After The Bride!, Universal Has 5 Classic Monsters That Deserve Their Own Revival Movie

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As a classic horror fan, I always say Bride of Frankenstein is the pinnacle of the Universal Monster movies. It’s truly special – scary, surprisingly touching, and even manages to be funny! What I love most is how it captures the feeling of Mary Shelley’s original story without just being a straight retelling. It’s interesting to see how they’ve revisited it recently with The Bride!, reimagining it as a fun, almost gangster-style film.

Lots of classic Universal Monster movies could be successfully remade today. While a few are well-known, many others haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve from film fans.

Universal Can Finally Reclaim Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Universal Pictures popularized many iconic characters from classic Gothic novels, bringing stories like The Phantom of the Opera, Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Invisible Man to the big screen. While the 1931 Paramount Pictures film starring Frederic March is the most well-known adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Universal actually made an earlier, less famous silent film version of the story in 1913.

Mr. Hyde is often considered an early example of the classic Universal Monsters, even though he isn’t usually promoted as one. His story would fit perfectly alongside the more famous Universal monster films. But, making a new adaptation of the story in 2026 presents some specific difficulties.

The core of Stevenson’s story is the famous reveal that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are actually the same person. Because this twist is so well-known, a modern movie version can’t simply retell the story directly. Any new adaptation needs to capture the spirit of the original novella while still surprising the audience.

The Phantom of the Opera Is So Much More Than the Musical

This novel is a hugely famous and important work of horror, and it was made into a classic silent film with Lon Chaney. That film, along with The Hunchback of Notre Dame, really established the style and feel for all the later Universal Monsters movies.

Although the story of the Phantom was retold in various ways over the years – with Phantom of the Paradise being a particularly well-known example – the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber became the most popular adaptation. His dramatic and elaborate style was a perfect fit for the emotional intensity of the original story.

The Broadway show is a lot of fun, but it’s not intended to be frightening. It’s designed as family entertainment. Lon Chaney Sr. famously created a terrifying Phantom in the movies, and it would be exciting to see an actor revisit that truly scary approach.

Van Helsing Remains the Quintessential Vampire Hunter

One reason Bram Stoker’s Dracula remains popular after more than a hundred years is its adaptability – it’s easy to build new stories using elements from the original novel. Characters like Mina Harker, Renfield, and the Bride figures have all gone on to star in their own separate tales.

This character from Bram Stoker’s novel is a foundational figure in vampire fiction. He paved the way for characters like Buffy Summers and Anita Blake. A compelling blend of scientific understanding and interest in the occult, he represents the novel’s central tension between old beliefs and modern thought.

The 2004 action film Van Helsing attempted to revive classic Universal monsters like Dracula and Mr. Hyde, but it wasn’t a major success at the box office, and plans for sequels were cancelled. It’s been a long time since the movie came out, and audiences might now be open to seeing Van Helsing return in a new film.

Creature from the Black Lagoon Deserves a Big Return

The classic monster movie Creature from the Black Lagoon is still widely known and appears in many different places – you can spot references to it in films like The Monster Squad and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and even in the song “I Try to Think About Elvis.” Surprisingly, though, it’s never had a proper remake.

While never a direct remake, The Shape of Water shares similarities with Creature from the Black Lagoon, telling the story of a woman who falls in love with a fish-like creature. Director Guillermo del Toro intended it as a reimagining of the classic monster movie, but Universal Studios didn’t allow him to use the original story. Though it’s definitely a monster movie, The Shape of Water leans more towards fantasy and romance than traditional horror.

Now might be the perfect time to bring the Gill-Man back as a villain. With growing concerns about climate change, a film featuring a creature embodying nature could tell a powerful and moving story.

This Island Earth’s Metaluna Mutant Will Never Cease to Be Cool

What really stood out in those older films were the monster designs. Compared to today’s reliance on computer-generated images, it’s enjoyable to revisit the practical costumes, masks, and stop-motion animation that filmmakers once used to create incredible creatures. A particularly frightening example from the 1950s is the Metaluna Mutant in This Island Earth.

Even if you’re not familiar with the sci-fi film it’s from, you’ve probably seen the Metaluna Mutant. This alien has become a pop culture icon, appearing in things like Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, and even in comic books. Its appearance is both scary and fascinating.

Though the Metaluna Mutant from This Island Earth is still well-known, the movie’s overall story has largely been forgotten. A remake or new film featuring the Mutant has a lot of potential, and it’s up to Hollywood to introduce this classic alien creature to a new generation.

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2026-03-14 02:13