Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Released Jun 15, 1948

1h 23m

Comedy

List

90%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

85%

Audience Score

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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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

Jeffrey M

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein is an amazing movie. I finished it just now so it is fresh in my head. Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein was a really funny movie, and guess what? I LOVE comedy!!! I think that this movie was one of the first crossover movies ever. Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein was also a really interesting movie. I just watched Dracula, and the same Dracula actor was in the movie. He looked much much older than he did in 1931. What a good movie. I give this a 74%.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/24

Full Review

Logan L

It was so bad that it was funny.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Amusing, harmless. Nice old school horror sets, Classic Universal monsters battle it out. Wackiness ensues.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/25/24

Full Review

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Charles Barton

Director

Bud Abbott

Chick Young

Lou Costello

Wilbur Grey

Bela Lugosi

Count Dracula

Lenore Aubert

Dr. Sandra Mornay

Jane Randolph

Joan Raymond

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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

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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: MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal International Pictures, 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

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