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 was later taken over and merged with other companies to form Republic, and Pathé which ceased serial production before the age of sound.
These studios were the main producers of serials.
| Number |
Serial Title |
Year |
Chapters |
Genre |
Director |
Cast |
Notes |
| 1 |
Darkest Africa |
1936 |
15 |
Jungle |
B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane |
Clyde Beatty |
Semi-sequel to Mascot's The Lost Jungle |
| 2 |
Undersea Kingdom |
1936 |
12 |
Science fiction |
B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane |
Ray Corrigan |
|
| 3 |
The Vigilantes Are Coming |
1936 |
12 |
Western |
Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright |
Robert Livingston and Kay Hughes |
|
| 4 |
Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island |
1936 |
14 |
Maritime |
Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright |
Ray Mala |
|
| 5 |
Dick Tracy |
1937 |
15 |
Crime |
Alan James |
Ralph Byrd |
Based on the comic strip "Dick Tracy" |
| 6 |
The Painted Stallion |
1937 |
12 |
Western |
Alan James |
Ray Corrigan |
|
| 7 |
S.O.S. Coast Guard |
1937 |
12 |
Maritime, Science fiction |
Alan James |
Bela Lugosi and Ralph Byrd |
|
| 8 |
Zorro Rides Again |
1937 |
12 |
Western |
William Witney |
John Carroll |
Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
| 9 |
The Lone Ranger |
1938 |
15 |
Western |
William Witney and John English |
Lee Powell |
Based on the radio series The Lone Ranger |
| 10 |
The Fighting Devil Dogs |
1938 |
12 |
Science fiction |
William Witney and John English |
Lee Powell and Herman Brix |
|
| 11 |
Dick Tracy Returns |
1938 |
15 |
Crime |
William Witney and John English |
Ralph Byrd |
Based on the comic strip "Dick Tracy" |
| 12 |
Hawk of the Wilderness |
1938 |
12 |
Jungle |
William Witney and John English |
Herman Brix and Ray Mala |
Based on the novel by William L. Chester |
| 13 |
The Lone Ranger Rides Again |
1939 |
15 |
Western |
William Witney and John English |
Robert Livingston |
Based on the radio series The Lone Ranger |
| 14 |
Daredevils of the Red Circle |
1939 |
12 |
|
William Witney and John English |
Charles Quigley, Herman Brix and David Sharpe |
|
| 15 |
Dick Tracy's G-Men |
1939 |
15 |
Crime |
William Witney and John English |
Ralph Byrd |
Based on the comic strip "Dick Tracy" |
| 16 |
Zorro's Fighting Legion |
1939 |
12 |
Western |
William Witney and John English |
Reed Hadley |
Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
| 17 |
Drums of Fu Manchu |
1940 |
15 |
Yellow peril |
William Witney and John English |
Henry Brandon |
Based on Fu Manchu created by Sax Rohmer |
| 18 |
Adventures of Red Ryder |
1940 |
12 |
Western |
William Witney and John English |
Don "Red" Barry |
Based on the comic strip "Red Ryder" |
| 19 |
King of the Royal Mounted |
1940 |
12 |
Northern |
William Witney and John English |
Allan Lane |
Based on the comic strip "King of the Royal Mounted" |
| 20 |
Mysterious Doctor Satan |
1940 |
15 |
Superhero |
William Witney and John English |
Eduardo Ciannelli and Robert Wilcox |
Originally intended as a Superman serial. First original Superhero film. |
| 21 |
Adventures of Captain Marvel |
1941 |
12 |
Superhero |
William Witney and John English |
Tom Tyler |
Based on the Fawcett Comics character "Captain Marvel"; First ever Superhero film based on a comic. |
| 22 |
Jungle Girl |
1941 |
15 |
Jungle |
William Witney and John English |
Frances Gifford |
Based on Nyoka the Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs |
| 23 |
King of the Texas Rangers |
1941 |
12 |
Western |
William Witney and John English |
Slingin' Sammy Baugh |
|
| 24 |
Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. |
1941 |
15 |
Crime |
William Witney and John English |
Ralph Byrd |
Based on the comic strip "Dick Tracy" |
| 25 |
Spy Smasher |
1942 |
12 |
Spy, War |
William Witney |
Kane Richmond |
Based on the Fawcett Comics character "Spy Smasher" |
| 26 |
Perils of Nyoka |
1942 |
15 |
Jungle |
William Witney |
Kay Aldridge and Clayton Moore |
Loosely based on Nyoka the Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs |
| 27 |
King of the Mounties |
1942 |
12 |
Northern |
William Witney |
Allan Lane |
Based on the comic strip "King of the Royal Mounted" |
| 28 |
G-Men vs The Black Dragon |
1943 |
15 |
Spy, War |
Spencer Gordon Bennet |
Rod Cameron |
|
| 29 |
Daredevils of the West |
1943 |
12 |
Western |
John English |
Allan Lane |
Lost film |
| 30 |
Secret Service in Darkest Africa |
1943 |
15 |
Jungle |
Spencer Gordon Bennet |
Rod Cameron |
|
| 31 |
The Masked Marvel |
1943 |
12 |
Superhero |
Spencer Gordon Bennet |
David Bacon |
|
| 32 |
Captain America |
1944 |
15 |
Superhero |
Elmer Clifton and John English |
Dick Purcell |
Very loosely based on the Timely Comics character "Captain America" |
| 33 |
The Tiger Woman |
1944 |
12 |
Jungle |
Spencer Gordon Bennet |
Linda Stirling |
|
| 34 |
Haunted Harbor |
1944 |
15 |
Maritime |
Spencer Gordon Bennet |
Kane Richmond and Kay Aldridge |
Based on the novel by Ewart Adamson |
| 35 |
Zorro's Black Whip |
1944 |
12 |
Western, Superhero |
Spencer Gordon Bennet |
Linda Stirling |
Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
| 36 |
Manhunt of Mystery Island |
1945 |
15 |
Pirate, Science fiction |
Spencer Gordon Bennet |
Linda Stirling |
|
| 37 |
Federal Operator 99 |
1945 |
12 |
Crime |
Spencer Gordon Bennet, Yakima Canutt & Wallace Grissell |
Marten Lamont |
|
| 38 |
The Purple Monster Strikes |
1945 |
15 |
Science fiction |
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon |
Dennis Moore and Linda Stirling |
|
| 39 |
The Phantom Rider |
1946 |
12 |
Western |
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon |
Robert Kent and Peggy Stewart |
|
| 40 |
King of the Forest Rangers |
1946 |
12 |
|
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon |
|
|
| 41 |
Daughter of Don Q |
1946 |
12 |
Crime |
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon |
Kirk Alyn |
|
| 42 |
The Crimson Ghost |
1946 |
12 |
Science fiction |
William Witney and Fred C. Brannon |
Clayton Moore and Linda Stirling |
|
| 43 |
Son of Zorro |
1947 |
13 |
Western, Superhero |
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon |
|
Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
| 44 |
Jesse James Rides Again |
1947 |
13 |
Western |
Fred C. Brannon |
Clayton Moore and Linda Stirling |
|
| 45 |
The Black Widow |
1947 |
13 |
Science fiction |
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon |
|
|
| 46 |
G-Men Never Forget |
1948 |
12 |
Crime |
Fred C. Brannon |
Clayton Moore |
|
| 47 |
Dangers of the Canadian Mounted |
1948 |
12 |
Northern |
Fred C. Brannon |
|
|
| 48 |
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James |
1948 |
13 |
Western |
Fred C. Brannon |
Clayton Moore |
|
| 49 |
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc |
1949 |
12 |
Crime |
Fred C. Brannon |
Kirk Alyn |
|
| 50 |
Ghost of Zorro |
1949 |
12 |
Western, Superhero |
Fred C. Brannon |
Clayton Moore |
Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
| 51 |
King of the Rocket Men |
1949 |
12 |
Science fiction |
Fred C. Brannon |
Tristram Coffin |
First of the "Rocket Man" serials |
| 52 |
The James Brothers of Missouri |
1949 |
12 |
Western |
Fred C. Brannon |
Keith Richards |
|
| 53 |
Radar Patrol vs Spy King |
1949 |
12 |
Spy |
Fred C. Brannon |
Kirk Alyn |
|
| 54 |
The Invisible Monster |
1950 |
12 |
Science fiction |
Fred C. Brannon |
Richard Webb |
|
| 55 |
Desperadoes of the West |
1950 |
12 |
Western |
Fred C. Brannon |
Tom Keene |
|
| 56 |
Flying Disc Man from Mars |
1950 |
12 |
Science fiction |
Fred C. Brannon |
Walter Reed |
|
| 57 |
Don Daredevil Rides Again |
1951 |
12 |
Western |
Fred C. Brannon |
Ken Curtis |
Loosely based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
| 58 |
Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion |
1951 |
12 |
Spy |
Fred C. Brannon |
Walter Reed |
|
| 59 |
Radar Men from the Moon |
1952 |
12 |
Science fiction |
Fred C. Brannon |
George D. Wallace and Clayton Moore |
|
| 60 |
Zombies of the Stratosphere |
1952 |
12 |
Science fiction |
Fred C. Brannon |
Judd Holdren and Leonard Nimoy |
|
| 61 |
Jungle Drums of Africa |
1953 |
12 |
Jungle |
Fred C. Brannon |
Clayton Moore and Phyllis Coates |
|
| N/A |
Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe |
1953 |
12 |
Science fiction |
Fred C. Brannon and Franklin Adreon |
Judd Holdren and Richard Crane |
Intended as a TV series but released as a movie serial |
| 62 |
Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders |
1953 |
12 |
Northern, Spy |
Franklin Adreon |
Bill Henry |
|
| 63 |
Trader Tom of the China Seas |
1954 |
12 |
Maritime |
Franklin Adreon |
Harry Lauter and Aline Towne |
|
| 64 |
Man with the Steel Whip |
1954 |
12 |
Western |
Franklin Adreon |
Dick Simmons |
Loosely based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
| 65 |
Panther Girl of the Kongo |
1955 |
12 |
Jungle, Science fiction |
Franklin Adreon |
Phyllis Coates |
|
| 66 |
King of the Carnival |
1955 |
12 |
Crime, Spy |
Franklin Adreon |
Harry Lauter |
|