When Netflix dropped the first teaser trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein at its Tudum 2025 event on May 31, 2025, fans were blown away by the haunting visuals and star-packed cast. Starring Oscar Isaac as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as the Monster, and Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, the adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel promises a gothic, emotional take on the iconic tale. But the trailer’s cinematic scope has fans begging for one thing: a theatrical release to experience del Toro’s vision on the big screen.
The teaser, unveiled at Tudum in Los Angeles, showcases del Toro’s signature blend of beauty and darkness, with icy Arctic vistas and Victorian ruins framing the tragic story of a scientist and his creation. Del Toro, who called the film “the culmination of a journey that has occupied most of my life” at the event, has been chasing this project for over a decade. Fans on platforms like YouTube and social media are raving about the trailer’s lush visuals, with comments like, “This looks too epic for just streaming!” Many are urging Netflix to give Frankenstein a theatrical run, especially after the success of gothic horror films like Nosferatu at the 2024 box office.
Del Toro himself confirmed a theatrical release is coming, responding to a Vanity Fair post on BlueSky in November 2024 with, “Frankenstein will have a theatrical run…” While details are hazy—no specific dates or scope have been shared—fans are hopeful for more than a limited awards-qualifying run, like the one for del Toro’s Pinocchio in 2022, which hit select theaters before streaming. Netflix has done wider theatrical releases before, like Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and there’s buzz about a possible IMAX run for Frankenstein, as Collider reported IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond discussing the film at Cannes in May 2025.
The cast alone screams big-screen energy. Alongside Isaac, Elordi, and Goth, the film features Christoph Waltz as Dr. Pretorius, Charles Dance, Ralph Ineson, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, and Christian Convery. Del Toro’s script, set in 19th-century Eastern Europe, follows Dr. Pretorius tracking down Frankenstein’s Monster, believed dead for 40 years, to continue Victor’s experiments. The trailer hints at a deeply emotional story, with Isaac calling it “a dark and sumptuous drama” and Elordi praising del Toro as a “real-life genius.”
Fans argue the film’s stunning production design—described by del Toro as rooted in the “clash of creation and destruction” in gothic ruins—deserves a theater’s scale. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the trailer’s reception has put Netflix in a tricky spot: fans love the film’s ambition but are frustrated it’s headed straight to streaming in November 2025. Some point to Nightmare Alley, del Toro’s 2021 film that struggled in theaters during the pandemic, as a reason Netflix might hesitate, but the strong box office of Nosferatu suggests gothic horror is a hot ticket.
Social media is abuzz with fans pleading for a proper theatrical rollout. One YouTube commenter wrote, “This looks like it was made for IMAX, not my TV!” Another said, “Netflix, don’t do this dirty—give it the big screen it deserves.” The sentiment echoes calls for other Netflix hits, like Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, to get extended theater time. With del Toro’s track record—The Shape of Water won Best Picture and Best Director, and Pinocchio snagged Best Animated Feature—fans and insiders expect Frankenstein to be an awards contender, making a theatrical run for Oscar eligibility a no-brainer.
There’s also chatter about competition. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!, a Bride of Frankenstein adaptation starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, hits theaters via Warner Bros. on September 26, 2025, just weeks before Frankenstein’s November Netflix debut. Fans are thrilled for a monster movie showdown but worry Frankenstein’s streaming focus could limit its impact compared to The Bride!’s theatrical push.
Del Toro’s love for Shelley’s novel runs deep. He’s called it his “favorite novel in the world,” citing its influence on his monster-filled films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. At Tudum, he said, “Monsters have become my personal belief system,” emphasizing the emotional core of his Frankenstein, which explores creator-creation and father-son dynamics. The trailer’s chilling yet sympathetic take on the Monster, paired with del Toro’s visual flair, has fans convinced it’s a cinematic experience that demands more than a living room screen.
Netflix hasn’t confirmed whether Frankenstein’s theatrical run will be limited or wide, but the fan outcry is loud. With filming wrapped in September 2024 and a November 2025 premiere looming, there’s still time for Netflix to lock in a robust theater plan, possibly with IMAX, to match the film’s epic vibe. For now, fans are keeping their fingers crossed that del Toro’s monster gets the big-screen spotlight it deserves.