This episode traces the evolution of Frankenstein from Mary Shelley’s anonymously published 1818 novel—shaped by financial hardship, later revisions, and a complex copyright history—to Universal’s groundbreaking 1931 film that transformed Boris Karloff into a horror icon. We explore how the movie, initially dismissed as an exploitative shocker, sparked intense censorship battles (including Britain’s notorious “H-for-Horror” rating), while also redefining themes of obsession, transgression, and the moral ambiguity of creation itself. Finally, we examine the film’s enduring legacy, from its induction into the National Film Registry to the many Oscar-recognized adaptations and spiritual descendants that cemented Frankenstein as one of the most influential stories in cinematic history.