This article takes a business history approach to analysing Hammer’s early success in the horror genre by providing a detailed case study of the commercial and contractual aspects of their first two Gothic horror films, The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) and Dracula (1958), both of which were international box-office sensations. New data on pre-production financing, budgetary outlays, box-office performances and financial receipts are presented and interpreted, alongside an account of the individuals and companies involved in these dealings such as Cadogan Films, Eliot Hyman, Universal-International, Warner Bros. and the National Film Finance Corporation. Through this analysis a greater understanding of the structural and institutional factors involved in Hammer’s early business success are revealed, and the commercial consequences of the contracts that were made are outlined.