Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein Debuts With an Uncharacteristically Low Score

Guillermo del Toro finally brought his take on 'Frankenstein' to the world, and the early reaction is... good, just not great. Which, for del Toro, reads as a letdown. When you consistently swing for the fences, an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes feels oddly middle-of-the-pack.

The setup

This is del Toro adapting Mary Shelley's classic, with Jacob Elordi playing The Creature and Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein. Expectations were high (because, well, del Toro), and a lot of the pre-release chatter focused on how Elordi would look and play the Monster.

How the reviews landed

Before the film even hits theaters, critics have already weighed in, landing 'Frankenstein' at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. On paper, that is hardly a bad score. The surprise is all in the comparison: del Toro has set such a high bar for himself that 81% feels like a step down from his usual level.

Where it falls short, according to critics

Most of the feedback is positive, but there's a theme running through the complaints. A few critics call the film a little hollow, missing that dense, layered del Toro depth. Several say the first half is gripping and true to the story's core, but the second half quiets down too much. Pacing comes up more than once, with an uneven rhythm that makes it harder to stay locked in. So: strong start, muted finish, and not quite the emotional wallop people expect from him.

How it stacks up against del Toro's track record

Part of why 81% is raising eyebrows: del Toro's other films often sit higher on Rotten Tomatoes. Here's the snapshot right now. Note: one of these is actually a tie with 'Frankenstein,' not higher, which tells you how tight these margins can be and how changeable RT scores are pre-release.

• 'Pinocchio' - 96%
• 'Pan's Labyrinth' - 95%
• 'The Devil's Backbone' - 93%
• 'The Shape of Water' - 92%
• 'Cronos' - 88%
• 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army' - 86%
• 'Hellboy' - 81% (a tie with 'Frankenstein')

The bottom line

81% is a solid number for most directors. For del Toro, it signals that 'Frankenstein' might not be his finest work. The early word paints a picture of a beautiful, compelling first half that loses some force down the stretch, with pacing that never totally clicks. If you're here for his visual flair and gothic mood, you'll likely find plenty to like. If you're expecting his deepest, most devastating storytelling, temper expectations.

Release plan

'Frankenstein' opens in theaters on October 17, 2025, and then heads to Netflix in the U.S. starting November 7, 2025.