios Monsters films
Year Title The Classic Collection
(1991–94) 		Classic Monster Collection
(1999) 		The Legacy Collection
(2004) 		Universal Classic Monsters Ref(s)
Essential Collection
(2012) 		Complete Collection
(2018)
1931 Dracula Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [13][14][15][16][17][18]
Dracula (Spanish) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [13][14][15][16][17][19]
Frankenstein Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [20][21][22][16][17][23]
1932 Murders in the Rue Morgue Yes No No No No [24][25]
The Mummy Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [26][27][28][16][17][29]
Island of Lost Souls[a] Yes No No No No [31][32]
1933 The Invisible Man Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [33][34][35][16][17][36]
1934 The Black Cat Yes No No No No [37][36]
1935 The Bride of Frankenstein Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [38][39][22][16][17][40]
Werewolf of London Yes No Yes No Yes [41][42][17][43]
The Raven Yes No No No No [44][45]
1936 Dracula's Daughter Yes No Yes No Yes [46][15][17][47]
1939 Son of Frankenstein Yes No Yes No Yes [48][22][17][49]
Tower of London Yes No No No No [50][51]
1940 The Invisible Man Returns Yes No Yes No Yes [52][35][17][53]
The Mummy's Hand Yes No Yes No Yes [54][28][17][55]
The Invisible Woman Yes No Yes No Yes [56][35][17][57]
1941 The Monster and the Girl[a] Yes No No No No [58][59]
Man-Made Monster Yes No No No No [60][61]
The Wolf Man Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [62][63][42][16][17][64]
1942 The Ghost of Frankenstein Yes No Yes No Yes [65][22][17][66]
Invisible Agent Yes No Yes No Yes [67][35][17][68]
The Mummy's Tomb Yes No Yes No Yes [69][28][17][70]
1943 Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man Yes No Yes No Yes [71][42][17][72]
Captive Wild Woman Yes No No No No [73][74]
Phantom of the Opera Yes Yes No Yes Yes [75][76][16][17][77]
Son of Dracula Yes No Yes No Yes [78][15][17][79]
The Mad Ghoul Yes No No No No [80][81]
1944 The Invisible Man's Revenge Yes No Yes No Yes [82][35][17][83]
The Mummy's Ghost Yes No Yes No Yes [84][28][17][85]
House of Frankenstein Yes No Yes No Yes [86][22][17][87]
The Mummy's Curse Yes No Yes No Yes [88][28][17][89]
1945 House of Dracula Yes No Yes No Yes [90][15][17][91]
1946 House of Horrors Yes No No No No [92][93]
She-Wolf of London No No Yes No Yes [42][17][94]
1948 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein No No No No Yes [17][95]
1951 Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man No No No No Yes [17][96]
1954 Creature from the Black Lagoon Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes [97][98][99][16][17][100]
1955 Revenge of the Creature Yes No Yes No Yes [101][99][17][102]
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy No No No No Yes [17][103]
1956 The Creature Walks Among Us Yes No Yes No Yes [104][99][17][105]
  1. ^ a b Although originally produced and released by Paramount Pictures, Universal obtained the rights to the film in 1958 and branded it with Universal Studios Monsters in its 1991 home video release.[30]

Comics

Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics released comic adaptions of several of the films, featuring four one-shots and one collected edition, in 1993 and in 2006, respectively.[106][107]

Dark Horse Universal Classic Monsters one-shots
Title Creatives Publication Date
Writer Artist(s) Editor Designer
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein[108] Den Beauvais Den Beauvais Dan Thorsland Scott Tice May 1, 1993
Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon[109] 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[110] Dan Vado Jonathon D. Smith (Artist, Cover); Clem Robins (Letterer) Dan Thorsland Scott Tice October 1, 1993
Universal Monsters: The Mummy[111] Dan Jolley Tony Harris (Artist, Cover); Lois Buhalis (Letterer); Matt Hollingsworth (Colorist) Dan Thorsland Scott Tice November 1, 1993
Universal Monsters: Cavalcade of Horror[112] Collected edition of the above; Eric Powell (Cover) January 11, 2006

Skybound Entertainment

Skybound Entertainment, an Image Comics company, is recently publishing a new series of Universal Monsters comic books.

Skybound Entertainment Universal Classic Monsters mini-series
Title Issue(s) Creative team Release schedule
Writer(s) Artist(s) Colorist(s) Premiere date Finale date
Universal Monsters: Dracula[113][114] 1–4 James Tynion IV Martin Simmonds October 25, 2023 January 24, 2024
Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives![115] Dan Watters
Ram V 		Matthew Roberts Dave Stewart April 24, 2024 Present
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein[116] Michael Walsh Toni Marie Griiffin August 28, 2024 TBA

References

  1. ^ a b Bessman, Jim (September 4, 1999). "Glass Scores 'Dracula' For Universal; Will Tour in Support". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 36. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Jones 2012.
  3. ^ Early & Malkowicz 2017.
  4. ^ Murray & Phipps 2012.
  5. ^ Gavin, Michael (October 24, 2017). "It's Alive! Universal Studios' Classic Monster Café gets updated with new life – and is ghoulishly gorgeous". insidethemagic.com. JAK Schmidt, Inc. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Unique Vintage Launches Universal Monsters Collection". Licesnse Global. August 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Kondrad, Jeremy (July 10, 2019). "Universal Monsters Ravensburger Game Horrified Coming August 1st". Bleedingcool. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  8. ^ Stella, Alicia. "Everything We Know About Epic Universe - Universal Monsters". Theme Park Stop.
  9. ^ McCullaugh 1992, p. 63.
  10. ^ a b Nye 1995, p. 6.
  11. ^ "A Vampire Media Resource Guide". The Herald Statesman. April 16, 1997. p. 3C.
  12. ^ "Send In a Monster". Los Angeles Times. June 19, 1997. p. 53. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Dracula (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  14. ^ a b Dracula (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 1999.
  15. ^ a b c d e Dracula: The Legacy Collection (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 2004.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (Blu-ray). Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 2012.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection (Blu-ray). Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 2018.
  18. ^ Rhodes 2014, p. 245.
  19. ^ Rhodes 2014, p. 282.
  20. ^ Frankenstein (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  21. ^ Frankenstein (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 1999.
  22. ^ a b c d e Frankenstein: The Legacy Collection (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 2004.
  23. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 38.
  24. ^ Murders in the Rue Morgue (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  25. ^ Mank 2010, p. 105.
  26. ^ The Mummy (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  27. ^ The Mummy (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 1999.
  28. ^ a b c d e The Mummy: The Legacy Collection (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 2004.
  29. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 63.
  30. ^ McDougal, Dennis (2001). The Last Mogul: Lew Wasserman, MCA, and the Hidden History of Hollywood (pp. 231–232). Da Capo Press.
  31. ^ Island of Lost Souls (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  32. ^ "At the Theatres This Week". Arizona Daily Star. December 18, 1932. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ The Invisible Man (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  34. ^ The Invisible Man (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 1999.
  35. ^ a b c d e The Invisible Man: The Legacy Collection (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 2004.
  36. ^ a b Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 78.
  37. ^ The Black Cat (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  38. ^ Bride of Frankenstein (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  39. ^ Bride of Frankenstein (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 1999.
  40. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 120.
  41. ^ Werewolf of London (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  42. ^ a b c d The Wolf Man: The Legacy Collection (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 2004.
  43. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 129.
  44. ^ The Raven (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  45. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 138.
  46. ^ Dracula's Daughter (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  47. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 162.
  48. ^ Son of Frankenstein (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  49. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 182.
  50. ^ Tower of London (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  51. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 200.
  52. ^ The Invisible Man Returns (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  53. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 207.
  54. ^ The Mummy's Hand (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  55. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 229.
  56. ^ The Invisible Woman (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  57. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 237.
  58. ^ The Monster and the Girl (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  59. ^ "The Monster and the Girl". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  60. ^ Man-Made Monster (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  61. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 241.
  62. ^ The Wolf Man (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  63. ^ The Wolf Man (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 1999.
  64. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 261.
  65. ^ The Ghost of Frankenstein (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  66. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 275.
  67. ^ Invisible Agent (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  68. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 294.
  69. ^ The Mummy's Tomb (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  70. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 305.
  71. ^ Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  72. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 322.
  73. ^ Captive Wild Woman (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  74. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 337.
  75. ^ Phantom of the Opera (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  76. ^ Phantom of the Opera (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 1999.
  77. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 345.
  78. ^ Son of Dracula (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  79. ^ Kiss 2019, p. 95.
  80. ^ The Mad Ghoul (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  81. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 373.
  82. ^ The Invisible Man's Revenge (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  83. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 400.
  84. ^ The Mummy's Ghost (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  85. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 417.
  86. ^ House of Frankenstein (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  87. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 447.
  88. ^ The Mummy's Curse (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  89. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 456.
  90. ^ House of Dracula (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  91. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 501.
  92. ^ House of Horrors (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  93. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 525.
  94. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 539.
  95. ^ "Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  96. ^ "Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  97. ^ Creature from the Black Lagoon (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  98. ^ Creature from the Black Lagoon (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 1999.
  99. ^ a b c Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Legacy Collection (DVD). Universal Studios Home Video. 2004.
  100. ^ "Creature from the Black Lagoon". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  101. ^ Revenge of the Creature (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  102. ^ "Revenge of the Creature". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  103. ^ "Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  104. ^ The Creature Walks Among Us (VHS). MCA Home Video. 1991.
  105. ^ "The Creature Walks Among Us". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  106. ^ "Search :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  107. ^ "Search :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  108. ^ "Universal Monsters: Frankenstein :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  109. ^ "Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  110. ^ "Universal Monsters: Dracula :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  111. ^ "Universal Monsters: The Mummy :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  112. ^ "Universal Monsters: Cavalcade of Horror TPB Collection :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  113. ^ Salmon, Will (2023-07-18). "Dracula bites back in the first of a new series of Universal Monsters comics from Skybound". gamesradar. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  114. ^ First Comics News (2023-07-14). "James Tynion IV & Martin Simmonds Launch Universal Monsters: Dracula Comic Book Series". Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  115. ^ Kit, Borys (2024-01-12). "'Creature from the Black Lagoon' Comic Book Coming from Robert Kirkman's Skybound Entertainment (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  116. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (2024-02-29). "Universal Monsters: Frankenstein Reimagines the Iconic Movie Monster". IGN. Retrieved 2024-02-29.

Sources

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