Frankenstein
“The man who made a monster.”
Synopsis
Obsessed scientist Dr. Henry Frankenstein attempts to create life by assembling a creature from deceased body parts. Aided by his loyal misshapen assistant, Fritz, Frankenstein succeeds in animating his monster, but it flees into the countryside and begins to wreak havoc.
Part of the Frankenstein (Universal) Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-08-18
Top Cast
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Colin Clive
Henry Frankenstein
Mae Clarke
Elizabeth
John Boles
Victor Moritz
Boris Karloff
The Monster
Edward Van Sloan
Doctor Waldman
Frederick Kerr
Baron Frankenstein
Dwight Frye
Fritz
Lionel Belmore
The Burgomaster
Marilyn Harris
Little Maria
Ted Billings
Villager (uncredited)
Mae Bruce
Screaming Maid (uncredited)
Jack Curtis
Villager (uncredited)
Arletta Duncan
Bridesmaid (uncredited)
William Dyer
Gravedigger (uncredited)
Francis Ford
Hans (uncredited)
Soledad Jiménez
Mourner (uncredited)
Carmencita Johnson
Little Girl (uncredited)
Seessel Anne Johnson
Little Girl (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Detroit, Michigan
Festival / Special Debut
November 21, 1931
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 16, 2009
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$262K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$12M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
45.8x
+$11.7M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- James Whale
- Screenplay & Story
- Francis Edward Faragoh, Garrett Fort
- Original Score
- Bernhard Kaun
- Original Title
- Frankenstein
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Latin
- Runtime
- 1h 10m
- Production Budget
- $262K
- Worldwide Gross
- $12M
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
James Whale
Francis Edward Faragoh, Garrett Fort, Mary Shelley, Richard Schayer, Peggy Webling
Bernhard Kaun
Arthur Edeson
Clarence Kolster
Carl Laemmle Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
James Whale
Director
Francis Edward Faragoh
Screenplay
Garrett Fort
Screenplay
Carl Laemmle Jr.
Producer
Arthur Edeson
Director of Photography
Clarence Kolster
Editor
Bernhard Kaun
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Frankenstein.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Frankenstein.
Movie Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions About Frankenstein
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Frankenstein about?
Obsessed scientist Dr. Henry Frankenstein attempts to create life by assembling a creature from deceased body parts. Aided by his loyal misshapen assistant, Fritz, Frankenstein succeeds in animating his monster, but it flees into the countryside and begins to wreak havoc.
Who directed Frankenstein?
Frankenstein was directed by James Whale.
Who stars in Frankenstein?
The principal cast of Frankenstein includes Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff, Edward Van Sloan.
When was Frankenstein released and how long is it?
Frankenstein was released in 1931 with a total runtime of 1h 10m.
What was the box office and production budget of Frankenstein?
Frankenstein had a reported production budget of $262K and grossed $12M at the worldwide box office (45.8 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Frankenstein?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Frankenstein was composed by Bernhard Kaun.
Is Frankenstein based on a book or true story?
Frankenstein is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Mary Shelley".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Frankenstein?
Frankenstein holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.).