After several decades of trying, Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro has finally realized his long-awaited adaptation of the science fiction horror classic, Frankenstein. And, evidently, audiences have been waiting to see the Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth filmmaker breathe new life into Mary Shelley’s seminal novel, with Frankenstein having quickly dominated 
Netflix since making its debut at the end of last week.
Based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” Frankenstein sees The Shape of Water’s Guillermo del Toro take the helm to tell the original monster in the only way that del Toro can. The adaptation features an all-star cast led by Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as the Creature, and Mia Goth as Elizabeth, with Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz in supporting roles.
Following a frustratingly limited theatrical run, Frankenstein is now streaming on Netflix, where it has quickly taken the #1 spot both worldwide and in the United States. The movie, which wonderfully blends gothic romance, straight-up horror, and even some action, leads the pack on the popular streamer, besting the likes of KPop Demon Hunters and A House of Dynamite. If you somehow don’t already know the plot to Frankenstein, you can check out the official synopsis below…
“Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.”
Critics & Audiences Have Fallen in Love With Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’
Mercifully, Frankenstein was worth the wait, with del Toro’s take on the tale landing hugely impressive scores of 85% and 95% from critics and audiences, respectively, on Rotten Tomatoes. MovieWeb’s own Zachary Lee hailed it as Guillermo del Toro’s “most personal story yet,” saying…
“Director Guillermo del Toro has been trying to adapt Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein into cinematic form for ages. And thankfully, the version that shambles its way to the screen courses with all the passion, reverence and creativity that’s evident when someone has ruminated on a text for 30 years.”
While Frankenstein is one of the most faithful adaptations of Mary Shelley’s novel to date, it does make several bold changes along the way. One such change, and something that should come as little surprise to fans of the monster-loving filmmaker, is that the Creature in del Toro’s movie is more sympathetic than ever before. Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, who took over from Andrew Garfield after the Spider-Man star had to walk away, has received unanimous praise for his portrayal of the Creature, with some even suggesting that an Oscar nomination could be in his future. Though Elordi’s casting was initially a surprising one, del Toro recently revealed when he knew the actor was the right choice for such an iconic role…
“When I spoke with Jacob the first time on Zoom, I texted Oscar, timestamped, and I said, ‘I found him. We found him.’ You can talk about range, you can talk about this, but it’s essence. If the character’s essence is perfect for the actor, or the actor’s to the character, you don’t have to think again. You just tailor it to them, and watch them grow. They can’t fail.”
- Release Date
-
October 17, 2025
- Runtime
-
149 Minutes