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 and plans to revitalize the series in the near future.
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 for Monster High movies is to watch the proper prequel, Welcome to Monster High, followed by the recent Monster High: The Movie, and then the web series. After that, 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, which 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.
‘Monster High: The Movie’ (2022)
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.
‘Monster High 2’ (2023)
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.
‘Monster High: New Ghoul @ School’ (2010)
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.
‘Monster High: Fright On’! (2011)
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 Twilight franchise, which is even referenced at the very beginning of Fright On!, as some students wait for the release of the new “Twiheart” movie. A slew of new characters are introduced, some staying or coming back in the following film, others not.
‘Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love?’ (2010)
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 keeps 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: Escape From Skull Shores’ (2011)
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 reach their destination, their ship is attacked, leaving them 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.
‘Monster High: Friday Night Frights’ (2012)
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.
‘Monster High: Ghouls Rule’ (2012)
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.
‘Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights’ (2013)
The next entry in the Monster High movies 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.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
