Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein Dominates Netflix in 2025

Guillermo del Toro's long-awaited take on Mary Shelley's classic novel has become one of the most talked-about streaming releases of the past year. After a limited theatrical run in October 2025, Frankenstein arrived on Netflix on November 7, 2025, and within days it secured the number one spot on the service's United States chart. The film, led by Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, represents another high-profile victory for Netflix's original genre slate.

The rise to the top of the chart was swift. By the time the film reached the number one position, it had pushed aside a diverse mix of titles that had been drawing substantial attention on the platform. KPop Demon Hunters, another 2025 Netflix hit, sat at number two. The Hangover followed at number three, while Rebecca Ferguson's A House of Dynamite, a Netflix original, took fourth place. Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas and Bride Wars rounded out the fifth and sixth spots respectively.

The adaptation brings together a carefully chosen ensemble. Oscar Isaac plays Dr. Victor Frankenstein, the brilliant but tortured scientist whose ego-driven quest leads him to create new life. Jacob Elordi appears as the Creature, a being whose existence raises uncomfortable questions about humanity and monstrosity. Mia Goth portrays Lady Elizabeth Harlander, while Felix Kammerer plays William Frankenstein, the Baron's younger brother. The film explores the bond and distance between creator and creation, treating Mary Shelley's narrative with a gothic intensity that has defined del Toro's work for decades.

Critical reaction has been strong. The movie holds an 85% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and its audience score is even higher at 95%. In ScreenRant's Frankenstein movie review, del Toro's film was highly celebrated for “a staggering technical accomplishment that blends inventive camerawork with luscious production design.” The review also noted that “the Netflix budget has clearly been put to good use, as the director crafts some immense set pieces that feel spiritually torn from Mary Shelley’s mind.” Those observations point to a production that values atmosphere and detail as much as performance.

Netflix has described the adaptation as the definitive retelling of Shelley's genre-defining novel of life and death. The official synopsis calls it an epic drama about what it means to be human, to crave love, and to seek understanding. The story follows Victor Frankenstein as he embarks on an ego-driven mission to bring new life into the world, only to produce a Creature whose very existence provokes questions about what it means to be a human and what it really means to be a monster.

The film is substantial in both runtime and ambition. It runs 149 minutes and is classified as a blend of drama, horror, and science fiction. Guillermo del Toro directed and co-wrote the script with Mary Shelley's original work serving as the source. Producers include J. Miles Dale, Guillermo del Toro, and Scott Stuber. A limited theatrical release began on October 17, 2025, before the streaming debut in November.

As 2026 begins, the film remains a prominent part of Netflix's catalog, continuing to attract viewers who are drawn to its gothic scale and emotional weight. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein has not only performed well on the charts; it has also reaffirmed the director's ability to turn a familiar story into something visually rich and deeply felt.