It’s Alive: 9 Best Frankenstein Movies

When we think of Frankenstein’s monster, we all imagine Boris Karloff in the distinctive Jack Pierce makeup from the 1931 classic Frankenstein. Universal studios followed that film with several sequels, of which Bride of Frankenstein is often cited as the best. That said, we’ve got a soft spot in our reanimated hearts for 1939’s Son of Frankenstein, with its German Expressionist set design, Boris Karloff in his final turn as the monster, and Bela Lugosi’s wild-eyed portrayal of Ygor. Dwight Frye—who coincidentally played Renfield in 1931’s Dracula—was the scheming hunchbacked assistant in the 1931 Frankenstein, but his character’s name was Fritz.

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Starting in 1957, British-based Hammer Films took up the torch and pitchfork of Universal’s Frankenstein franchise, choosing instead to focus on the Baron (played by Peter Cushing) as opposed to his creation. While 1957’s Curse of Frankenstein, with Christopher Lee as the monster, may hew most closely to what we think of as the Frankenstein story, our sentimental series favorite is 1964’s The Evil of Frankenstein. Not only does it feature Cushing’s Baron Frankenstein at his most heroic, it also boasts not one but two of the best laboratory sets ever fashioned. The film’s monster, played by Kiwi Kingston, looks like a cross between the original Jack Pierce makeup worn by Karloff and a lurching comic book nightmare.

Here’s a weird one. In this Japanese tokusatsu production, the immortal heart of the Frankenstein monster is recovered from Nazi Germany during World War II and transported back to Japan, where it eventually grows into a giant-size version of Frankenstein’s monster, who ultimately battles another kaiju named Baragon. Directed by Ishiro Honda, of Godzilla fame, this is definitely one of the odder entries to the canon, and spawned a sequel called War of the Gargantuas the following year.

Looking to lighten the mood? This stop-motion classic from the production company of Rankin/Bass (perhaps better known for Christmas specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) not only features Boris Karloff as the voice of Doctor Frankenstein, but also a particularly endearing version of his monster, here referred to as “Fang.”

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Here’s another warm-hearted entry to the list. Mel Brooks’ horror parody, starring Gene Wilder as a descendent of the original Dr. Frankenstein, Peter Boyle as his monster, and Marty Feldman as Igor, managed to make number 13 on the AFI’s list of the 100 Funniest American Movies. The beloved adaptation, which dishes out humor while still serving up the horror, helped cement many of the elements that we now think of as central to Frankenstein’s cinematic legacy.

This period flick offers a glimpse into the mind behind the madness. Gothic is a fictionalized portrayal of Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and the stormy night at the Villa Diodati that spawned Frankenstein. Ken Russell, known for visually striking films like Altered States and The Devils, directs.

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A whole generation of kids were introduced to Universal’s monster family thanks to this Fred Dekker/Shane Black film about a group of kids whose treehouse monster club goes head-to-head with the real-life Dracula, a wolf-man, a mummy, a creature from the Black Lagoon, and, of course, Frankenstein’s monster. The creature was played to perfection by (extremely tall) horror mainstay Tom Noonan.

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Directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is to the Frankenstein narrative what Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker's Dracula was to Dracula. In other words, this film is more faithful to the original than previous adaptations. That said, Branagh’s version took artistic license in its adaptation, and has been seen by some as more style than substance. Robert De Niro plays the creature, wearing the longest patchwork coat you have ever seen …

In this found-footage horror show set during World War II, Russian soldiers stumble upon the lab of Dr. Frankenstein’s descendant who has been keeping his ancestor’s work alive. This time, however, instead of creating just one creature, the mad doctor created a veritable army of abominations. The monsters are brought to life on the silver screen using entirely practical special effects, which is a rarity for 2013. The reanimated creatures sport drills for faces and propellers for heads, to name a few.

The only TV show on this list, Penny Dreadful is highly addictive horror entertainment. Among its cast of characters are Dr. Frankenstein and his creature, who is sometimes called Caliban. In spite of its ensemble premise, Penny Dreadful’s portrayal of the vengeful and tormented Frankenstein monster may be the most faithful to the original novel that has thus far been seen.