Monster High is a multimedia franchise that got off to a flying start, releasing six dolls, a novel, and a web series in 2010. The concept of fashionable high school girls who were daughters of popular monsters and creatures blew up in popularity, and over the last decade, there have been no less than 750 dolls, 60 novels, 9 video games, a new CGI animated series on Nickelodeon; and of course, 17 Monster High movies (each with a pun-based title), including a third-generation reboot featuring live-action actors.
Like several franchises, Monster High has rebooted itself a few times. As a result, there are technically a few films that could be considered origin stories. The ideal order of Monster High movies would be to watch the true prequel Welcome to Monster High, followed by the recent Monster High: The Movie, and then the web series. After this, it doesn’t generally matter, as the movies are usually stand-alone stories. Here is the ideal chronological order to watch them in (and you can find a list of the films at the bottom of the article).
Welcome to Monster High (2016)
First on the list of Monster High movies in order is a continuity reboot for the franchise. Welcome to Monster High looks back at the creation of Monster High itself, thanks to Draculaura, Frankie Stein, and Clawdeen Wolf (and their families). They need more students, so they travel the world to seek out characters like Lagoona Blue, Cleo de Nile, Ari Hauntington, and the villainous zombie Moanica D’Kay. This film is a perfect prequel-like installment to discover the origins of Monster High School. Welcome to Monster High (2016), which is available for rent.
Monster High: The Movie (2022)
Release Date October 6, 2022
Director Todd Holland
Cast Steve Valentine , Ceci Balagot , Case Walker
Monster High: The Movie is the first live-action adaptation. This movie is technically not in the canon of the original series, but it is a prequel of sorts, which makes it loosely connected. The third-generation reboot introduces the friendships and school that define the franchise, as Clawdeen receives an invitation to attend Monster High. In this live-action universe, Clawdeen is the new girl in school, and she quickly discovers a plot that will destroy Monster High and reveal her as part-human. This installment is a sort of untold origin story and alternate reality taking place at the school’s beginnings. You can streamMonster High: The Movie (2022) on Paramount+.
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Monster High 2 (2023)
Release Date October 5, 2023
Director Todd Holland
Cast Miia Harris , Nayah Damasen , Ceci Balagot , Case Walker , Justin Derickson , Salena Qureshi , Bonale Fambrini , Jy Prishkulnik , Lina Lecompte , Ana Ortiz , Scotch Ellis Loring , Marci T. House , Steve Valentine , Kyra Leroux , Lilah Fitzgerald , Nasiv Sall , Jennifer Clarke , Boris Bilic
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Monster High 2 picks up a year later after the events of the first live-action movie, as Clawdeen has become a famous monster after saving Monster High from Mr. Eddy and Eddy Jr. Now the popular girl at school, Clawdeen has to face Toralei Stripe, who returns from studying abroad and wants to impose her presence in the school by banning half monsters and witchcraft. The two girls face off in the political field as they run to become Monster’s High Prefect. Things go out of control when a group of witches raids the school, making Bloodgood ban witchcraft practices on the school grounds. This exciting plot makes for a more intricate look at the dynamics between students and species in the new generation of Monster High. You can stream Monster High 2 (2023) on Paramount+.
Monster High: New Ghoul @ School (2010)
Mattel Entertainment
New Ghoul @ School follows Frankie Stein on her first day at Monster High and thus belongs near the very beginning, either before or immediately after the web series. Stein is new to high school and the world, having only been created 15 days ago. She doesn’t know how to fit in, a classic “new kid” trope that makes for a relatable and sweet movie about being a teenager. Aside from the comforting introductory plot, fans should particularly enjoy this installment’s various breathtaking fashion moments. You can stream Monster High: New Ghoul @ School on Prime.
Monster High: Fright On! (2011)
Mattel Entertainment
Monster High has always been a haven for all monsters, but that changes in Fright On! when a flux of vampires and werewolves enroll in the school in hopes that they can get along. The ancient feud between vampires and werewolves threatens to break the peace of Monster High. This topic is, of course, most commonly known from the TV series What We Do in the Shadows or the ultra-popular franchise Twilight, which is even referenced at the very beginning of Fright On!, as some students are waiting for the release of the new “Twiheart” movie. A slew of new characters are introduced, some staying or coming back in the following movies, others not. You can stream Monster High: Fright On! on Prime.
Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? (2010)
Mattel Entertainment
In Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? Draculaura’s Sweet 1600 is approaching, and she reminisces about an old boyfriend named Valentine. But she is currently dating Clawd, her best friend Clawdeen’s brother, who seems to keep messing up in their relationship. So when Valentine returns, Draculaura is torn, but Valentine has more dastardly plans than he lets on. Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? is the first movie in the franchise to use CGI 3D modeling (in order of release date), which became the norm from then on. Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? is available for rent.
Monster High: Escape from Skull Shores (2011)
Mattel Entertainment
Next on the list of Monster High movies is Escape from Skull Shores. The school is on spring break, and the girls decide to have a girls-only trip. Led by Lagoona (who is a variation on the great Creature From the Black Lagoon), the girls go sailing. Before they arrive at their destination, their ship is attacked, and they are left stranded. A mysterious man rescues them and takes them to Skull Island, where even more mysteries await. The first adventure to take place mainly outside the school is a nice change of pace for Monster High movies. You can stream Monster High: Escape from Skull Shores on Prime.
Monster High: Friday Night Frights (2012)
Mattel Entertainment
Friday Night Frights is an empowering entry in the Monster High film series. The Skultimate Roller Maze Championship, a boys-only competition, is sabotaged when Monster High’s team gets too injured to skate. Frankie convinces the girls that they can do it instead. The boys start training the girls to skate along the stone gargoyles of the competing school. Hopefully, girl power will succeed, and the ghouls will have their revenge! Now, while this installment carries a positive message about gender diversity, it might be hard for some viewers to forget the extreme beauty standards that the dolls have been promoting so far. You can stream Monster High: Friday Night Frights on Prime.
Monster High: Ghouls Rule (2012)
Mattel Entertainment
Ironically, in the Monster High movies, Halloween is a night ghouls fear, with them often staying inside. But this year, in Monster High: Ghouls Rule, Frankie, on her first Halloween, and her friends decide they will change that. Monster High: Ghouls Rule delightfully builds on the world that the franchise has created, developing a fun mythology for the school and the Halloween holiday, further ‘humanizing’ the characters. This installment contains so many transformed pop culture references, from the social media “Cryptspace” and “Critter”, to the appearance of the character from The Scream painting, or a nod to the famous horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer. You can stream Monster High: Ghouls Rule on Prime.
Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights (2013)
Mattel Entertainment
The next entry in the Monster High movies in order is Scaris, City of Frights. Clawdeen gets a chance to apprentice with a legendary fashion designer, so she heads to Scaris, France (a variation on the international pronunciation of Paris, yet another silly but fun pun) with her best friends in tow. But while they’re there, they learn some secrets that get them into trouble. A thrilling adventure in a foreign country with a variety of new local characters, this installment is quite innovative for the franchise. You can stream Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights on Prime.
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Monster High: 13 Wishes (2013)
Mattel Entertainment
In Monster High: 13 Wishes, Howleen, Clawdeen’s little sister, is annoyed at being in her older sister’s shadow. She stumbles upon a genie who will grant her 13 wishes but quickly realizes that everything she asks for isn’t really what she wants. Gigi Grant the genie is probably one of the most fully-fledged characters to appear in a specific story, and she is not merely a tool for the plot but has her own issue to resolve. 2013 was when The Monster High craze was starting to die down, but it was clear that the property still had its die-hard fans. You can stream Monster High: 13 Wishes on Prime.
Monster High: Frights, Camera, Action! (2014)
Mattel Entertainment
In the next installment, Frights, Camera, Action! Draculaura is told that she is the rightful heir to the vampire throne after the disappearance of first-in-line Elissabat, and is whisked away to a royal coronation in Transylvania. But the girls think something is amiss and search for the real vampire queen before it’s too late and Draculaura is lost forever. Their search for the truth will bring them to Hauntlywood and to the set of their favorite TV show, “Vampire Majesty.”
Frights, Camera, Action! makes an incredible number of smart references to well-known movies, such as introducing each girl through a revisited movie poster: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 for Draculaura, The Hunger Games for Clawdeen, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman for Robecca, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World for Ghoulia, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom for Hoodude. They also all appear on a reworked poster of The Craft. Monster High: Frights, Camera, Action! is available to rent.
Monster High: Freaky Fusion (2014)
Mattel Entertainment
Freaky Fusion is the second Monster High movie to be released in 2014. An ancient time machine fuses eight Monster High students into hybrid monsters: Dracubecca (fusion of Draculaura and Robecca), Cleolei (fusion of Cleo and Toralei), Clawvenus (fusion of Clawdeen and Venus), and Lagoonafire (fusion of Lagoona and Jinafire) — making for amazing dolls, by the way. A mad scientist then uses this machine to create an out-of-control monster, whose purpose is the end of Monster High. This exciting installment has surprisingly suspenseful and fun moments, especially as pairs of ghouls must share the same body. Monster High: Freaky Fusion is available to rent.
Monster High: Haunted (2015)
Mattel Entertainment
In Monster High: Haunted, Monster High has become haunted, but no one knows why. Spectra Vondergeist returns to her ghost school, unveiling a whole new section of the Monster High universe to discover why. The other girls use Boogey Sand to transform into ghosts so that they can help her find the answers. This is one of the sadder and spookier installments in the Monster High franchise; a surprisingly effective change of pace, but maybe not for all ages. Monster High: Haunted is available to rent.
Monster High: Boo York, Boo York (2015)
Mattel Entertainment
The names of most Monster High movies are puns that nearly write themselves. Boo York, Boo York, is a nod to the classic Frank Sinatra song. In this film, the girls hit Boo York in style! This film focuses on the De Niles family hoping to carve out a new empire. Meanwhile, Catty Noir attempts to find a place for her music to shine. Boo York, Boo York has some pretty catchy songs, such as the namesake song cover by Catty Noir and Pharaoh, which charted on Billboard’s US Kid Albums (5th) and US Soundtracks (12th), the only film in the franchise to achieve so. You can stream Monster High: Boo York, Boo York on Prime.
Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef (2016)
Mattel Entertainment
Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef takes the story underwater and into a whole new world of the Monster High universe — once again, making way for some fashionable creepy mermaid dolls. Lagoona takes her friends with her when she is sent to the Great Scarrier Reef to complete a mission: saving her own underwater flower that has begun wilting. The girls transform into sea creatures to help their friend with her quest, where Lagoona will have to face her most shameful moment. Great Scarrier Reef is a lovely story about growing up and not letting shame eat you up, all while enjoying the beauty of the ghoulish ocean. You can stream Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef on Prime.
Monster High: Electrified (2017)
Mattel Entertainment
In Monster High: Electrified, Clawdeen wants to open a salon for monsters and normies, which has never been done before. But, once word gets out, some are unhappy, and the ghouls must protect Clawdeen’s dream from sabotage. Monster High: Electrified is an unexpectedly inspiring call to empathy that felt extremely relevant to the politics of its post-election release date. Already seven years old, this is the last movie in the franchise to be animated. You can stream Monster High: Electrified on Prime.
Canceled Monster High Projects
Paramount+
An untitled live-action film directed by Ari Sandel was initially set for a 2016 release. However, after the announcement, there was never any follow-up. That same year, the animated feature Monster High: Feary Tale was set to release, introducing characters from Ever After High. With the cancelation of Ever After High, the project was scrapped; storyboards are all that remains of the lost Monster High movie. Monster High 3 was also in the works, with a tentative release date of sometime in 2024, but Paramount ultimately decided to scrap the project.
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All in all, through 17 movies in 14 years, including two 2D ones and two live-action ones, fans may wonder where the franchise will bring them next. The latest live-action films have not been the most popular, entirely overshadowed by the 2022 Monster High TV show, which was praised for representing more varied body shapes, hidden disabilities, and LGBTQ+ identities. The third-generation dolls featuring different body shapes have been the company’s best sales.
How to Watch Monster High Movies in Chronological Order
- Welcome to Monster High
- Monster High: The Movie
- Monster High 2
- Monster High: New Ghoul at School
- Monster High: Fright On!
- Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love?
- Monster High: Escape from Skull Shores
- Monster High: Friday Night Frights
- Monster High: Ghouls Rule
- Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights
- Monster High: 13 Wishes
- Monster High: Frights, Camera, Action!
- Monster High: Freaky Fusion
- Monster High: Haunted
- Monster High: Boo York, Boo York
- Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef
- Monster High: Electrified
How to Watch Monster High Movies By Order of Release Date
Name of the Film
Date of Release
Monster High: New Ghoul at School
October 31, 2010
Monster High: Fright On!
October 30, 2011
Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love?
February 12, 2012
Monster High: Escape from Skull Shores
April 13, 2012
Monster High: Ghouls Rule
October 9, 2012
Monster High: Friday Night Frights
January 21, 2013
Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights
March 3, 2013
Monster High: 13 Wishes
October 8, 2013
Monster High: Frights, Camera, Action!
March 25, 2014
Monster High: Freaky Fusion
September 30, 2014
Monster High: Haunted
March 24, 2015
Monster High: Boo York, Boo York
September 29, 2015
Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef
February 12, 2016
Welcome to Monster High
August 27, 2016
Monster High: Electrified
March 28, 2017
Monster High: The Movie
October 6, 2022
Monster High 2
October 5, 2023
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