Frankenstein (1931): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Frankenstein is a 1931 drama thriller directed by James Whale, starring Colin Clive, Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan. It is partly based on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Maurice Hindle. It runs 1 hour 10 minutes and earned $1,924 worldwide. Critics gave it 91 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 10m (70 min)
- Director
- James Whale
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Frankenstein About?
The premise of Frankenstein without spoilers, adapted from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Maurice Hindle. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Driven by an insatiable ambition, a brilliant but tormented scientist attempts to cheat death by creating a creature from various body parts. His creation, a grotesque figure, is brought to life but quickly becomes a source of horror and regret as it escapes its creator and seeks revenge for its abandonment.
Frankenstein Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gothic horror
- monster
- mad scientist
- medical school
- human brain
- angry mob
- brought to life
- medical experiment
- secret experiment
- village
- castle
- cemetery
+38 more Show fewer
- fire
- thunderstorm
- brain transplant
- experiment gone wrong
- windmill
- 19th century
- one word title
- falling from height
- cautionary tale
- famous line
- electricity
- national film registry
- monster movie
- horror icon
- hunchback servant
- corpse
- dungeon
- accidental drowning
- manhunt
- arson
- trapped in a burning building
- pre code film
- brain in a jar
- playing god
- father son relationship
- mad scientist as protagonist
- scientist as protagonist
- grave robbery
- character name as title
- bavarian alps
- science goes wrong
- hound
- laboratory
- lightning revives dead
- monster as victim
- reanimation
- based on novel
- based on play
Where to Watch Frankenstein
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Frankenstein Cast
Colin Clive leads the cast, with Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan. Directed by James Whale; 20 actors are credited in all.
- Director James Whale
Also Starring in Frankenstein
· 16 moreFrankenstein Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Frankenstein 91 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10.
-
IMDb 7.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 91 Metascore
User score 7.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB
Frankenstein Plot Summary
What happens in Frankenstein from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Dr. Henry Frankenstein, portrayed by Colin Clive, embarks on a bold experiment to create a man in his own likeness, utilizing the remains of a deceased individual. Alongside his assistant Dwight Frye, they exhume a recently buried corpse. However, they soon discover the head and brain are irreparably damaged, prompting them to procure a brain from Dr. Frankenstein’s previous mentor, Edward Van Sloan. In a twist of fate, Fritz accidentally drops a jar labeled “normal brain” and opts instead for one marked “abnormal brain.”
Full summary
The whole story of Frankenstein, scene by scene
Frankenstein Box Office
Frankenstein grossed $1,924 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$1.9K
- International
- $1.6K
Frankenstein Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 2 clips and 1 featurette.
- Teaser Trailer
- Clip Frankenstein | "It's Alive!"
- Clip Frankenstein in 4K Ultra HD | Elizabeth Worries About Dr. Frankenstein (90th Anniversary)
- Featurette Michael Blyth recommends Frankenstein | BFI In Dreams Are Monsters
How Well Do You Know Frankenstein?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays Dr. Henry Frankenstein in the 1931 film?
Frankenstein Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “Frankenstein - Boris Karloff” and “Франкенщайн”.
- Also known as
-
- Frankenstein - Boris Karloff
- Франкенщайн
- El doctor Frankenstein
- Frankenstein, l'homme qui créa un monstre
- Φρανκενστάιν
- Furankenshutain
- Frankenstein, o homem que criou o monstro
- Frankenštajn
- Frankenstein, el autor del monstruo
- Frankenstayn
- Frankensteins monster
- Dr. Frankenstein
+11 more Show fewer
- 弗兰肯斯坦
- 魔鬼博士
- 科学怪人
- Frankenstein: Anniversary 75th Edition
- Frankeştayn
- Франкенштейн
- פרנקנשטיין
- Frankenstein - mannen som skapade en människa
- 科學怪人
- 프랑켄슈타인
- フランケンシュタイン
Seen Frankenstein?
Movies Like Frankenstein
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein.
-
Frankenstein 2025 -
Victor Frankenstein 2015 -
Frankenstein 1984 -
Frankenstein 2004 -
The Ghost of Frankenstein 1942 -
Frankenstein's Bloody Nightmare 2006 -
I, Frankenstein 2014 -
Frankenstein 1992 -
The Bride of Frankenstein 1935 -
Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror 1968 -
The Evil of Frankenstein 1964 -
Terror of Frankenstein 1977
Frankenstein FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of Frankenstein, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Frankenstein?
Frankenstein runs 1 hour 10 minutes (70 minutes).
When was Frankenstein released?
Frankenstein was released on November 21, 1931.
Who directed Frankenstein?
Frankenstein was directed by James Whale.
More films by James Whale Who is in the cast of Frankenstein?
Frankenstein stars Colin Clive, Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan, among 20 credited actors.
Where can I watch Frankenstein?
In the US, Frankenstein is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Frankenstein make at the box office?
Frankenstein grossed $1,924 worldwide.
How is Frankenstein rated?
Frankenstein has 7.8/10 on IMDb, 91 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.
Is Frankenstein based on a book?
Yes. Frankenstein is partly adapted from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Maurice Hindle.
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