Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1948

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Classic monster mash-up comedy that's more film history homework than must-watch for modern kids.

7.3/10

90%

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Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

movie

Approved, 1948

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Classic monster mash-up comedy that's more film history homework than must-watch for modern kids.

7.3

90%

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7.3/10

90%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this is a 77-year-old black-and-white comedy that moves at 1940s speed. Yes, it's a beloved classic with stellar ratings and genuine historical significance. Yes, the monster mashup concept was brilliant and the slapstick still has moments.

But will your average 2025 kid sit through it? Probably not without significant parental enthusiasm or a film studies angle. It's more 'educational exposure to cinema history' than 'grab the popcorn, this is gonna be great.'

If you've got a kid who loves old movies, classic monsters, or is studying film, great. Otherwise, this is a tough sell in the age of Marvel and Pixar. The scares are mild, the content is fine, but the watchability factor for modern kids is low unless you're making it a special vintage movie night event.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media's age 7+ feels right for the mild scares. But honestly? Most kids under 10 will struggle with the dated style, and kids over 12 will only watch it for film class. This is for classic movie buffs, nostalgia-seeking parents, or Halloween-season family viewing where you're making an event of 'old scary movies.'

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic slapstick comedy with good-natured humor and no mean-spiritedness. The duo's bumbling antics model friendship (even if one's the straight man). Some mild scares but handled with levity. No inappropriate content, though the pacing and style feel dated to modern viewers.

Imaginative

Clever mashup concept bringing together Universal's monster icons in a comedy framework—innovative for 1948. The horror-comedy blend invites kids to see scary things through a playful lens. However, it's a passive viewing experience with limited creative inspiration for modern kids beyond nostalgia appreciation.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 7+. A few transformation scenes (wolf, vampire bat) and monsters emerging from coffins may startle younger kids, but it's clearly comedic in tone. No gore, violence is cartoonish, no inappropriate content. The scares are telegraphed and defused by comedy—parents know what they're getting.

Enriching

Strong ratings (90% RT critics, 85% audience, 7.3 IMDB) reflect its place in film history as a genre-blending classic. Offers exposure to Golden Age Hollywood, physical comedy timing, and cultural literacy around classic monsters. But limited modern relevance—it's more a history lesson than genuinely enriching entertainment for today's kids.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Introduces kids to iconic Universal monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolf Man) in a non-scary context
Physical comedy and slapstick timing from masters of the craft—good for understanding comedy history
Strong critical ratings (90% RT) and cultural significance as a genre-blending pioneer
Genuinely funny moments that still land, especially the dungeon and House of Horrors sequences

⚠

What to Watch For

Transformation scenes (man-to-wolf, bat-to-Dracula) and coffin reveals may startle kids under 7
Black-and-white 1948 pacing feels glacial to kids raised on modern editing—expect 'this is boring' complaints
The comedy style is vaudeville-era—some kids will find it hilarious, others completely baffling

Conversation Starters

"Which monster would be the scariest if they weren't being funny? Why?"
"How is old-timey comedy different from what makes you laugh now?"
"If you could put any modern character into a movie with classic monsters, who would it be?"

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