Frankenstein

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Frankenstein

1931

1h 11m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

96 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

This iconic horror film follows the obsessed scientist Dr. Henry Frankenstein as he attempts to create life by assembling a creature from body parts of the deceased. Aided by his loyal misshapen assistant, Fritz, Frankenstein succeeds in animating his monster, but it escapes into the countryside and begins to wreak havoc. Frankenstein searches for the elusive being and eventually must confront his tormented creation.

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Critics Consensus

Still unnerving to this day, Frankenstein adroitly explores the fine line between genius and madness, and features Boris Karloff's legendary, frightening performance as the monster.

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Ella H. McCormick

Detroit Free Press

[James Whale] is to be complimented upon his handling of the incidents chosen from the book, and the artistry with which he has built up the picture.

Jan 18, 2023

Full Review

Nelson B. Bell

Washington Post

[Boris Karloff's performance] is a skillful but unsavory bit of imaginative and grotesque portraiture that the delicately constituted will dream about through many haunted nights.

Jan 18, 2023

Full Review

Irene Thirer

New York Daily News

It's a study of a chemical experiment -- one which clutches at you icily and holds you until the romantic ending guarantees satisfaction after an hour's worth of gripping, intriguing horrors.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 18, 2023

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…there’s zero international travel, no glaciers, no sailing ships, just a bare-bones summary of a quarter of the novel...the bits invented for Whale's film are undeniably cinematic, so generations have just learned to tune out during the romance sections

Rated: 4/5

Oct 31, 2025

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Under the ingenious makeup created and applied by studio artist Jack Pierce, Karloff is astonishing in a role that Lugosi had turned down.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 26, 2025

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Carson Timar

ClapperCast

It is the small moments of empathy that stand out here. That is where James Whale shines and as a queer director, he is a master of his craft.

Oct 31, 2023

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Richard

Spectacular filming in black and white. The makeup of the monster was very well done. Overall, very good movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/25

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Robert

Great movie, it's truly awesome getting to see movies I never got to see on the big screen, even though I've seen them a hundred times it makes it like a brand new experience, hopefully they keep showing old movies

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/23

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Lars N

Apart for the unintentionally unsettling '...and then they got married'-ending this horror classic didn't disappoint. So many iconic moments and although it doesn't dig as deep thematically the injustice done to the creature still invokes deep sympathy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/20/25

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Vincent W.

It’s a classic and every movie after copied it to death

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/25

Full Review

John F

As good a film in black-and-white as I've ever seen. So many old movies don't age well but this is as good as it gets...it's just so beautiful.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/25

Full Review

Moody C

It's classic but it shud still hold up against current films. The torches and windmill scene is iconic as with scene of monster and child playing but I felt there needs to be more scenes like these which are far and few. The ending is so Hollywood and a bit cliched for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/25

Full Review

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James Whale

Director

Colin Clive

Dr. Henry Frankenstein

Mae Clarke

Elizabeth (Henry's fiancée)

John Boles

Victor Moritz

Boris Karloff

The Monster

Edward Van Sloan

Dr. Waldman

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Synopsis

This iconic horror film follows the obsessed scientist Dr. Henry Frankenstein as he attempts to create life by assembling a creature from body parts of the deceased. Aided by his loyal misshapen assistant, Fritz, Frankenstein succeeds in animating his monster, but it escapes into the countryside and begins to wreak havoc. Frankenstein searches for the elusive being and eventually must confront his tormented creation.

Director: James Whale
Producer: Carl Laemmle Jr.
Screenwriter: Mary Shelley, Peggy Webling, John L. Balderston, Francis Edward Faragoh
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 1931, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 1h 11m
Sound Mix: Mono

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