Classic Monsters are a group of characters that encapsulates the dozens of original Hollywood films released during the 1920s to the 1950s and also includes more modern movie monsters. These films encompass a great many genres from horror to fantasy and romance, but all incorporate a horror character, and are intended to thrill or scare the audience. The first film was a silent film version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which was released in 1923. The films that followed were cinematic representations of popular horror stories. This included Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Wolf Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. They were hugely popular in movie theaters during the first half of the twentieth century.

What was the first monster movie?

The first monster movie was The Golem, it was released in 1915 and directed by Paul Wegener and Henrik Galeen. The Golem was a German silent film and the first to include a monster. The film was shortly followed by Nosferatu (1922), Die Nibelungen (1924), and Dracula (1931).

Who are the Universal Monsters?

The Universal Monsters include Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Phantom of the Opera, The Wolf Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Other Universal Monsters include Ygor, the Bride of Frankenstein, and Mr. Hyde. Universal Monsters consists of the horror villains that come together for a shared goal and mission.

When do the classic Universal monster movies take place?

The period of time when the classic Universal monster movies take place depends on the movie, but most take place between the late 1800s and the early 1900s. The classic Universal monster movies create a shift in reality and as a consequence the time period they take place in is uncertain.

Classic Monsters Guides
Browse through our curated Classic Monsters Guides for additional categorizations, tips, details, variations, styles, and histories of Classic Monsters. Guides provide additional insights into the unique properties and shared relationships between elements.
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7’ | 2.13 m
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Bride of Frankenstein
213.000
1935.00
40000
GUIDE
3D
Bride of Frankenstein
6’5” | 1.96 m
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Creature from the Black Lagoon
196.000
1954.00
56000
GUIDE
3D
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Dracula
122000
6’4” | 1.93 m
Dracula (novel, 1897), Dracula (film, 1931)
Dracula
193.000
1897.00
122000
GUIDE
3D
Dracula
8’ | 2.4 m (novel)
Frankenstein (novel, 1818), Frankenstein (film, 1931)
Frankenstein’s Monster
240.000
1818.00
211000
GUIDE
3D
Frankenstein’s Monster
Gort
9700
8’ | 2.4 m
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Gort
240.000
1951.00
9700
GUIDE
3D
Gort
Gremlin
51000
24” | 61 cm
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlin
61.000
1984.00
51000
GUIDE
3D
Gremlin
Igor
47000
5’7” | 1.70 m
Frankenstein (1931), Young Frankenstein (1974)
Igor
170.000
1931.00
47000
GUIDE
3D
Igor
5’7” | 1.70 m
The Invisible Man (novel, 1897), The Invisible Man (film, 1933)
Invisible Man
170.000
1897.00
42000
GUIDE
3D
Invisible Man
Nosferatu
153000
6’3” | 1.91 m
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
Nosferatu
191.000
1922.00
153000
GUIDE
3D
Nosferatu
6’2” | 1.88 m
Le Fantôme de l'Opéra (1909), The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Phantom of the Opera
188.000
1909.00
201000
GUIDE
3D
Phantom of the Opera
5’11” | 1.8 m
The Mummy (1932)
The Mummy
180.000
1932.00
71000
GUIDE
3D
The Mummy
Vampira
21000
5’7” | 1.70 m
The Vampira Show (1954)
Vampira
170.000
1954.00
21000
GUIDE
3D
Vampira
6’2” | 1.88 m
The Wolf Man (1941)
Wolf Man
188.000
1941.00
5100
GUIDE
3D
Wolf Man
Frankenstein’s Monster
Multiple illustrations of Frankenstein's Monster standing, walking, and reaching with overall height measurements

Frankenstein’s monster, frequently and inaccurately referred to as Frankenstein, is a tragic villain from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein. Frankenstein created his monster through a blend of chemistry and alchemy; creating an 8 foot tall, hideous creature that just wanted to be loved. Once shut out of the human society he so desperately wanted to belong to, Frankenstein’s monster sought revenge on his creator, Frankenstein. The novel is also referred to as The Modern Prometheus as a nod to the Greek myth of Prometheus, a character who created humans out of clay and gifted them with fire.

Frankenstein's Monster is described as being 8 foot (2.4 m) tall in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein (1818). Frankenstein's Monster was first portrayed by 5 foot 11 inch (1.8 m) tall Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931) with the assistance of lifted boots.

Frankenstein’s monster, frequently and inaccurately referred to as Frankenstein, is a tragic villain from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein. Frankenstein created his monster through a blend of chemistry and alchemy; creating an 8 foot tall, hideous creature that just wanted to be loved.

Frankenstein's Monster is described as being 8 foot (2.4 m) tall in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein (1818). Frankenstein's Monster was first portrayed by 5 foot 11 inch (1.8 m) tall Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931) with the assistance of lifted boots.

Frankenstein’s Monster
Height:
8’ | 2.4 m (novel)
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:
Actor
Boris Karloff (5’11” | 1.8 m)
First Appearance
Frankenstein (novel, 1818), Frankenstein (film, 1931)

Drawings include:
Frankenstein's Monster front, front (walking), side

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Invisible Man
Drawings of the Invisible Man standing as seen from the front and back views with labeled height

The Invisible Man, also known as Griffin, is a character from the 1897 science fiction novella, The Invisible Man, by Henry G. Wells. Griffin was a scientist, who through research with optics, discovered he could make a person unable to reflect light and render them invisible. After performing this experiment on himself, Griffin realizes he cannot undo what he has done. Being completely invisible unnerves Griffin and he desires to begin a “Reign of Terror” throughout the nation. Griffin remains invisible until he is beaten to death at the hands of enraged mob.

The Invisible Man, portrayed by Claude Rains in the Invisible Man (1933), is 5 foot 7 inches (1.70 m) tall.

The Invisible Man, also known as Griffin, is a character from H. G. Wells' The Invisible Man (1897). Griffin was a scientist, who through research with optics, discovered he could make a person unable to reflect light and render them invisible and performs this experiment on himself.

The Invisible Man, portrayed by Claude Rains in the Invisible Man (1933), is 5 foot 7 inches (1.70 m) tall.

Invisible Man
Height:
5’7” | 1.70 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:
Actor
Claude Rains
First Appearance
The Invisible Man (novel, 1897), The Invisible Man (film, 1933)

Drawings include:
Invisible Man front (original), front (modern), back (modern)

Details & Downloads

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Dracula
Drawings with labeled height of Dracula in poses ranging from the front, side, and with an open cape

Dracula, a vampire spawned from the imagination of Bram Stoker and the namesake of his 1897 novel, is the most iconic vampire of all time. The story of Dracula and some of his key characteristics became the basis for a whole genre of literature and films to come. Dracula is a vampire that lives Transylvania, but moves to England to partake in his favorite activity of blood sucking and spreading the undead curse. Once in England, however, he is hunted by a group of men and women led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing. Dracula is the basis for Nosferatu, an illegal adaptation of the story due to violations of copyright laws that the studio tried to avoid by slightly altering the story.

Dracula is popularly depicted at 6 foot 4 inches (1.93 m) tall, but was originally portrayed by Bela Lugosi in Dracula (1931) at 6 foot 1 inch (1.85 m) tall.

Dracula, a Transylvanian vampire spawned from the imagination of Bram Stoker and the namesake of his 1897 novel, is the most iconic vampire of all time. The story of Dracula and some of his key characteristics became the basis for a whole genre of literature and films to come.

Dracula is popularly depicted at 6 foot 4 inches (1.93 m) tall, but was originally portrayed by Bela Lugosi in Dracula (1931) at 6 foot 1 inch (1.85 m) tall.

Dracula
Height:
6’4” | 1.93 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:
Actor
Bela Lugosi (6’1” | 1.85 m)
First Appearance
Dracula (novel, 1897), Dracula (film, 1931)

Drawings include:
Dracula front, side, front (cape open)

Details & Downloads

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Vampira
Dimensioned drawings of Vampira posing in a variety of standing postures

Vampira is a campy creation of actress Maila Nurmi in the 1950s. Inspired by Mortica Addams, Nurmi created a spooky horror television host. On her show, The Vampira Show, Nurmi would introduce different horror films, feign speaking with spirits, and play with her pet spider, Rolo. The show aired from 1954 to 1955 exclusively in Los Angeles, but Vampira’s instantaneous success outlived the life of the show with her being featured in films past the cancellation of the show. The Vampira Show is now regarded as a cult classic and created fan clubs worldwide.

Vampira, created and portrayed by Maila Nurmi, is 5 foot 7 inches (1.70 m) tall.

Vampira is a campy creation of actress Maila Nurmi in the 1950s. Inspired by Mortica Addams, Nurmi created a spooky horror television host. On her show, The Vampira Show, Nurmi would introduce different horror films, feign speaking with spirits, and play with her pet spider, Rolo.

Vampira, created and portrayed by Maila Nurmi, is 5 foot 7 inches (1.70 m) tall.

Vampira
Height:
5’7” | 1.70 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:
Actor
Maila Nurmi
First Appearance
The Vampira Show (1954)

Drawings include:
Vampira front (standing), front (spooky), front (raised arms)

Details & Downloads

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Phantom of the Opera
Series of dimensioned height drawings of the original and modern Phantom of the Opera viewed from the front

The Phantom of the Opera, also known as Erik and referred to as The Phantom, is a character from Gaston Leroux’s novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra from 1909, which has been remade into a movie and musical. Erik is a mysterious, deformed man who haunts a Parisian opera house and falls in love with one of the stars of the show, Christine. Erik captures her during one of the shows after learning she has betrayed him and planned to run away with her lover, Raoul. While holding Christine captive and coercing her into marriage, Raoul and a Persian policeman attempt to rescue her. However they fall into many of Erik’s traps. The Phantom also threatens to blow up the entire opera house, but Christine keeps this plan by cooperating with Erik. Depending on the version (novel, film, or musical), Erik either lets Christine go with Raoul or is bludgeoned to death on the banks of the scenic Seine river by an angry mob.

The Phantom of the Opera, originally portrayed by Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925), is 6 foot 2 inches (1.88 m) tall.

The Phantom of the Opera, also known as Erik, is a character from Gaston Leroux’s novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra (1909), which has been remade into a movie and musical. Erik is a mysterious, deformed man who haunts a Parisian opera house and falls in love with one of the stars of the show, Christine.

The Phantom of the Opera, originally portrayed by Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925), is 6 foot 2 inches (1.88 m) tall.

Phantom of the Opera
Height:
6’2” | 1.88 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:
Actor
Lon Chaney
First Appearance
Le Fantôme de l'Opéra (1909), The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Drawings include:
The Phantom of the Opera front (classic), side (classic), front (modern)

Details & Downloads

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3D Downloads

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