Mad, bad and dangerous to know: Fictional scientists - in pictures

Insane genius Rotwang creates a robotic copy of Maria in a scene from Fritz Lang's dystopic masterpiece Metropolis (1927)
Photograph: General Photographic Agency/Getty Images

Frankenstein's monster is resurrected a second time in Son of Frankenstein (1939). In film adaptations Dr Frankenstein is the archetypal evil scientist, but Mary Shelley's original character – and the creature he creates – are much more sympathetically drawn Photograph: SNAP/Rex Features

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1941) based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Dr Jekyll creates a potion that separates the good and evil facets of human nature, releasing the murderous Mr Hyde Photograph: Everett Collection /Rex Features

Professor Cuthbert Calculus in Tintin adventure The Seven Crystal Balls (1948). Despite boasting no fewer than three PhDs, Calculus is convinced of the powers of dowsing and never misses an opportunity to whip out his plumb line
Photograph: Casterman

In Forbidden Planet (1956), Dr Edward Morbius inadvertently unleashes his inner monster when he uses alien technology to boost his IQ Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features

In H G Wells's classic tale of the misuse of optical physics, a medical student called Griffin theorises that if human flesh had the refractive index of air, and neither reflected nor absorbed light, it would become invisible. He creates a potion, drinks it and embarks on a reign of terror as The Invisible Man Photograph: ITV /Rex Features

In a comic riff on Jekyll and Hyde, socially inept chemistry professor Julius Kelp mixes a chemical brew that transforms him into the irresistible Buddy Love in The Nutty Professor (1963)
Photograph: The Ronald Grant Archive

Peter Sellers as Dr Strangelove (1964). Explaining his plan for ensuring the post-apocalyptic survival of the human race, Dr Strangelove muses that whereas the men will be selected for their brains, 'the women will have to be selected for their sexual characteristics, which will have to be of a highly stimulating nature' Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features

Dr Bunsen Honeydew, a graduate of Carnegie Melonhead University, and his hapless assistant Beaker. Dr Honeydew's inventions include a banana sharpener, exploding clothes and a machine that turns gold into cottage cheese Photograph: Rex Features

The Fly (1986). Scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) slowly mutates into a human-fly hybrid after inadvertently sharing the transmission booth of his teleportation device with a fly Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive

Mars Attacks (1996). Unworldly, naive Professor Donald Kessler convinces the US president that the Martian fleet heading for Earth is peaceful Photograph: Everett/Rex Features

No less scary, perhaps, the Martians from H G Wells's The War of the Worlds in the Belgian edition, La Guerre des Mondes (1906) - part of the British Library's Out of this World science fiction exhibition
Photograph: 8548/The British Library

Back to the Future (1985). Marty McFly is transported back to 1955 by Dr Emmett Brown in a plutonium-powered DeLorean. The mad-scientist hair clearly marks out Dr Brown as an eccentric genius Photograph: CinemaPhoto/Corbis

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Dr Frank-N-Furter attempts to create a perfect man for his sexual amusement. When Eddie (Meatloaf) steals his thunder, he kills him and serves him to his guests at dinner with an electric carving knife Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive

Marlon Brando in the lead role of The Island of Dr Moreau (1996). Based on the novel by H G Wells, the scientist attempts to turn animals into sentient beings, with disturbing results Photograph: Corbis

Professor Frink from The Simpsons. In spite of an IQ of 197, among the professor's inventions are hamburger earmuffs, a house that can sprout legs to run away from burglars, and the eight-month-after pill
Photograph: Fox Broadcasting

Dr Evil and Mr Bigglesworth in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999). Dr Evil travels back to the 60s in a time machine, steals Austin Powers's mojo and holds the world to ransom with a laser gun mounted on the moon Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features

Davros, head of the Kaled Scientific Elite and creator of the Daleks, performs at the BBC Doctor Who Prom in 2008. Following repeated defeats by the Doctor, the Daleks will be taking a breather from their campaign for galactic domination Photograph: PA Wire/PA

Professor Farnsworth from the cult cartoon Futurama. According to the Futurama Wiki, 'the professor is a mad scientist and a senile, deranged, and unpredictable old man who is both a maniac and a genius' Photograph: Futurama

The front cover by Frank R Paul of Amazing Stories, April 1928, the world's first science fiction magazine, from the British Library's Out Of This World science fiction exhibition
Photograph: The British Library