— Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a mixed-but-intrigued first wave: critics widely applauded the lavish craft and committed turns from Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, while questioning the 2.5-hour runtime and tonal balance. The result is a conversation-starter with awards buzz and a few caveats.
Key Takeaways
- Early Venice reactions range from raves to reservations, with praise centering on design, scale, and performances.
- Oscar Isaac’s Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi’s Creature are singled out as bold, committed turns.
- Reported runtime is about 150 minutes; several reviews say the film feels long.
- Production and creature design (including work by Tamara Deverell and Mike Hill) earn strong notices.
- Scores vary: 3/5 (The Guardian, HeyUGuys), 4/5 (GamesRadar), 4.5/5 (SCMP), B (IndieWire), while Variety and The Times are notably cooler.
- Some critics hail a definitive, emotionally charged take; others see an overstuffed, uneven epic.
- Netflix release follows del Toro’s Oscar-winning Pinocchio, positioning Frankenstein for awards-season play.
Verified Facts
The film premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival and will stream on Netflix. Guillermo del Toro directed from his own screenplay and produced alongside J. Miles Dale and Scott Stuber.
The principal cast includes Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, with Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz in supporting roles.
Multiple outlets reference a reported budget near $120 million and a running time of roughly two and a half hours. Reviewers frequently highlight the production design by Tamara Deverell and the creature design by Mike Hill as standout elements.
Critical response is mixed-to-positive. The Guardian and HeyUGuys each land at three stars, noting striking imagery but limited suspense or subtlety. The Independent is more negative on tonal shifts and character work. On the other end, The Wrap offers an enthusiastic endorsement, and the South China Morning Post gives 4.5/5, calling it beautiful and potentially definitive. GamesRadar awards four stars, citing strong themes and awards potential. Variety questions the film’s sprawl and weight, while The Hollywood Reporter finds an emotionally charged, substantial interpretation. IndieWire grades it a B, praising scope and performances while missing a sharper edge.
Scorecard (Selected Outlets)
- The Guardian: 3/5 — visually distinctive, energy of horror muted.
- HeyUGuys: 3/5 — grand design, limited subtlety.
- GamesRadar: 4/5 — classy, thematically pertinent, awards prospects.
- South China Morning Post: 4.5/5 — gorgeous and near-definitive.
- IndieWire: B — big, glossy, impressive scale, some edge lost.
- The Wrap: Strongly positive — passion project realized at epic scale.
- Variety: Mixed/negative — overstuffed and unwieldy despite visual splendor.
- The Times (London): Negative — campy, messy; Elordi’s menace questioned.
- The Hollywood Reporter: Positive — emotionally charged classic retelling.
- The Independent (UK): Negative — polished surface, thin substance.
Context & Impact
Frankenstein extends del Toro’s lifelong fascination with monsters and human fragility, arriving after his Academy Award-winning Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio for Netflix. Reviewers note how the film merges literary roots with the filmmaker’s baroque visual language and empathy for outsiders.
Venice has become a prime launchpad for awards contenders. Several outlets suggest the film’s craftsmanship and marquee performances could travel well into the season, even as some reservations about pacing and tone may temper consensus momentum.
For Netflix, this is another high-profile literary reimagining that underscores the streamer’s investment in auteur-driven, prestige-scale cinema. Strong components—design, score, makeup, and creature effects—position the film for below-the-line recognition regardless of broader critical alignment.
Official Statements
Del Toro described the project as “a culmination of a journey” during Netflix’s Tudum showcase earlier this year, underscoring his career-long interest in monsters and Mary Shelley’s themes.
Netflix Tudum
Unconfirmed
- Final runtime: multiple critics cite ~150 minutes, but the exact official duration may change before streaming rollout.
- Budget: reports place it around $120 million; one review’s claim that it “cost more than Titanic” is disputed by widely cited historical figures and should be treated cautiously.
- Netflix release timing: reviews do not specify a firm streaming date.
Bottom Line
Del Toro’s Frankenstein lands at Venice as a grand, meticulously crafted vision that fascinates as often as it frustrates. Whether it’s your definitive version may depend on tolerance for operatic scale and tonal swings—but its performances and design work are already in the awards conversation.
Well written and engaging. A pleasure to read from start to finish.