Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Play trailer

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Released Jun 15, 1948

1h 23m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the first of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's horror vehicles for Universal Pictures, the inimitable comic duo star as railway baggage handlers in northern Florida. When a pair of crates belonging to a house of horrors museum are mishandled by Wilbur (Lou Costello), the museum's director, Mr. MacDougal (Frank Ferguson), demands that they deliver them personally so that they can be inspected for insurance purposes, but Lou's friend Chick (Bud Abbott) has grave suspicions.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

A zany horror spoof that plays up and then plays into the best of Universal horror cliches.

Read Critics Reviews

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

A little bit of going through the motions with this horror spoof but fans will enjoy

Rated: 3/5

Oct 16, 2007

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

This 1948 effort is probably the last of their watchable films, though it's a long way from their best.

Oct 16, 2007

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

The notion of having these two clowns run afoul of the famous screen monster is a good laugh in itself. But take this gentle warning: get the most out of that one laugh while you can, because the picture, at Loew's Criterion, does not contain many more.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 8, 2006

Full Review

Howard Waldstein

CBR

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is not a straight-up horror, per se, but it indeed boasts all of the necessary elements to be considered as such.

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Were it not for the goofy leads, this could very well be yet another chapter in the series of classic monster mashups, which had fizzled out of theaters a few years prior.

Rated: 7/10

Dec 7, 2020

Full Review

M.V. Moorhead

Phoenix Magazine

Even those of us who find Bud and Lou's antics more dated than those of, say, Laurel and Hardy or the Marx Brothers, can still enjoy this one, because the monsters are a hoot.

Jan 6, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Sue H.

How fun it is to see these older movies on the big screen. The physical humor and the subtleties come through strongly. And while in some A&C movies, Abbott is really mean to Costello, here the monsters take up so much of the action that the boys are more of a team. This is a great one to see with the whole family. One of A&C's movies that holds up best.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/24/22

Full Review

Dallas H

Here is the original multiverse crossover event of the decade!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

Full Review

Ted B

3.5 stars. Easily my favorite Abbott and Costello movie, and it ranks up there with all the Universal creature movies in entertainment value. I thought it was a neat blend of comedy and horror. It contains an all-star cast minus Boris Karloff (who turned down the Frankenstein monster role), although Glenn Strange is a veteran of horror and other movies and played the Frankenstein monster in "The House of Dracula." Considering it was mostly a comedy, Lon Chaney, Jr., and Bela Lugosi gave admirably serious performances playing the Wolf Man and Dracula.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/24/24

Full Review

Andrew L

The best and most famous of Abbott and Costello's movies. This has an all star cast as well. Featuring Glenn Strange as Frankenstein's Monster, Lon Chaney Jr. being The Wolf Man once more, and Bela Lugosi returning to the role of Count Dracula.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/24

Full Review

Larry K

Classic movie. The monsters are great. Loved this as a kid

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

Full Review

Keith N

This was the funniest horror movie I've seen. It definitely wasn't that scary, but it had a few tiny scary moments

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/30/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Charles Barton

Director

Bud Abbott

Chick Young

Lou Costello

Wilbur Grey

Bela Lugosi

Count Dracula

Lenore Aubert

Dr. Sandra Mornay

Jane Randolph

Joan Raymond

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - The Wolf Man

1:55

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - Keep Your Shirt On

1:40

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - Take the Mask Off

2:35

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - Dracula Rises

3:00

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - Death of the Monster

2:25

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - Evading The Monsters

2:11

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - Return of the Count

1:46

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - Where Are They?

1:53

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - The Wolf Man Transforms

1:36

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Official Clip - Do You Believe Me Now?

2:44

View more videos

Harvey

88%

93%

Harvey

Watchlist

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man

80%

62%

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man

Watchlist

On Our Merry Way

20%

35%

On Our Merry Way

Watchlist

Africa Screams

60%

38%

Africa Screams

Watchlist

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

82%

80%

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Bruce Campbell’s Five Favorite Horror Films

10 Family-Friendly Movies to Watch for Halloween

View more photos

Synopsis

In the first of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's horror vehicles for Universal Pictures, the inimitable comic duo star as railway baggage handlers in northern Florida. When a pair of crates belonging to a house of horrors museum are mishandled by Wilbur (Lou Costello), the museum's director, Mr. MacDougal (Frank Ferguson), demands that they deliver them personally so that they can be inspected for insurance purposes, but Lou's friend Chick (Bud Abbott) has grave suspicions.

Director: Charles Barton
Producer: Robert Arthur
Screenwriter: Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo, John Grant
Distributor: Universal International Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Home Entertainment
Production Co: Universal International Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 1948, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 23m
Sound Mix: Mono

Most Popular at Home Now