Founded in 1912 by Carl Laemmle, Universal achieved fame for producing popular low-budget serials starting in 1914. And although it didn’t produce the most prestigious film content of the time, Universal developed a reputation as a studio that catered to its audience. So, when other studios turned up their noses at a genre that focused on thrilling movie-goers with grotesque visuals and terrifying tales, Universal had found what would become their most well-known niche: monster movies.