POLL: What’s the Best Universal Monsters Movie of All Time?

Originally published October 1, 2026. This article asks readers their favorite Universal Monsters horror movie. Check out our Spooktacular event page for even more spooky news and fun!

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Every year, once the sun sets earlier and the night feels darker, horror fans turn to the Universal Monsters. Inspired by some of the world’s greatest literature, these monsters have infiltrated every corner of pop culture. But movies will always be their true domain.

All of these horror film classics have an irresistibly creepy atmosphere but what really makes each monstrous masterpiece stand out is the character work. From the monsters themselves to those who defy and defend them, the Universal Monster movies will always be in a class of their own. So which one is your favorite?

Let us know and then stick around for more Universal Monster info!

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The Phantom of the Opera

• Year of Release: 1925
• Director: Rupert Julian
• Related Films: Phantom of the Opera (1943), The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Start up the organs! Back when this movie crescendoed its way into theaters, audience members fainted after Erik’s face was revealed. With a debut like that, it’s no wonder the curtains have been slow to fall on this fan favorite. Behind the Phantom’s mask and his music, however, is a story that challenges viewers to consider the value they place in appearances.

Of course, murderous tendencies are also a bit of a red flag so if you run away it’s understandable.

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Dracula

• Year of Release: 1931
• Director: Tod Browning
• Related Films: Dracula (1958), Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

If your film premiere date also falls on Valentine’s Day, you better deliver on the romance. And even though he’s undead … and evil … did we mention undead? … Dracula will forever feel romantic. Bela Lugosi’s suave Count laid the groundwork for all future on-screen vampires.

Plus, Dwight Frye’s descent into lunacy as Renfield is mesmerizing to behold. We’d probably all fold like that too if Dracula paid us some attention, let’s be honest.

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Frankenstein

• Year of Release: 1931
• Director: James Whale
• Related Films: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), Frankenstein (2025)

He’s arguably the face of Universal Monsters and for good reason. For over 200 years, Mary Shelley’s tale of reanimation has found new life in multiple mediums. Yet Boris Karloff’s portrayal of the Monster is an eternal testament to humanity’s collective fascination with death.

Even more than the fear of death, Frankenstein explores our fear of life. What happens when our creations build an identity of their own? The unknown haunts life just as it does death.

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The Mummy

• Year of Release: 1932
• Director: Karl Freund
• Related Films: The Mummy (1959), The Mummy (1999)

As the sands of time are swept away, The Mummy unearths our immortal love for the past. Any iteration of this story is required to have breathtaking set pieces and extravagant makeup and special effects. It’s basically written in the scrolls. The Mummy transports us to an era of human history that is full of marvelous mysteries — and a story steeped in tragic forbidden love.

Once again, Boris Karloff brings to life an unforgettable icon of horror, cursing all future interpretations to follow in his dusty, crusty footsteps.

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The Invisible Man

• Year of Release: 1933
• Director: James Whale
• Related Films: The Invisible Man Returns (1940), Invisible Man (2020)

Compared to many of the other Universal Monster movies, The Invisible Man can sometimes feel closer to a comedy. The villagers’ terrified antics and Dr. Jack Griffin’s hijinks provide plenty of laughs. When those bandages are unwrapped, however, we see the true horror of the Invisible Man. The balance between sanity and insanity is always precarious.

Behind each of Griffin’s unhinged cackles, you can detect the pain of erasure. All of his life’s work is reduced to a gimmick and his overwhelming desire for recognition is harshly exposed. Now that’s terror you can see.

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The Bride of Frankenstein

• Year of Release: 1935
• Director: James Whale
• Related Films: The Bride (1985), Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

It’s hard to make a successful sequel, yet James Whale struck ghoulish gold with The Bride of Frankenstein. The film hits all the points that made Frankenstein work: visually striking monster, eccentric scientist, and memorable dialogue. Cue the Bride’s bloodcurdling screech.

On the other hand, just like its titular monster, this movie is its own beast. There are undeniable elements of camp and the story itself is framed by a prelude featuring Frankenstein’s creator (played by the Bride herself, Elsa Lanchester!). The Bride of Frankenstein, through its very existence, proves Mary Shelley’s original point: Autonomy is a natural right, not a man-made gift.

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The Wolf Man

• Year of Release: 1941
• Director: George Waggner
• Related Films: The Wolfman (2010), Wolf Man (2025)

Humans don’t like to think of themselves as animals. We’re civilized. We have rules and customs that prevent absolute mayhem. Still, that inherent wild side is never that far off. Some might say it’s merely waiting to emerge under the full moon…

The Wolf Man is a tale of occult superstition and Romani lore. We see our bestial nature reflected in Larry Talbot’s lupine affliction and we love to watch … so long as the beast stays safely caged within the screen.

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The Creature from the Black Lagoon

• Year of Release: 1954
• Director: Jack Arnold
• Related Films: Revenge of the Creature (1955), The Shape of Water (2017)

Last but never least is the most modern of the Universal Monsters, the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Like his predecessors, the Gill Man is a link between human and nature. The Creature plays at the fear that we never truly know what’s lurking beneath the surface. Nature has many secrets that mankind may never fully understand.

Despite the Creature’s amphibious appearance, he is the last in a long line of movie monsters who make audiences question their own humanity. We’re all monstrous in our own ways, so if the roles were reversed, how would we hope to be treated? Monsters will forever be the mirrors of horror.

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Yearning for even more monsters? Never fear. In addition to the monsters above and their assorted sequels, there’s a whole catalogue of other monster movies waiting for you. Some, like The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, harken back to an even earlier age of Universal Pictures. Other modern monsters, like in It Follows and The Babadook, are more symbolic harbingers of horror than the usual creature feature.

Tell us all about your favorite monster movies! Join the conversation with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, then head to our Spooktacular page to stay in the know on all things spooky this season.