Miramax is turning the 1962 Halloween anthem Monster Mash into an animated movie. The project is being developed under the leadership of Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman, who’s no stranger to spooky success after producing Netflix’s smash hit Wednesday and The Addams Family animated films.
Glickman secured the rights to the beloved song from Reservoir and Capizzi Music Co., with plans to transform the “graveyard smash” into a full-fledged family musical.
“For more than 60 years, nothing has said Halloween quite like The Monster Mash,” said Glickman. “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.”
Originally performed by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, who co-wrote it with Lenny Capizzi, Monster Mash has been a Halloween staple for decades. The song, produced by Gary S. Paxton, was famously written in under two hours and recorded in a single take.
Billboard has crowned it the “Biggest Halloween Song of All Time,” and it continues to haunt the charts every October. With over 500 million streams worldwide and yearly royalties around $1 million, it’s clear this monster hit isn’t going anywhere.
The song is sung from the perspective of a mad scientist, the song tells of a monster who rises from his slab to show off a new dance craze inspired by the 1960s “Mashed Potato.” Soon, the Wolfman, Igor, Dracula, and even the Mummy are joining in for a monster party that becomes “the hit of the land.”
This animated take arrives at a perfect time for family-friendly horror fans. Spooky comedies like The Addams Family, Hotel Transylvania, and Goosebumps have proven that audiences love monsters with heart.
According to a recent UCLA study, Gen Z’s interest in animation has jumped from 42% to nearly 49% this year, showing that this is the right moment for Monster Mash to make its move.
Between the nostalgic appeal, an iconic soundtrack, and Miramax’s proven track record with genre hits, this animated Monster Mash could easily become the next big family Halloween tradition, if it actually ends up beiing a good film.
Source: Deadline
