The Universal Monstershave been cinema classics since the 1930s, but how have they fared throughout the 21st century?
Although not critically acclaimed, 1999s The Mummy struck a chord with movie goers with its 1920s archaeology-inspired romp. Leads Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz had excellent chemistry, riffing off one anothers charisma. The Mummy quickly became a cult classic, the first contemporary Universal movie monster remake since 1979s Dracula.
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As cinematic universe proved themselves the next major trend, Universal tried dipping its toe in the waters with the Dark Universe, a shared universe of classic movie monsters. The franchise never really took off, two false starts forcing the production company to reevaluate its formula. It finally hit on a winning combination in 2020 with The Invisible Man, which grossed 14 times its production budget within its first two weekends onscreen.As the movies success has audiences wondering about the future of the Dark Universe, it is worth taking the time to look back and rank Universals 21st Century movie monsters to understand what has worked, and what hasnt.
A movie so bad it definitively ended the Dark Universes possibilities for a shared monster universe, The Mummy ranks at the bottom. Its attempts to integrate a wider universe through Dr. Jekyll (Russell Crowe) felt convoluted while its modern city setting left it lacking the Indiana Jones treasure hunter charm of the 1999 adaptation. It seriously missed out in focusing its perspective on Nick (Tom Cruise) when Ahmanet, (Sofia Boutella) the eponymous character, had the more interesting storyline to follow.
Maria Bello didnt do a bad job playing Evelyn OConnell, but Weisz was certainly missed, with Bello and Fraser lacking the same chemistry. While The Mummy movies were always camp, Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor was less fun and more cheesy. Changing the setting to China provided a new, unique angle that was unfortunately drowned out by corny one-liners and mediocre CGI.
Dracula Untold took the same classic-story-into-battlefield approach as Snow White And The Huntsmen, pulling it off better but still not quite successfully. With Dracula such a well-known character, telling his story from a new angle was an interesting idea. However, Vlad the Impalers (Luke Evans) origin story ended up mediocre, following a fine but cookie-cutter storytelling approach.
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While The Wolfman was critically panned, it had several elements that worked in its favor. Benicio del Toro does a fantastic job both as Lawrence the man and the Wolfman. The movie doesnt aspire past predictable concerning its plot, but as a horror film, it definitely manages to deliver on a handful of scares that make it a fun movie-watching experience.
It might seem scandalous to place a movie that has a 24% on Rotten Tomatoes this high on the list, but Van Helsing is a cult classic for a reason. It is a fun, cheesy romp that perfectly understands the level its aiming for. Plus, Van Helsing did a better job of integrating Universal movie monsters onto one screen than any of the official Dark Universe movies have been able to accomplish.
The Mummy Returns captures many of the same charming story and tone beats from the original. Dwayne The Rock Johnson plays an excellently campy Scorpion King while the bracelet that cant be detached subplot added the right level of tension. Although the integration of OConnell's son, Alex (Freddie Boath), makes the movie a little less re-watchable than the original, it was certainly an appealing addition for the movies younger audiences.
Psychological horror, nuanced dissection of mental health and abuse, fantastically acted portrayal of paranoia and gaslighting: The Invisible Manleaves little room for complaint. Deviating from the failed path of previous Dark Universe films, it saw Universal teaming up with horror veteran Blumhouse to make a movie that is standalone and terrifying. Its rousing success among audiences and critics paves the way forward for future Dark Universe portrayals of classic UniversalMonsters.
Next: Why The Dark Universe Reboot Will Be A Success (This Time)
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Shannon Lewis is a features and news writer on Screen Rant. She has experience in editorial working as the deputy editor for Specialty Food, an online and print magazine, curating its news section and social media. She has worked as a freelance writer since 2017, writing articles, features, and profiles in a wide range of topics, from business and tech to pop culture and media. Previously, she has also worked as a ghost writer for a fiction manuscript, and co-founded arts-and-literature magazine, Octarine.Hailing from Queretaro, Mexico, she is a graduate of the University of East Anglia's English Literature with Creative Writing program. An avid reader and fan of writing, she leverages her love of literature to dissect movies in her favorite genres, including horror, rom-coms, and superhero movies. Her focus is on the cross-section between story, cultural background, and character development. When she isn't busy reading everything ever published under the mantle of Image Comics, you might find her writing fiction, rock climbing, or putting together a horror anthology with friends.
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Every 21st Century Universal Monster Movie Ranked, Worst To Best - Screen Rant
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