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
Wolf Man
Series of illustrations of the Wolf Man in assorted postures with overall height labeled

The Wolf Man is the second werewolf movie from Universal Pictures, released in 1941, and supremely more popular than its predecessor Werewolf of London. In this film, Larry Talbots is transformed into a werewolf after being bit by one while trying to protect his love interest’s friend. After being bitten, Larry is informed by a gypsy that he will turn into a werewolf since he was bitten and lived. This proves to be true, and throughout the rest of the film Larry struggles with his werewolf desire to kill and his human desire to not. Larry is finally killed by his own father when he attacks his love interest. As he dies, he transforms back into his human form and his father and lover mourn his tragic end.

The Wolf Man, portrayed by Lon Chaney Jr. in The Wolf Man (1941), is 6 foot 2 inches (1.88 m) tall.

The Wolf Man is the second werewolf movie from Universal Pictures, released in 1941, and supremely more popular than its predecessor Werewolf of London. In this film, Larry Talbots is transformed into a werewolf after being bit by one while trying to protect his love interest’s friend.

The Wolf Man, portrayed by Lon Chaney Jr. in The Wolf Man (1941), is 6 foot 2 inches (1.88 m) tall.

Wolf Man
Height:
6’2” | 1.88 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:
Actor
Lon Chaney Jr.
First Appearance
The Wolf Man (1941)

Drawings include:
Wolf Man front (arms raised), side (walking), side (sniffing)

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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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Bride of Frankenstein
Pair of drawings of the Bride of Frankenstein standing from the front and side views with overall height

The Bride of Frankenstein is a character briefly introduced in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and fully brought to life in the film sequel The Bride of Frankenstein in 1935. In the novel, reluctant Henry Frankenstein agrees to make a mate for his monster through coercion of the monster, but destroys his work before she is brought to life. In retaliation, the monster kills Frankenstein’s wife. In the film, Henry Frankenstein completes his female creation, but like the townspeople before her, she is disgusted by the monster and refuses his advances. The film ends with the monster destroying the lab with him and her in it while Henry and his wife escape.

The Bride of Frankenstein, portrayed by Elsa Lanchester in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), is 7 foot (2.13 m) tall. Elsa Lanchester is only 5 foot 7 inches (1.70 m) tall, but she was lifted on stilts for the role.

The Bride of Frankenstein is a character introduced in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and brought to life in the film sequel The Bride of Frankenstein in 1935. In the novel, reluctant Henry Frankenstein agrees to make a mate for his monster, but destroys his work before she is brought to life.

The Bride of Frankenstein, portrayed by Elsa Lanchester in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), is 7 foot (2.13 m) tall. Elsa Lanchester is only 5 foot 7 inches (1.70 m) tall, but she was lifted on stilts for the role.

Bride of Frankenstein
Height:
7’ | 2.13 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:
Actor
Elsa Lanchester (5’4” | 1.63 m)
First Appearance
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Drawings include:
Bride of Frankenstein front, side

Details & Downloads

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Nosferatu
Collection of dimensioned illustrations of Nosferatu in various standing postures

Nosferatu is an illegal adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, created by Prana-Film. Nosferatu stars a vampire named Count Orlok who resides in 19th century Transylvania, but requests to buy a house in Germany from Thomas Hutter’s estate company. Once Thomas Hutter arrives at Count Orlok’s estate to sell him his new house, a series of suspicious circumstances arise that lead to Hutter’s discovery that Count Orlok is a vampire. However, he realizes too late, after selling him a house next door to his own in Germany. Count Orlok moves to his new home and is tempted into a blood-sucking trance by Hutter’s wife, Ellen. This turns out to be his downfall as he is too distracted by sucking her blood to realize the rising of the sun and vanishes in a puff of smoke.

Nosferatu, portrayed by Max Schreck in Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), is 6 foot 3 inches (1.91 m) tall.

Nosferatu is an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, created by Prana-Film. Nosferatu stars a vampire named Count Orlok who resides in 19th century Transylvania, but buys a house in Germany. A series of suspicious circumstances arise that lead to the discovery that Count Orlok is a vampire.

Nosferatu, portrayed by Max Schreck in Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), is 6 foot 3 inches (1.91 m) tall.

Nosferatu
Height:
6’3” | 1.91 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:
Actor
Max Schreck
First Appearance
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)

Drawings include:
Nosferatu front, side, side (leaning)

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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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