Since its release in 1818, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: The 1818 Text, or The Modern Prometheus, has accumulated many different adaptations and versions including books, movies, and even comics alike. So far, Guillermo Del Toro’s 2025 Netflix adaptation labeled Frankenstein seems to be one of the most adored by the fandom.

The logline of the film reads, “Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), 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.”

This led the audience to ponder the question of selflessness, affection, and a search for ultimate meaning given the Creature (Jacob Elordi) accumulated all of these things. Though Victor Frankenstein abused his creation greatly, the Creature never formed malicious thoughts, rather he desired to love.

In Mary Shelley’s original adaptation, according to The New York Times, “Shelley’s book is full of allusions, literary and philosophical and mythical. But ‘Paradise Lost’ may be the most fundamental.” The title page was printed with an epigraph from “Paradise Lost,” in which a despairing, struggling Adam seeks to rebuke God: “Did I request thee, Maker from my Clay / To mould me Man? Did I solicit thee / From darkness to promote me?” In a more modern translation, “Did I ask you to make me? the creation demands of his creator. I never asked to be here, and now you condemn me to this life of pain.”

If anyone has ever seen any movie or show with Guillermo Del Toro working behind the scenes, it is unmistakable that this is his work. Like Shelley, Del Toro, too, puts some heavy emphasis on the relation to the story of “Paradise Lost”. With his lushly gothic, emotional, and undeniably human version of The Creature, Del Toro tells a tale in which man is the true monster, not his creation.

The film received an 85% from Rotten Tomatoes and a 94% from Popcornmeter. The RT audience summary reads, “With his legendary visual touch, Guillermo Del Toro resurrects Frankenstein as a modern Prometheus that’s gloriously gothic and heartbreaking.”

@lielordi

WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? #frankenstein #guillermodeltoro #jacobelordi #cine #xyzcba

♬ What Was I Made For? [From The Motion Picture “Barbie”] – Billie Eilish

Along with the critics’ points of view, fans also adore this movie. With the trend of making TikTok edits of the things they enjoy, many fans have gone as far as producing edits of Frankenstein to trendy hit songs including “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish, “Dracula” by Tame Impala, “Cardigan” by Taylor Swift, “Love Story” by Indila, and many others. As an avid TikTok user, it’s common knowledge that when fans make an edit of a film/series, that’s because they wholly adore said film/series.

@osferths

sooo visually pleasing #frankenstein #frankensteinedit #frankensteinsmonster #frankenstein2025 #jacobelordi

♬ original sound – ☘︎

The feature of the film that has captured so many hearts was the production quality. This includes set design, makeup and costumes, and camera/filming quality. Supporting actor Jacob Elordi (the Creature) explains that the makeup process of becoming the Creature was “incredibly liberating”, as it took approximately 10 hours to complete. In some scenes, the makeup application could extend up to 11 hours, depending on the character’s exposure and design. The ship in the film, known as the Horisont, was actually built for the movie. Constructed by production designer Tamara Deverell, the ship was made from old wood and mechanical components that moved with the Creature. The ship was built on a gimbal to make it appear as moving, generating a more illusive, realistic, and immersive experience for the viewers.

The cost of production added up to $120 million, earning approximately $112,062,960 in the box office so far.

The adaptation has won several awards, including a Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 (four awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Jacob Elordi, and wins for Costume Design, Hair & Makeup, and Production Design) and a SCAD Film Festival Audience Award (the film received this award following a sold-out screening).