Forget Elon Musk—Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein Update Ignites a Cancel Netflix Backlash

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is already sparking fan fury over Netflix’s decision to confine it to a limited theatrical run. The Jacob Elordi-led release will play only briefly in select theaters before shifting to streaming, fueling calls to cancel the service.

Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' is already catching heat and it has not even hit theaters yet. The uproar? Netflix is giving it a short theatrical run in select theaters before parking it on the platform a few weeks later. Fans are not thrilled, and the #CancelNetflix hashtag is doing numbers on X.

What the release actually looks like

The plan is pretty straightforward: a limited theatrical rollout starting October 17, 2025, followed by a streaming launch on Netflix on November 7, 2025 in the U.S. That is not a full wide release, and yes, that is the core of the backlash.

Even Jacob Elordi is bummed about it

Jacob Elordi, who stars in the movie, told Variety he is genuinely disappointed that a big, gorgeous film like this is not getting a full theatrical life.

"It is heartbreaking that films like these do not have full cinematic releases. My great hope is that we get this film in cinemas for as long as possible. And then, hopefully, that can set a precedent for more films out there."

That is not a direct shot at Netflix, but it is also not subtle.

Why the limited run? The theories

This is where the inside-baseball stuff comes in. Two popular reads on the strategy:

First, there is the cynical take: Netflix keeps the theatrical footprint tiny to steer attention (and revenue) back to streaming. Second, the awards take: a limited theatrical engagement ticks the Academy eligibility box, so the movie can compete at the 2026 Oscars — something a streaming-only title cannot do under current rules.

Both can be true at once. And it is also worth noting: Netflix backed del Toro and, by all accounts, gave him wide creative freedom. So they spent big, empowered a filmmaker people actually trust, and then chose a release plan that predictably riles up theater-first fans. Make of that what you will.

The basics

• Director: Guillermo del Toro
• Cast: Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth
• Produced by: Double Dare You
• Theatrical (select theaters): October 17, 2025
• Streaming on Netflix (USA): November 7, 2025

About those early 'scores'

You might see people tossing around numbers like 'IMDb 7.3/10' or 'Rotten Tomatoes 80%'. The movie is not out yet. Consider those placeholders, early noise, or wishful thinking — not real verdicts.

So... is Netflix wrong here?

Depends on what you value. If you want the full big-screen experience for a movie that looks and feels like a capital-F Film, the limited run is a letdown — and Elordi clearly agrees. If you live on Netflix and just want to see it at home fast, this plan serves you. Either way, the #CancelNetflix backlash shows the theater-vs-streaming tug-of-war is not over, and del Toro's monster is the latest to get caught in the middle.