If you’ve been living under a rock—or maybe just haven't been obsessively refreshing movie blogs for the last decade—you might have missed the news. Guillermo del Toro’s "Frankenstein" isn't a "coming soon" project anymore. It is a real, breathing, incredibly gothic piece of cinema that you can actually sit down and watch right now.
Honestly, it felt like this movie was cursed for a while. Del Toro talked about it for years. Universal dropped it. Then Netflix swooped in with a massive budget, and suddenly, we have Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi bringing Mary Shelley's tragic duo to life. If you are looking for guillermo del toro frankenstein where to watch, the answer is surprisingly straightforward, but there are a few "hidden" ways to see it that most people are overlooking this January.
Where is Frankenstein streaming right now?
Basically, this is a Netflix Original. Because Netflix footed the bill for the roughly $120 million production cost, they hold the keys to the kingdom.
The movie officially hit the streaming platform on November 7, 2025. So, if you have a subscription, you’ve already got it. You just type "Frankenstein" into that little search bar, and there’s Oscar Isaac looking miserable in 4K.
It’s rated R. Don’t put this on for the kids unless you want them to have nightmares about Victorian surgical tools and "grisly images." The runtime is a beefy 2 hours and 29 minutes, so maybe clear your Friday night for this one.
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Can you watch it without Netflix?
Not really. At least not from your couch.
Since it’s a Netflix property, don't expect to find it on Max, Hulu, or Disney+ anytime soon. Netflix doesn't usually play nice with other streamers. They want those monthly sub fees. You also won't find it for "rent" on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV. It’s a closed loop.
The big screen experience: Is it still in theaters?
Here is where it gets interesting. While the movie has been on Netflix for a couple of months, del Toro is a purist. He loves film. He loves 35mm.
As of January 16, 2026, "Frankenstein" has actually returned to select theaters for a very limited "awards season" victory lap. If you live in a major city, you might be able to catch it the way it was meant to be seen.
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- Los Angeles: It’s playing at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. This is a big deal because they are showing it in 35mm. It looks grainier, warmer, and much more "Frankenstein-y."
- New York: The Paris Theater has a one-week engagement running right now.
- Other Cities: There are confirmed DCP (digital) screenings happening in Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Seattle.
If you’re in Vermont, weirdly enough, the movie is also playing in Springfield. Lucky you.
What makes this version different?
Most people think they know the story. Man makes monster, monster gets mad, village brings torches.
But del Toro’s version is different. It’s heavily inspired by Bernie Wrightson’s illustrations—very thin, very tragic, very skeletal. Jacob Elordi doesn't look like the flat-headed Boris Karloff version. He’s more of a "hideous progeny" that you actually feel bad for.
The story also leans hard into the "father-son" trauma. Oscar Isaac plays Victor as a guy who is basically a genius but a total jerk. He’s obsessed with "curing" death because his mother died during childbirth. It’s dark stuff. Christoph Waltz is in it too, playing a character named Dr. Pretorious (a nod to the old Bride of Frankenstein), and Mia Goth pulls double duty in a way that is honestly kind of unsettling.
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Why you should watch it sooner rather than later
Look, spoilers are everywhere now. The "twist" regarding Victor's father (played by Charles Dance) is already being discussed all over Reddit.
If you’re a fan of The Shape of Water or Pan’s Labyrinth, this is peak del Toro. It’s got that "beautiful-but-gross" aesthetic he’s famous for. The laboratory alone looks like a steampunk fever dream. Some critics complained the VFX on the ice-bound ship looked a bit digital, but honestly, the practical effects on the Creature's makeup are incredible.
Quick tips for the best viewing:
- Check the theatrical sites: Search for "Frankenstein Netflix tickets" to see if your local indie theater grabbed a week of screenings.
- Sound matters: If you’re watching at home, use headphones or a good soundbar. Alexandre Desplat’s score is haunting, and the sound design of the Creature breathing is... a lot.
- Watch the 1818 version first? You don’t have to, but del Toro sticks closer to Mary Shelley’s original 1818 text than almost any other director has. Knowing the book makes the ending hit way harder.
To get the most out of the experience, your first move should be checking the Netflix app to see if your plan supports 4K—the gothic shadows in this film are incredibly dense, and a low-bitrate stream will turn the beautiful cinematography into a muddy mess. If you happen to be in LA or NYC, skip the stream and head to the Egyptian or Paris Theater tonight; those 35mm prints are a rare treat that won't be around past next week.