For Fans of Del Toro's 'Frankenstein,' Here Are 15 Essential Viewing Recommendations
Guillermo del Toro's Netflix adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel is just one take on a timeless story. To deepen your understanding and appreciation of the monster, explore these iconic adaptations that have captivated audiences for over a century.
Start with the original masterpiece, **Frankenstein (1931)**, directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff as the iconic creature. This groundbreaking film set the tone for future interpretations and solidified Karloff's status as a horror icon.
A worthy sequel is **Bride of Frankenstein (1935)**, also directed by Whale, with Elsa Lanchester as the "Monster's Mate." The addition of this character enhances the themes of loneliness and rejection that define the franchise.
Next up is **Son of Frankenstein (1939)**, which revisits the monster in its third iteration. This film marks Boris Karloff's final appearance as Frankenstein's creature, but it remains a highlight of the series due to its focus on Ygor and Bela Lugosi's unforgettable performance.
While Universal Pictures continued to produce films featuring the monster after **Son**, **Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)** stands out for its star-studded cast and pioneering blend of horror and comedy. Lon Chaney Jr.'s Wolf Man is a game-changer, and this collaboration solidifies Frankenstein's place in popular culture.
The era also saw the rise of Abbott & Costello, who starred together in **Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)**. This film showcases a more lighthearted side of the Universal Monsters franchise while still delivering laughs and thrills.
The Hammer Films series brings a new level of horror to the table with **Curse of Frankenstein (1957)**, starring Christopher Lee as the creature and Peter Cushing as the doctor. This is where the story truly becomes sinister.
Japanese production company Toho reimagines Frankenstein's monster in a sci-fi context with **Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)**, also known by its original title. This Kaiju film takes a fascinating approach to classic storytelling.
Mel Brooks brings his signature humor and wit to **Young Frankenstein (1974)**, which follows Gene Wilder as Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of Victor Frankenstein. Peter Boyle shines as Igor, creating a scene-stealing performance that's become iconic in comedy history.
TriStar's **The Monster Squad** (1987) is an 80s horror-comedy that brings together Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Mummy in a battle against Frankenstein's monster. This campy film showcases Tom Noonan as Frankenstein's monster, one of our most memorable interpretations.
On the other side of the century is Tim Burton's heartwarming stop-motion animated **Frankenweenie (2012)**, which revisits themes from his earlier short film and brings a new appreciation for the classic tale. It's not the best in the director's oeuvre but serves as an excellent representation of how far the story has evolved.
And don't forget that many stories have been influenced by Frankenstein's legacy, such as **Edward Scissorhands**, **The Rocky Horror Picture Show**, **RoboCop**, and even **Weird Science**. These movies illustrate just how versatile this narrative is across various genres and mediums, reflecting its enduring impact on popular culture.
These are just a few essential viewing recommendations for fans of Guillermo del Toro's take on Frankenstein, ensuring that you delve deeper into the cinematic history of one of horror's most beloved monsters.
Guillermo del Toro's Netflix adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel is just one take on a timeless story. To deepen your understanding and appreciation of the monster, explore these iconic adaptations that have captivated audiences for over a century.
Start with the original masterpiece, **Frankenstein (1931)**, directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff as the iconic creature. This groundbreaking film set the tone for future interpretations and solidified Karloff's status as a horror icon.
A worthy sequel is **Bride of Frankenstein (1935)**, also directed by Whale, with Elsa Lanchester as the "Monster's Mate." The addition of this character enhances the themes of loneliness and rejection that define the franchise.
Next up is **Son of Frankenstein (1939)**, which revisits the monster in its third iteration. This film marks Boris Karloff's final appearance as Frankenstein's creature, but it remains a highlight of the series due to its focus on Ygor and Bela Lugosi's unforgettable performance.
While Universal Pictures continued to produce films featuring the monster after **Son**, **Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)** stands out for its star-studded cast and pioneering blend of horror and comedy. Lon Chaney Jr.'s Wolf Man is a game-changer, and this collaboration solidifies Frankenstein's place in popular culture.
The era also saw the rise of Abbott & Costello, who starred together in **Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)**. This film showcases a more lighthearted side of the Universal Monsters franchise while still delivering laughs and thrills.
The Hammer Films series brings a new level of horror to the table with **Curse of Frankenstein (1957)**, starring Christopher Lee as the creature and Peter Cushing as the doctor. This is where the story truly becomes sinister.
Japanese production company Toho reimagines Frankenstein's monster in a sci-fi context with **Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)**, also known by its original title. This Kaiju film takes a fascinating approach to classic storytelling.
Mel Brooks brings his signature humor and wit to **Young Frankenstein (1974)**, which follows Gene Wilder as Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of Victor Frankenstein. Peter Boyle shines as Igor, creating a scene-stealing performance that's become iconic in comedy history.
TriStar's **The Monster Squad** (1987) is an 80s horror-comedy that brings together Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Mummy in a battle against Frankenstein's monster. This campy film showcases Tom Noonan as Frankenstein's monster, one of our most memorable interpretations.
On the other side of the century is Tim Burton's heartwarming stop-motion animated **Frankenweenie (2012)**, which revisits themes from his earlier short film and brings a new appreciation for the classic tale. It's not the best in the director's oeuvre but serves as an excellent representation of how far the story has evolved.
And don't forget that many stories have been influenced by Frankenstein's legacy, such as **Edward Scissorhands**, **The Rocky Horror Picture Show**, **RoboCop**, and even **Weird Science**. These movies illustrate just how versatile this narrative is across various genres and mediums, reflecting its enduring impact on popular culture.
These are just a few essential viewing recommendations for fans of Guillermo del Toro's take on Frankenstein, ensuring that you delve deeper into the cinematic history of one of horror's most beloved monsters.
15 is a lot to digest but i need to see more monster movies like frankenstein and dracula on tv and streaming they deserve more love 
especially with del toro's recent take on the classic it just makes me want to watch all the others too
OMG did u know that there's been like 200+ films inspired by frankensteins creation?? 
From classic horror to sci-fi and comedy, it's crazy how many people have drawn from this iconic story 
With del toros take on the monster in mind, here are some stats about the original films:
& grossed over 13 million (yes, that's in today's money 
) - that's a return of like 47x its production budget 
and is ranked #2 in the IMDB top 250 horror films 
& was also made for under $300,000 
with this list 
, it's like, so fascinating to see how many different takes there are on Frankenstein... I mean, who wouldn't want to watch **Young Frankenstein** (1974) 
or **Frankenweenie** (2012), those are both classics! But also, I'm loving the idea of exploring the sci-fi side of things with **Frankenstein Conquers the World** (1965)... that's like a whole new world 
I'm loving this list! I had no idea there were so many iconic adaptations of Frankenstein out there... Starting with the original 1931 film and moving on to more modern takes like Young Frankenstein 
, it's amazing to see how the story has evolved over time. And the mention of Edward Scissorhands makes me think of how Frankenstein's legacy can influence other genres too... Interesting! 
It's crazy how many different takes there are on the monster story - from the original 1931 film to Tim Burton's stop-motion masterpiece, Frankenweenie (2012) 
. What do you think is the most compelling take on Frankenstein's monster, in your opinion? Should we explore more of these classic adaptations or stick with Del Toro's Netflix adaptation? 
Let me know! 
it's like he stole the scene in every single movie . i mean, who needs scary when you have BOYLE 
But what's crazy is how many different interpretations there are of the monster now... like, have you seen **Frankenweenie**? 
It's so cute! 
. The way he weaves together different themes and ideas, like identity and acceptance, is just so masterful. And have you seen the cinematography in del Toro's film? It's like a work of art, man. The way he uses lighting and shadows to create this eerie atmosphere... it's just mesmerizing 
. The Hammer Films series is definitely one of my faves - Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing just get so into their roles as creature and doctor 
. And who can forget Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein? That's some top-notch comedy gold 
.
. I mean, who doesn't love a good monster story? But what I think is really cool about these classic adaptations is how they've all added to the Frankenstein lore over time 
The original **Frankenstein (1931)** is like, super iconic and still holds up today. And then you've got the sequels like **Bride of Frankenstein** which is basically just an improvement on the first one! 
. And let's not forget the iconic performances – Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's creature, Elsa Lanchester as his mate... those are some serious acting chops 
.
, like Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein or Young Frankenstein. They're so iconic that we quote them without even realizing it 
. It shows that you don't need all the gory details to tell a great story.
or even **Frankenstein** (1954) by Eugène Lémitte. Those films showcased Japan's unique take on the classic story and have often been overlooked in favor of more Western adaptations.
. It took us hours, but it was so worth it when we finally finished it and had a big sand-sculpture fight 
.