Serial
see all genres ›Serials hooked moviegoers with thrill-a-minute cliffhanger narratives parceled out in weekly twenty-minute doses. The genre survived into the 1950s before being swallowed up by television. During the Silent Era, these chapter-by-chapter films represented the apex of action and energy over nuance, plot logic or pretense toward art. Yet their reckless delights were often artful indeed.
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Genres / Action/Adventure / Serial
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The Monster and the Ape
At the Bainbridge Research Foundation, Professor Franklin Arnold displays his creation, a robot called the Metalogen Man, to Professor Ernst and three other colleagues. Shortly afterward, the three associates are killed by Thor, a huge ape trained by Ernst. Professor Arnold,...Watch Movie
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Mysterious Island
It is 1865 and Union prisoners use a military balloon to escape a Southern prison camp near the end of the Civil War. The balloon drifts for days and finally lands on a mysterious volcanic island with very unusual inhabitants. Also landing (in a better aircraft) is Rulu, a...Watch Movie
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Zombies of the Stratosphere
ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE is for the lovers of old Republic Serials, those incredibly fun episodic films that kept our parents and grandparents coming back to the theater week-after-week. Over the course of twelve action-packed episodes, watch security agent Larry Martin...Watch Movie
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The Green Hornet
In this 13 episode serial, the city is faced with rising crime and increased racketeering activity. Intrepid newspaper editor Britt Reid becomes the crime fighter the Green Hornet to take on the bad guys. As far as the police are concerned, the Hornet himself is the criminal....Watch Movie
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The Phantom
Professor Davidson and his lovely daughter Diana search Africa for the Lost City of Zoloz. Legend pegs it to be the source of a vast hidden treasure. Their search is hindered by a local crook, Singapore Smith, who wants the treasure for himself. It is further complicated by Dr. Bremmer, an...Watch Movie
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Captain Video
"Captain Video" was such a nationwide sensation that in 1951, Columbia Pictures Corporation contracted to produce a theatrical serial of the Captain's exploits, the first television show ever to be adapted to the big screen. The result, CAPTAIN VIDEO: MASTER OF THE STRATOSPHERE has been hailed as...Watch Movie
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Jungle Drums of Africa
The daughter of a medical missionary in Africa comes face-to-face with ferocious beasts and killer crazed savages as she carries on her father's work after he dies. She befriends two adventurers prospecting for uranium, and before long she finds herself in danger from crooks...Watch Movie
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G-Men vs. the Black Dragon
G-Man Rex Bennett must seek out and destroy the deadly Black Dragon Society in this fast-moving, thrill-packed classic serial from Republic Pictures. This fifteen-episode saga of espionage and intrigue from wartime America is filled with Oriental torture chambers, futuristic...Watch Movie
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King of the Rocket Men
One-by-one, a group of atomic researchers are being decimated by remote control. The survivors suspect that the villain, calling himself "Dr. Vulcan," is one of their own members who is bent on a monopoly of their technological wonders. Jeff King is assigned to safeguard the...Watch Movie
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The Return of Chandu
Three years after his legendary first screen appearance as Dracula (a role he'd already played on stage), Bela Lugosi got one of his rare chances to play the hero in this twelve-part serial. He plays Frank Chandler (aka "Chandu the Magician") who becomes embroiled in intrigue...Watch Movie
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Jungle Girl
In 1941, Republic thrilled audiences with perhaps the best jungle serial ever produced. This thrilling adventure was loosely based on the famous novel "Jungle Girl" by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It starred the very beautiful Frances Gifford as Nyoka, with Tom Neal as the male hero Jack Stanton and...Watch Movie
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Jesse James Rides Again
The outlaw Jesse James and his friend are on the run from the law when he is wrongly accused of leading the historic 1876 Northfield, Minnesota bank robbery. With nerve-tensing turns and high-impact action, Jesse rides into a town where a gang is trying to drive area ranchers...Watch Movie
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Desperadoes of the West
A group of ranchers, led by Colonel Arnold and Ward Gordon, are drilling an oil well but getting fierce opposition from an unknown gang of outlaws. Eastern promoter J.B. "Dude" Dawson is behind the gang as he is out to prevent the co-op members from striking oil before their...Watch Movie
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The Painted Stallion
The period is the 1820s and the first wagon train leaves Independence heading west to Santa Fe. In order to maintain his power, the ruthless Official at Santa Fe must not let them arrive and he sends out his men to stop them. The wagon train then has to endure repeated attacks...Watch Movie
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The Green Hornet Strikes Again!
This Universal movie serial based on the The Green Hornet radio series by George W. Trendle is the sequel to the 1940 serial THE GREEN HORNET. With "a thousand ALL-NEW thrills!" this fifteen-episode serial featuring Britt Reid continues the crime fighting saga of the Hornet....Watch Movie
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Mandrake the Magician
The Wasp, the crafty head of an underworld gang, is on the hunt for a radium-energy machine developed by Professor Houston. The Wasp will stop at nothing to steal the scientist's invention. His evil machinations to obtain the device include blowing up a radio station, a power...Watch Movie
