21+ — flagged for gore
Fake Wounds & Gore FXNo. 4598 · The 2026 edition
Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show
Uncover the secrets behind Hollywood's most terrifying monster makeup at this live show.
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at en.wikipedia.org.
Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show reveals the special effects and artistry that create iconic movie monsters, featuring live demonstrations and behind-the-scenes tricks of the trade.
Directions
- Host Alex Ross searches the stage for Mark (or Marty) James, who enters the theater with a large knife stuck in their chest, briefly interacts with the audience, 'dies,' and then reveals it is fake.
- A montage of gory clips from Universal horror films plays on screens on both sides of the stage, showing Universal's role as a pioneer of horror as a film genre.
- Ross and James choose an audience volunteer and demonstrate how a bloody limb cut is faked with a prop knife and fake blood.
- A short clip montage about Lon Chaney is shown, with James explaining Chaney kept his prosthetic makeup secrets until he died.
- The montage continues on make-up artist Jack Pierce, who designed Universal Classic Monsters including Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, The Wolf Man, The Mummy and Bride of Frankenstein.
- Ross peeks behind the curtain and a car alarm goes off; James silences it and questions Ross, who usually blames a child in the audience.
- A clip shows the creation of the title character's make-up for 1941's The Wolf Man.
- While a clip from An American Werewolf in London plays, James credits Rick Baker with expanding prosthetic makeup and being the inaugural Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling recipient in 1981, also naming Ve Neill.
- A final clip from the 2017 remake of The Mummy shows Sofia Boutella, with James explaining how motion capture and CGI animated her character.
- For the finale, James reveals a secret project: a motion capture vest controlling an 'animatronic' werewolf named Eddie; the earlier volunteer returns onstage to help demonstrate and a group picture is taken.
- After the volunteer returns to their seat, Eddie comes alive and chases James backstage; James seemingly kills Eddie offstage and returns bloody and bruised.
- Guests exit through a hall lined with posters of Universal horror films such as The Birds, Jurassic Park and Psycho, into the gift shop shared with The Bourne Stuntacular.
Tips
- The show was announced to temporarily close May 12, 2026, for a reimagined version expected later in 2026.
- Guests exit into a gift shop shared with The Bourne Stuntacular.
The list
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01
An American Werewolf in London
Present clip shown in the show
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02
Army of Darkness
Present clip shown in the show
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03
Bordello of Blood
Present clip shown in the show
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04
Bride of Frankenstein
Present clip shown in the show
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05
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Present clip shown in the show
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06
Demon Knight
Present clip shown in the show
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07
Dracula 1931
Present clip shown in the show
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08
Frankenstein 1931
Present clip shown in the show
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09
The Frighteners
Present clip shown in the show
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10
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923
Present clip shown in the show
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11
Jurassic Park III
Present clip shown in the show
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12
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Present clip shown in the show
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13
Mulholland Drive
Present clip shown in the show
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14
The Mummy 1932
Present clip shown in the show
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15
The Mummy 2017
Present clip shown in the show; Sofia Boutella motion-capture segment
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16
The Mummy Returns
Present clip shown in the show
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17
The Phantom of the Opera 1925
Present clip shown in the show
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18
Psycho 1960
Present clip shown in the show
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19
Psycho 1998
Present clip shown in the show
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20
Shadow of the Vampire
Present clip shown in the show
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21
The Thing 1982
Present clip shown in the show
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22
Van Helsing
Present clip shown in the show
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23
Virus 1999
Present clip shown in the show
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24
The Wolf Man 1941
Present clip shown in the show
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25
Brazil 1985
Clip featured in the original version
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26
Hellboy II: The Golden Army 2008
Originally featured clip; also added to lobby displays
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27
Jaws
Clip featured in the original version
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28
King Kong 2005
Originally featured clip; also added to lobby displays
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29
The Wolfman 2010
Originally featured clip; also added to lobby displays
Where to watch: Universal Studios Florida, Hollywood area, Universal Orlando Resort · Universal Studios Japan (former short-lived version, Monster Make-Up, 2001)
Facts from the original
- The show opened on June 7, 1990, along with Universal Studios Florida; its soft opening was May 1, 1990.
- It is a live demonstration of Universal Pictures' horror movie legacy, with particular emphasis on prosthetic makeup.
- It was inspired by the former The Land of a Thousand Faces show (1975–1980) at Universal Studios Hollywood.
- It is one of two original opening-day attractions still operating at Universal Studios Florida, the other being E.T. Adventure.
- On May 3, 2026, it was announced the show will temporarily close on May 12, 2026 to make way for a reimagined version reopening later in the year.
- The show is housed in a re-creation of the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
- The lobby/waiting area has displays on Universal horror films and the work of make-up artists Lon Chaney, Jack Pierce and Bud Westmore, actor Lon Chaney Jr., director Alfred Hitchcock, and films such as Psycho, Jaws, The Thing, Bride of Chucky and An American Werewolf in London.
- The lobby also includes displays on the Universal Monsters, The Munsters and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights.
- Since 2004, the lobby has added prop displays and clips from recent Universal horror films such as Van Helsing (2004), King Kong (2005), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), The Wolfman (2010) and The Mummy (since 2017).
- The show is mostly scripted, with parts improvised between the actors and the audience, sometimes including quips about celebrities or audience members.
- It is hosted by Alex Ross and Universal Studios' creature creator and visual effects artist Mark James; both roles are played by male or female actors, and the James character is named Marty James when played by a woman.
- Attraction type: live show; designer: Universal Creative; theme: prosthetic makeup, Universal Classic Monsters and horror films; duration: 25 minutes.
- Universal Express is available and the attraction is wheelchair accessible.
- From its 1990 opening until 1997, the show was called The Phantom of the Opera Horror Make-Up Show, with a live introduction from the Phantom of the Opera.
- After 1997 the show was titled The Gory, Gruesome and Grotesque Horror Make-Up Show before changing to its current title.
- From 1990 until 2004, the show used clips from films such as The Thing and An American Werewolf in London, and the audience volunteer had their picture taken with the Phantom of the Opera; the finale had James enter a transportation device based on The Fly and turn into the title character and back, keeping fly wings on his back. This version was introduced with a gunshot by James.
- It was revamped in 1997 so the volunteer had a picture taken with a dinosaur.
- In 2001, the volunteer and a member of their party had their picture taken with The Mummy, and a clip about the make-up effects creation from The Mummy Returns was added.
- In August 2002, a woman selected from the audience fell off the stage during the finale after being scared by the animatronic werewolf Eddie, landing on the steps and breaking her leg; she was hospitalized and released shortly afterward.
- Since the 2002 incident, the audience volunteer is asked to return to their seat before the jump-scare happens.
- A short-lived Universal Studios Japan version titled Monster Make-Up premiered in 2001 and closed due to a lack of guest interest; the theatre went through temporary replacements until being rethemed to a Sing attraction in 2019.
- The attraction is located in the Hollywood area of Universal Studios Florida and has operating status.
