I had been waiting for this one for a long time.
When Guillermo del Toro finally released his dream project, I sat down and read through every Frankenstein 2025 review I could find.
Critics were split. Fans were loud. And some of what I found genuinely surprised me. So before you hit play or skip past it, here’s everything you need to know.
This is my full breakdown of Frankenstein 2025 reviews, from Rotten Tomatoes scores to Guardian takes to what Reddit is actually saying.
Frankenstein (2025): Overview
Frankenstein (2025) is a gothic sci-fi drama written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel.
Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon, creates life from death and sets off a chain of events that ruins them both.
Oscar Isaac plays Victor. Jacob Elordi plays the Creature. Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance round out the cast.
Del Toro treats this as a tragedy, not a horror film. The Creature’s suffering sits front and center.
It premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2025, hit limited theaters on October 17, and went live on Netflix globally on November 7, 2025.
Critical Reception
Frankenstein 2025 reviews have been largely positive.
The film holds an 85% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes across 370+ reviews and a 78/100 on Metacritic, placing it in the generally favorable range.
Frankenstein 2025 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes point to Jacob Elordi as the film’s standout element.
The critics consensus reads: a lavish gothic epic that finds the humanity in one of cinema’s most iconic monsters.
The Frankenstein 2025 Guardian review from Peter Bradshaw awarded three stars.
He respected the narrative shift to the Creature’s point of view but felt the film’s lush visual style dulled the story’s rawer edges.
Empire and Total Film were more effusive, with the National Board of Review and American Film Institute both placing it in their top ten films of 2025.
Audience Reaction
Fans showed up. The Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter sits at 95%, the highest audience score ever recorded for a del Toro film. Pan’s Labyrinth previously held that spot at 91%.
Frankenstein 2025 reviews Reddit threads are mostly positive, with the biggest praise going to Elordi’s performance, the production design, and Desplat’s score.
The most common complaints? Slow pacing in the first act and significant departures from Shelley’s novel. Several threads also flagged the opening’s graphic violence as unexpectedly intense.
Guillermo del Toro’s Influence
Del Toro first talked about this adaptation in 2007. It took 18 years, multiple false starts, and a Netflix deal to make it happen.
Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein 2025 reviews consistently highlight his personal connection to the material.
The film carries his signature style: gothic imagery, emotional weight, and deep sympathy for those cast out by society.
Fans of The Shape of Water or Pan’s Labyrinth will feel right at home. Del Toro frames the Creature not as a monster, but as a victim of abandonment.
He also insisted on fully built physical sets, no AI or digital simulation.
Visuals, Sound, and Production Quality
Cinematographer Dan Laustsen and costume designer Kate Hawley received near-universal praise. The sets, costumes, and visual atmosphere were called some of the best of 2025 across multiple reviews.
Composer Alexandre Desplat took a lyrical, emotional approach to the score rather than leaning into horror. Most reviewers called it one of the film’s biggest strengths.
The one weak spot critics flagged consistently: certain CGI sequences, particularly the wolves, looked unfinished compared to the rest of the film’s craftsmanship.
Box Office and Streaming Reception
Frankenstein pulled in 29.1 million views in its first three days on Netflix, landing at number one globally. By the end of its first full week, that number climbed to 33.8 million, with 62.9 million total views across the first 10 days.
It hit number one in 85 countries and became del Toro’s biggest Netflix debut by a wide margin. Pinocchio, his previous best, opened to just 13.8 million views.
On the awards front, the film received nine Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Elordi.
Five Golden Globe nominations followed, including Best Drama Motion Picture.
Final Thoughts
Frankenstein 2025 reviews say one thing loud and clear: del Toro delivered. Is it flawless? No. But few films this year came close to matching its craft or emotional weight.
Now I want to hear from you.
Did the pacing lose you, or did it pull you in? Was Elordi’s performance everything the reviews promised? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
And if someone in your life is still on the fence about watching it, send this their way.
Let’s get the conversation going.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frankenstein (2025) Worth Watching?
Most critics and audiences say yes. It holds an 85% critics score and a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What Do Rotten Tomatoes Scores Say About Frankenstein (2025)?
Frankenstein 2025 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes show an 85% Tomatometer and a 95% Popcornmeter, earning both Certified Fresh and Verified Hot status.
How Has Guillermo del Toro Influenced the Film?
Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein 2025 reviews point to his emotional, humanist storytelling as the core of the film. His insistence on practical sets and a non-horror score made this version stand apart.
What Are Fans Saying Online?
Frankenstein 2025 reviews Reddit threads lean positive. Elordi’s performance and production design get the most love. Pacing and novel departures draw the most criticism.
Where Can I Read Professional Reviews of Frankenstein (2025)?
The Guardian and Rotten Tomatoes are solid starting points. Metacritic and IMDb carry a broader mix of critic and audience opinions.
