“Monster Mash” to Be Adapted into Animated Musical Film by Miramax

The iconic Halloween song “Monster Mash,” a perennial favorite for over six decades, is being developed into an animated musical film by Miramax, the studio announced today.

Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman, known for his work on projects like the animated Addams Family films and the hit Netflix series Wednesday, has secured the rights to the song from Reservoir and Capizzi Music Co. The 1962 hit, performed by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and co-written with Lenny Capizzi, has been named by Billboard as the “Biggest Halloween Song of All Time” and has generated over 500 million streams worldwide, reportedly earning $1 million in annual royalties.

The song’s narrative – a mad scientist’s monster coming to life and inspiring a new dance craze – lends itself naturally to a full-length animated feature. “For more than 60 years, nothing has said Halloween quite like the ‘Monster Mash,’” Glickman stated. “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.” The move comes as family-friendly spooky films continue to perform well at the box office, following successes like Hotel Transylvania and Goosebumps. Reservoir, the independent music company representing “Monster Mash,” also boasts a catalog including works by Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell.

Miramax is currently experiencing a surge in successful projects, including the recent release of Roofman and ongoing production of sequels to The Beekeeper and a new installment in the Scary Movie franchise. Studio officials indicated that production on the “Monster Mash” animated film will begin shortly, with a release date yet to be announced.