List of film serials by studio

This is a list of film serials by studio, separated into those released by each of the five major studios, and the remaining minor studios.

The five major studios produced the greater number of serials. Of these the main studios are considered to be Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Republic Pictures. All three were active during the 1930s and 1940s. The other two major studios are Mascot Pictures, which later merged into Republic, and Pathé Exchange, which ceased serial production before the advent of sound.

Major studios These studios were the main producers of serials.

Columbia Pictures

NumberSerial titleYearChaptersGenreDirectorCastNotes1Jungle Menace193715JungleHarry L. Fraser and George MelfordFrank BuckThe first three Columbia serials were not produced by the studio. They were made independently by the Weiss Bros. studio and released by Columbia. Columbia established its own serial unit in 1938.2The Mysterious Pilot193715AviationSpencer Gordon BennetFrank Hawks3The Secret of Treasure Island193815MysteryElmer CliftonDon Terry4The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok1938, reissued in 1949, 1958, and 196415WesternMack V. Wright and Sam NelsonGordon ElliottFirst serial produced by the Columbia Pictures staff. The actor later known as Wild Bill Elliott was billed as "Gordon Elliott" in the original release; the billing was changed to "William Elliott" for the 1949 reissue. This was the only Columbia serial that was reissued to theaters three times; the last revival was in 1964.5The Spider's Web1938, reissued in 194715SuperheroRay Taylor and James W. HorneWarren Hull, Iris MeredithThe most popular serial of the year, encompassing all studios, according to a tally in Motion Picture Herald and its sister publication The Film Daily.Martin Quigley, The Film Daily, January 2, 1940, p. 2. The Spider's Web was such an exhibitor favorite that Columbia used it to launch a series of reissues in 1947.6Flying G-Men193915AviationRay Taylor and James W. HorneRobert Paige7Mandrake the Magician193912FantasySam Nelson and Norman DemingWarren Hull8Overland with Kit Carson1939, reissued in 195115WesternSam Nelson and Norman DemingBill ElliottTemporarily the last serial produced by the Columbia staff. Independent producer Larry Darmour took over serial production with the next entry.9The Shadow1940, reissued in 194715SuperheroMysteryJames W. HorneVictor Jory10Terry and the Pirates194015JungleFantasyJames W. HorneWilliam Tracy11Deadwood Dick194015WesternJames W. HorneDon Douglas12The Green Archer1940, reissued in 195715MysteryJames W. HorneVictor Jory13White Eagle194115WesternJames W. HorneBuck Jones14The Spider Returns1941, reissued in 194715SuperheroJames W. HorneWarren Hull15The Iron Claw1941, reissued in 1958 and 196415MysteryJames W. HorneCharles Quigley16Holt of the Secret Service194115Crime dramaJames W. HorneJack Holt, Evelyn Brent17Captain Midnight194215AviationJames W. HorneDave O'Brien18Perils of the Royal Mounted194215NorthernJames W. HorneRobert StevensLast of the Larry Darmour productions. 19 The Secret Code1942, reissued in 195315Crime dramaSpencer G. BennetPaul KellyColumbia's association with serial producer Larry Darmour and director James Horne lapsed when both men died in 1942. The studio again took over serial production, using its feature-film staff, beginning with The Secret Code.20The Valley of Vanishing Men194215WesternSpencer G. BennetBill Elliott21Batman1943, reissued in 1958 and 196215SuperheroLambert HillyerLewis Wilson, Douglas Croft22The Phantom194315Superhero, JungleB. Reeves EasonTom Tyler23The Desert Hawk194415AdventureB. Reeves EasonGilbert Roland24Black Arrow1944, reissued in 1955 and 196615WesternLew Landers and (uncredited) B. Reeves EasonRobert Scott, Adele Jergens25Brenda Starr, Reporter194513Crime dramaWallace FoxJoan WoodburyIndependent producer Sam Katzman took over Columbia's serial production, and remained in charge for the duration of the serial unit.26The Monster and the Ape1945, reissued in 1956 and 196215Science fictionHoward BrethertonRobert Lowery27Jungle Raiders1945, reissued in 1953 and 196415JungleLesley SelanderKane Richmond28Who's Guilty?194515MysteryHoward Bretherton and Wallace GrissellRobert Kent29Hop Harrigan1946, reissued in 195615AviationDerwin AbrahamsWilliam Bakewell30Chick Carter, Detective194615Crime dramaDerwin AbrahamsLyle Talbot31Son of the Guardsman194615MedievalDerwin AbrahamsBob Shaw32Jack Armstrong194715Science fictionWallace FoxJohn Hart33The Vigilante1947, reissued in 1957 and 196515WesternWallace FoxRalph Byrd34The Sea Hound1947, reissued in 195515Maritime[Walter B. Eason and Mack V. WrightBuster Crabbe35Brick Bradford194715Science fictionSpencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas CarrKane Richmond36Tex Granger1948, reissued in 195915WesternDerwin AbrahamsRobert Kellard37Superman194815SuperheroSpencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas CarrKirk Alyn, Noel NeillColumbia kept many of its older serials in theatrical circulation from 1947 to 1966 but, curiously, the two Superman serials were never reissued, probably owing to rights issues. The two Batman serials did return to theaters, twice each.38Congo Bill1948, reissued in 195715AdventureSpencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas CarrDon McGuire, Cleo Moore39Bruce Gentry194915Science fictionSpencer G. Bennet and Thomas CarrTom Neal40Batman and Robin1949, reissued in 1958 and 196515SuperheroSpencer Gordon BennetRobert Lowery, Johnny Duncan41Adventures of Sir Galahad195015FantasySpencer Gordon BennetGeorge Reeves42Cody of the Pony Express1950, reissued in 196115WesternSpencer Gordon BennetJock Mahoney (as "Jock O'Mahoney")43Atom Man vs. Superman195015AdventureScience FictionSpencer Gordon BennetKirk Alyn, Lyle Talbot44Pirates of the High Seas1950, reissued in 195915ActionAdventureCrimeSpencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas CarrBuster Crabbe45Roar of the Iron Horse1951, reissued in 196315WesternSpencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas CarrJock Mahoney (as "Jock O'Mahoney")46Mysterious Island195115AdventureScience FictionFantasySpencer Gordon BennetRichard Crane47Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere1951, reissued in 1958 and 196315AdventureHorrorScience FictionSpencer Gordon BennetJudd Holdren48King of the Congo1952, reissued in 196015AdventureFantasySpencer Gordon BennetBuster Crabbe49Blackhawk195215AdventureHorrorScience FictionSpencer Gordon BennetKirk Alyn50Son of Geronimo1952, reissued in 196015WesternSpencer Gordon BennetClay Moore51The Lost Planet1953, reissued in 1960 and 196615HorrorScience fictionSpencer Gordon BennetJudd Holdren52The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd1953, reissued in 196115MaritimeDerwin Abrahams and Charles S. GouldRichard Crane53Gunfighters of the Northwest1954, reissued in 196315WesternSpencer Gordon BennetJock Mahoney (as "Jack Mahoney"), Clayton MooreFilmed entirely outdoors. Originally intended as the final Columbia serial; see next entry.54Riding with Buffalo Bill195415WesternSpencer Gordon BennetMarshall ReedIn 1953 Sam Katzman had announced that he would no longer produce serials; Gunfighters of the Northwest was his last. When exhibitors objected, Katzman was forced to budget the serials back into his production schedules,Variety, "Resume Production of 'Dead' Pix Serials", Feb. 3, 1954, p. 1. and so he produced his last four serials with extremely low budgets. Entire chunks of older serials were reused, with new footage of leading players wearing costumes identical to those in the older serials. Riding with Buffalo Bill is based on two older serials, Deadwood Dick and The Valley of Vanishing Men.55Adventures of Captain Africa1955, reissued in 196515Superhero, JungleSpencer Gordon BennetJohn HartConceived as Return of the Phantom, an aborted remake of the 1943 serial The Phantom. Filmed as Adventures of Captain Africa and Outlaws of the Desert,Motion Picture Herald, Oct. 23, 1954, p. 46. with additional footage from the older serials The Desert Hawk and Jungle Menace. The film was well into production when the producer learned that the studio no longer held the rights to the comic-strip character. Portions of the film were reshot, with actor John Hart wearing a more generic costume and "The Phantom" renamed "Captain Africa."56Perils of the Wilderness1956, reissued in 196415WesternSpencer Gordon BennetDennis MooreBased on the older serials Perils of the Royal Mounted and The Mysterious Pilot.57Blazing the Overland Trail195615WesternSpencer Gordon BennetLee Roberts, Dennis MooreLast serial produced by any studio. Based on the older serials White Eagle and Overland with Kit Carson.

Mascot Pictures

Note: Mascot later became part of Republic (see below) Number (All)Number (Sound Only)Serial titleYearChaptersGenreDirectorCastNotesSilent SerialsThe Silent Flyer192610AdventureWilliam James CraftMalcolm McGregorProduced by W. Ray Johnston's Rayart studio. Its success directly led to the creation of Mascot Pictures.1Heroes of the Wild192710WesternHarry S. WebbJack HoxieThe first film from Mascot Pictures. The film is considered to be lost.2Isle of Sunken Gold192710MaritimeHarry S. WebbAnita Stewart and Duke KahanamokuThe film is considered to be lost.3The Golden Stallion192710WesternHarry S. WebbLefty Flynn and Joe Bonomo4The Vanishing West192810WesternRichard ThorpeJack Perrin and Eileen SedgwickThe film is considered to be lost.5Vultures of the Sea192810MaritimeRichard ThorpeJohnnie Walker & Shirley MasonThe film is considered to be lost.6The Fatal Warning192910MysteryRichard ThorpeHelene Costello and Ralph GravesThe film is considered to be a lost film, with no prints known to exist.Partial Sound Serials71The King of the Kongo192910JungleFantasyRichard ThorpeJacqueline Logan & Walter MillerThe first serial, of any production company, with synchronized sound. Released in both silent and part-talking versions.All Sound Serials82The Lone Defender193012WesternRichard ThorpeRin Tin Tin and Walter Miller93The Phantom of the West193110WesternD. Ross LedermanTom Tyler and William Desmond104King of the Wild193112JungleB. Reeves Eason and Richard ThorpeWalter Miller and Boris Karloff115The Vanishing Legion193112WesternFord Beebe and B. Reeves EasonHarry Carey and Frankie Darro126The Galloping Ghost193112Sports, CrimeB. Reeves Eason"Red" Grange137The Lightning Warrior193112WesternBenjamin H. Kline and Armand SchaeferRin Tin Tin148The Shadow of the Eagle193212AviationFord Beebe and B. Reeves EasonJohn Wayne159The Last of the Mohicans193212WesternFord Beebe and B. Reeves EasonHarry Carey1610The Hurricane Express193212J.P. McGowan and Armand SchaeferJohn Wayne1711The Devil Horse193212WesternOtto BrowerHarry Carey andFrankie Darro1812The Whispering Shadow193312Crime, ThrillerColbert Clark and Albert HermanBela Lugosi1913The Three Musketeers193312Colbert Clark and Armand SchaeferJohn Wayne and Lon Chaney Jr.2014Fighting with Kit Carson193312WesternColbert Clark and Armand SchaeferJohnny Mack Brown & Betsy King Ross2115The Wolf Dog193312WesternColbert Clark and Harry L. FraserRin Tin Tin and Frankie Darro2216The Mystery Squadron193312AviationColbert Clark and David HowardBob Steele and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams2317The Lost Jungle193412JungleDavid Howard and Armand SchaeferClyde Beatty and Cecilia Parker2418Burn 'Em Up Barnes193412Sports, CrimeColbert Clark and Armand SchaeferJack Mulhall and Frankie Darro2519The Law of the Wild193412WesternB. Reeves Eason and Armand SchaeferRin Tin Tin2620Mystery Mountain193412WesternOtto Brower and B. Reeves EasonKen Maynard2721The Phantom Empire193512WesternFantasyOtto Brower and B. Reeves EasonGene AutryOriginally intended for Ken Maynard. Autry took the leading role, and became a star.2822The Miracle Rider193515WesternOtto Brower and B. Reeves EasonTom Mix & Charles MiddletonOnly serial and final film of Tom Mix.2923The Adventures of Rex and Rinty193512B. Reeves Eason and Ford BeebeRex and Rin Tin Tin3024The Fighting Marines193512B. Reeves Eason and Joseph KaneGrant Withers and Adrian Morris

Pathé Exchange