10 (actually 12) Unrecognized Universal Monsters

You remember all those cute jokes about how Mia Wallace and the Xenomorph are technically Disney Princesses? Well this ain't that. These aren't some approximations based on studio mergers or gender - this list checks off the only two boxes it needs: Are they monsters, and Do they appear in movies produced (or in most cases distributed) by Universal Pictures? Incidentally there are dozens of post-1970 characters that fit this criteria that deserve to haunt and maim amongst the ranks of Dracula, Frankenstein, et al. but here's my list of major contributors that deserve to throw their own monster parties where they all get together and hang out and eat Doritos and drink Pepsi. Or at the very least have their own commemorative postage stamps. 

- Paul

Bruce

Jaws

The easiest and most obvious choice on the list: spawned a franchise and dozens of knockoffs, based on literature, plenty of merchandise including an actual vinyl Halloween costume from Collegeville. Also effectively scary; no one stopped swimming for fear of the Creature from the Black Lagoon grabbing their ankles. 

Gunther

The Funhouse

So closely related to Frankenstein's Monster that he actually wears a Frankenstein mask - and that's when he deserves our sympathy. But then the mask comes off, revealing something more original and horrifying and dangerous. 

Conal Cochran

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Mad Scientist, Evil Warlock, Corporate CEO, who knows. What I do know is that his bemusing demise (spoiler, sorry) was just confusing enough to allow him to come back in franchise form. 

The Bishop of Battle

Nightmares

Talk about franchising! This ghost-in-the-machine subgenre stuff was barely utilized in the home console video game market, but if it were it shoulda started here. Universal Monsters 2.0.

Darkness

Legend

This movie should've been rated X for how fucking scary Tim Curry looks - actually one of the few movie monsters to appear in my literal nightmares. I'd say that's pretty strong eligibility. 

The Klopeks

The 'Burbs

When you think about it we know absolutely nothing about this murderous family next door, and that makes me think they could've branched out away from this Abbott-and-Costello-type setup.

Max Cady

Cape Fear

Mitchum or DeNiro, take your pick; the fact that the role was reprised indicates his lasting effect and timeless scares. (If Freddy could get away with a franchise so could Max.)

Dr. Evan Rendell

Dr. Giggles

The Slasher that killed The Slasher genre. Too bad - crazy doctors are such a staple of the Universal Monster lore. And we never got to have the inevitable argument of "Dr. Giggles Part 3 isn't as good as Part 4, but it's still better than the first." 

T Rex

Jurassic Park

Strange to include 2 Spielberg and 0 Carpenter (and I have my reasons) but beyond my argument that this is a legit Horror Movie, I'd argue that she's the most memorable monster of the 1990s, regardless of studio affiliation. 

The Collector

Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight

Billy Zane is underrated (yes I'm using the word) and despite his competence in any role this one feels the most tailor-made to his showy madness. The ending implies The Collector could be anyone but Billy owns this like Karloff owns The Creature.