Monster Mash Animated Movie: Miramax Brings Song to Life

That spooky, catchy Halloween classic is finally heading to the big screen as an animated musical, and Miramax is leading the charge with a vision to make it a perennial "graveyard smash" for families!

TL;DR: Your Quick Guide to the Spooky News

Bobby "Boris" Pickett's iconic 1962 hit "Monster Mash" is being adapted into an animated musical film by Miramax.
Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman, known for spooky hits like Netflix's Wednesday and The Addams Family animated movies, is spearheading the project.
The film aims to expand on the song's fun, built-in storyline, bringing classic monsters and a "graveyard smash" dance party to a new generation.

A Halloween Anthem Is Getting a Monster-Sized Makeover for the Big Screen

Let's be real, you can't escape Halloween without hearing Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash." It's as essential to the season as candy corn (love it or hate it!) and carving pumpkins. For decades, this quirky tune has been the unofficial anthem of spooky season, topping charts, racking up streams, and generally just being the life (or death, rather) of every monster party.

Well, get ready to do the "Mash" like never before, because Miramax is officially turning this legendary song into an animated musical movie! The news dropped recently, and it's got us all thinking about what kind of graveyard smash this cinematic adaptation will be.

Behind the Graveyard Smash: The Song's Enduring Legacy

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First hitting the airwaves in 1962, "Monster Mash" became an instant sensation, even topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart that October. But it wasn't just a one-hit wonder; the song has re-emerged on the charts five more times over the decades, as recently as 2023! Billboard has even crowned it the "Biggest Halloween Song of All Time."

The song's stats are truly monstrous: it's been streamed over 500 million times worldwide and reportedly pulls in around $1 million in annual royalties. And get this – Bobby "Boris" Pickett and his co-writer Lenny Capizzi penned the whole thing in less than two hours, and Pickett recorded it in just one take! Talk about lightning in a bottle (or a lab, in this case).

What's the Story Here? How a Song Translates to a Film

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One of the coolest things about "Monster Mash" is that it's not just a catchy jingle; it actually tells a story. It's narrated by a mad scientist whose monster unexpectedly rises from his slab one late night to perform a brand-new dance. This dance, inspired by the early '60s "Mashed Potato" craze, quickly becomes "the hit of the land."

Of course, a monster party wouldn't be complete without guests! The song's lyrics invite a whole crew of classic creeps: Wolfman, Igor, the Mummy, Dracula and his son, and a vocal group known as The Crypt-Kicker Five. Even Dracula himself gets in on the action, initially questioning the new dance before realizing it's the next big thing. This built-in narrative gives Miramax a fantastic foundation to build a full-length animated musical around.

Miramax's Monster Vision: A Winning Formula for Spooky Fun

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Leading the charge on this exciting project is Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman. If his name sounds familiar in the realm of family-friendly spooky content, there's a good reason! Glickman has a proven track record, having produced Netflix's massively popular series Wednesday (which was its second most-watched series and set a record for most hours viewed in its first week for an English-language series on Netflix) and MGM's animated Addams Family movies.

He clearly knows how to deliver on the creepy-crawly fun that audiences, especially younger ones, adore. The timing for a Monster Mash Movie couldn't be better. There's a real hunger for more spooky family films at the box office, with past successes like the Hotel Transylvania franchise and Goosebumps proving the genre's appeal. Plus, a recent UCLA study highlighted a growing interest in animation among Gen Z, with numbers rising from 42% last year to almost 49% this year. It seems monsters and animation are a match made in... well, a laboratory!

"For more than 60 years, nothing has said Halloween quite like the ‘Monster Mash.’ We’re thrilled to be entrusted by the Pickett and Capizzi families and to be partnering with Reservoir Media to bring this iconic song to life as an animated musical for all audiences. It’s a project that celebrates the fun and spirit of the original – and should become a perennial ‘graveyard smash’ for years to come."

— Jonathan Glickman, Miramax CEO

Diving Deeper: Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Original Monster Mash LP

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While everyone knows the hit single, did you know that "Monster Mash" was part of a full-length album called The Original Monster Mash? Released in late 1962, this was the lone long-player from Pickett and his backing band, cheekily billed as "The Crypt-Kickers" (which even counted Leon Russell among their members!).

The album was quite ambitious for its time, featuring 16 songs and clocking in at nearly 40 minutes – a good 10 minutes longer than many LPs of the era. Pickett, born Robert George Pickett in Somerville, Mass., in 1938 and passing away in L.A. in 2007, clearly had a lot more monster stories to tell. The songs made clever use of the diverse music fads of the early 1960s, like the Twist, Hully Gully, and the Stomp, mixing them with tales of classic Universal monsters.

Pickett's talent for vocal impersonations, particularly his spot-on takes on Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, gave the album its unique "storybook juice." You've got Karloff-inflected mad scientists squabbling with a Lugosi-infused Dracula, alongside hunchbacks and the Wolf Man, all jostling for attention and respect. It's more than just novelty; the album has an impressive narrative quality, almost like an avant-garde novelette set to rhythm and blues and doo-wop. It truly demonstrates the depth and wit that could be found in these "novelty" undertakings, showing that they could be surprisingly liberating for artists like Pickett.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time for This Animated Treat

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The decision to bring "Monster Mash" to the big screen now makes perfect sense. The song's enduring popularity, especially during Halloween, means it comes with built-in brand recognition and a loyal fanbase spanning generations. Miramax's expertise with established spooky IPs, combined with the current demand for high-quality animated family films, creates a potent combination.

This project promises to capture the fun and spirit of the original song while introducing its timeless charm to a whole new audience. We can't wait to see how the world of the mad scientist, his dancing monster, and all their ghoulish pals expands into a full cinematic adventure!

What Else Is Miramax Cooking Up?

Beyond the Monster Mash movie, Miramax has a busy slate of projects in the pipeline. They recently released Derek Cianfrance's Roofman, starring Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, and Peter Dinklage. Their movie Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy grossed an impressive $130 million internationally, and they're currently in production on the sequel to the hit The Beekeeper with Jason Statham.

On the TV side, Miramax is behind the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated The Gentleman on Netflix (which just wrapped Season 2) and holds a position in Zero Day with Robert De Niro, which topped Netflix’s Most-Watched TV list. They also had a hand in the Jenna Ortega-led Wednesday, a record-breaker for Netflix.

Looking ahead, fans can anticipate the next installment in the Scary Movie franchise (summer 2026, with the Wayans brothers writing and producing), Colman Domingo’s directorial debut Scandalous!, and a remake of The Faculty. It's clear Miramax is invested in a wide range of engaging projects, and "Monster Mash" fits right into their strategy of bringing beloved stories and concepts to new life.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About the Monster Mash Movie

Here are some quick answers to what you might be wondering about this exciting new project:

Q: When will the Monster Mash movie be released? A: As of now, Miramax has not announced a release date for the animated musical film. Stay tuned for updates! Q: What kind of movie will it be? A: It will be an animated musical film, expanding on the storyline from the classic song. Q: Will the original song be featured in the movie? A: While not explicitly stated, it's highly probable that Bobby "Boris" Pickett's iconic "Monster Mash" song will be a central part of the musical, given it's the inspiration and title of the film. Q: Who is involved in making the Monster Mash movie? A: Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman is spearheading the project. Miramax has optioned the rights from Reservoir and Capizzi Music Co., representing the families of Bobby "Boris" Pickett and Lenny Capizzi, who co-wrote the song.