Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show

The list

1. 01

   An American Werewolf in London

   Present clip shown in the show

2. 02

   Army of Darkness

   Present clip shown in the show

3. 03

   Bordello of Blood

   Present clip shown in the show

4. 04

   Bride of Frankenstein

   Present clip shown in the show

5. 05

   Creature from the Black Lagoon

   Present clip shown in the show

6. 06

   Demon Knight

   Present clip shown in the show

7. 07

   Dracula 1931

   Present clip shown in the show

8. 08

   Frankenstein 1931

   Present clip shown in the show

9. 09

   The Frighteners

   Present clip shown in the show

10. 10

    The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923

    Present clip shown in the show

11. 11

    Jurassic Park III

    Present clip shown in the show

12. 12

    Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

    Present clip shown in the show

13. 13

    Mulholland Drive

    Present clip shown in the show

14. 14

    The Mummy 1932

    Present clip shown in the show

15. 15

    The Mummy 2017

    Present clip shown in the show

16. 16

    The Mummy Returns

    Present clip shown in the show

17. 17

    The Phantom of the Opera 1925

    Present clip shown in the show

18. 18

    Psycho 1960

    Present clip shown in the show

19. 19

    Psycho 1998

    Present clip shown in the show

20. 20

    Shadow of the Vampire

    Present clip shown in the show

21. 21

    The Thing 1982

    Present clip shown in the show

22. 22

    Van Helsing

    Present clip shown in the show

23. 23

    Virus 1999

    Present clip shown in the show

24. 24

    The Wolf Man 1941

    Present clip shown in the show

Where to watch: Universal Studios Florida, Hollywood area

Facts from the original

• The show opened on June 7, 1990 alongside Universal Studios Florida, with a soft opening on 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 that the show will temporarily close on May 12, 2026 ahead of a reimagined version reopening later in the year.
• The attraction is housed in a re-creation of the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
• The lobby and waiting area holds displays on Universal horror films and includes 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 including 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 some parts improvised between the actors and the audience, including quips about celebrities or audience members.
• It is hosted by Alex Ross and Universal Studios' creature creator and visual effects artist Mark James, who is renamed Marty James when played by a female actor.
• James enters the theatre with a large knife stuck in their heart, briefly interacts with the audience and 'dies' before revealing the effect is fake.
• A montage of gory clips from Universal horror films plays on screens on both sides of the stage, highlighting Universal Pictures as a pioneer of the horror genre.
• A volunteer is chosen so Ross and James can demonstrate a bloody limb cut using a fake knife and fake blood.
• A short clip montage covers Lon Chaney, who kept his prosthetic makeup secrets to himself until he died.
• The montage also covers Universal make-up artist Jack Pierce, who designed the Universal Classic Monsters including Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, The Wolf Man, The Mummy and Bride of Frankenstein.
• Ross peeks behind the curtain, triggering a car alarm that James turns off before questioning Ross about their secret project.
• A clip shows the creation of the title character's makeup for 1941's The Wolf Man.
• During a clip from An American Werewolf in London, James notes Rick Baker expanded and fully developed prosthetic makeup in blockbuster films and was the inaugural recipient of the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling in 1981.
• James also names Ve Neill as another renowned makeup artist who followed suit.
• A final clip from the 2017 remake of The Mummy shows Sofia Boutella performing as the title character while James explains how motion capture and computer-generated imagery extended her abilities.
• In the finale, James reveals a motion capture vest that controls an 'animatronic' werewolf named Eddie, and the earlier volunteer returns to help demonstrate it and take a picture.
• After the volunteer sits down, Eddie comes alive and chases James backstage, and James returns to the stage bloody and bruised after seemingly killing Eddie offstage.
• Guests exit through a hall with posters of Universal horror films such as The Birds, Jurassic Park and Psycho, leading into a gift shop shared with The Bourne Stuntacular.
• From 1990 to 1997 the show was titled The Phantom of the Opera Horror Make-Up Show, with a live introduction from the Phantom of the Opera and lobby posters from classic Universal horror films.
• Since 1997 the lobby has featured clips and props from The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), The Mummy Returns (2001), Van Helsing (2004) and others.
• After 1997 the show was titled The Gory, Gruesome and Grotesque Horror Make-Up Show before switching to its current title.
• From 1990 until 2004 the show featured clips such as The Thing and An American Werewolf in London, and the volunteer had their photo taken with the Phantom of the Opera.
• In the earlier finale, James stepped into a transportation device based on The Fly (1986), turned into the title character and back, then walked backstage with Ross still wearing fly wings.
• That earlier version was introduced with a gunshot by James.
• It was revamped in 1997 so the audience volunteer had their 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 makeup effects of The Mummy Returns was added.
• The show and lobby later incorporated clips and props from King Kong (2005), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), The Wolfman (2010) and The Mummy.
• The show originally featured clips from Brazil, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Jaws, King Kong and The Wolfman (2010).
• In August 2002 a woman selected to participate fell off the stage and broke her leg after being scared by Eddie the animatronic werewolf during the finale; she was hospitalized and released shortly afterward with no further injuries.
• 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 lack of guest interest.
• The Universal Studios Japan theatre went through several temporary replacements before being rethemed to the Sing attraction in 2019.