Letterboxd did a really fantastic job building a list of the films that influenced Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! (go check it out). After reading it and writing my own review of the film, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of some of my favorite adaptations of the Frankenstein story. I will preface my list by saying that some of these will be straight adaptations, and others will be films using elements from the source.
- The Monster of Frankenstein, aka Kyoufu Densetsu Kaiki! Frankenstein (1981)- This version is an anime of the Marvel comic from the 1970s, animated by Toei. It can be hard to find, but it is an interesting watch nonetheless. Despite being animated, it does go pretty hard with the violence and is not meant to be a family-friendly version.
- Poor Things (2023)- Poor Things is one of the films that falls into the category of not being a direct retelling. It does, however, use a lot of the elements of a Frankenstein story. I think it would actually pair well with The Bride! for a female-forward double feature. Poor Things also uses food in interesting ways to tell the story. (My Review)
- Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)- Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Frankenstein is one of the closer adaptations of the original story. In it, the Creature is actually intelligent and not the oafish version you see in Karloff’s portrayal. Branagh’s strength really is in gothic pieces like this or A Haunting in Venice. I wish he’d explore more horror and horror-adjacent works.
- Frankenstein (1910)- Y’all knew I was going to put a silent adaptation here, right? This was the first adaptation of Shelley’s work. It’s only a short, so it does gloss over most of the story. However, the effects and make-up are pretty neat considering this film is over 100 years old. I would love to see this restored.
- Where the Devil Roams (2023)- The Adams Family is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to horror, and this film is no exception. Where the Devil Roams feels like Frankenstein by way of Freaks. The depression era setting of this film adds a bleakness that fits right in with Gothic horror. I recommend going into this one knowing as little as possible.
I tried to pick less obvious selections but I would be remiss if I didn’t include some honorable mentions that are more popular or obvious picks: Frankenstein (2025), Lisa Frankenstein (2024), Young Frankenstein (1974), The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023), The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), and Frankenhooker (1990)
I hope this list gives you a couple of films to check out that you haven’t seen! I also have a comprehensive list of Frankenstein adaptations on Letterboxd. What are some of your favorite versions? Let me know in the comments below!