Is Son of Frankenstein an overlooked classic?
Third in the series, but first in our hearts?
The horror canon— the list of the genre's best movies— seems concretely ratified in 2026. Especially looking back on the "classics." If you polled one hundred horror fans about the 10 best and most important horror movies from the '30s, the data would show a few trends. Frankenstein and his monstrous Bride, Freaks, The Black Cat... All of these might be present, as might The Old Dark House, The Mummy, and Dracula.
But perhaps a certain sinister offspring has been left out of the history books. Son of Frankenstein, released in 1939, is entirely deserving of a spot in the pantheon among its more-heralded parentage. James Whale's Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein are, rightly so, untouchable accomplishments in the genre. However, Son is nothing to sneeze at, with both critics from the '30s and writers from today agreeing that it was a worthy successor.
Dracula's Daughter wasn't successful enough to keep the Universal Monsters wagon on track, and the studio paused production on horror movies for two years. This gap, alone, is enough to create some division, separating Son of Frankenstein from the earlier films in the series.
Nonetheless, when Son finally premiered, it was quite well-received.
The New South Wales, Australia, Forbes Advocate hailed "a new juggernaut of destruction loosed upon the world," readying viewers for "the greatest entertainment of your life" and claiming that hundreds were turned away from Sydney movie theaters.
Similarly, the Altoona, Pennsylvania Tribune praised Universal Studios for "reassum[ing] the position as leader in the field of spine-tingling dramas," calling Son of Frankenstein a "new, powerful production which makes the flesh creep and at the same time emerges as a dramatic triumph."
So, too, have modern critics written kindly on the third film in this macabre franchise. A review in his Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide saw the popular pundit complimenting the movie's "wonderfully bizarre sets," and claiming this was Bela Lugosi's "finest performance."
Yes, this may be a favorite of yours, but Son of Frankenstein is left off a lot of lists it belongs on. It's high time we put some respect on this horror classic's name.
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