The history of horror films began in the late 1890s with the creation of short silent black and white clips by Georges Melies, including his film Le Manoir du Diable, often considered the first horror film. In the early 1930s, Universal Studios produced iconic horror films like Dracula and Frankenstein. The 1950s saw an increase in films exploring themes of alien invasion and mutation. Financial success of low-budget gore films in the 1970s led to many similar films, while the 1990s featured the release of enduring franchises like Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th. The genre has evolved greatly over time but consistently attracted large audiences.