Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

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Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

1948

1h 23m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

90%

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29 Reviews

85%

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 23 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In memory Bud Abbott (October 02nd, 1897-April 24th, 1974) and Lou Costello (March 06th, 1906-March 03rd, 1959)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/25

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tim s

You just can't beat the classics! Uniting the two comedic legends with the Universal monsters was a stroke of genius. Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney, Jr. reprised their iconic roles as Dracula and the Wolfman flawlessly while Glenn Strange as Frankenstein's Monster convincingly channels Boris Karloff. This mix of humor and horror is a splendid combination.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

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Johnathon W

Comedy classic that merges the Universal monsters brilliantly with some witty humor and fun performances. The cast is superb, with Abbott & Costello their usual excellence as the leads, while Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. bring gravitas to their monster roles, not playing them for laughs but actual monsters. Behind the camera, director Charles Barton delivers a fun movie that wisely treats the monsters seriously while leaving the comedy to Abbott and Costello. He crafts some hilarious sketches and keeps the pace moving fast. All in all, one of the best horror comedies ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

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Dallas H

Here is the original multiverse crossover event of the decade!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

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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

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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

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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