I’ve already explored the idea that there might be something in the water at Venice. Every year, a handful of films debut on the Lido to glowing praise, only to stumble once they leave the festival bubble. Venice does have a habit of overselling its selections.
Take Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite,” for instance. It garnered ecstatic reviews at Venice (an impressive 89 on Metacritic!) but has dropped 12 points to a 77 once it expanded beyond the festival.
Interestingly, Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” has avoided that fate. It received decent reviews at its Venice premiere, yet now holds a 78 on Metacritic. Not exactly universal acclaim, but possibly enough to make it Netflix’s top awards-season priority — though reports suggest the streamer remains highly invested in pushing “Jay Kelly.”
In any case, “Frankenstein” hit theaters today, kicking off a rare three-week Netflix theatrical run. When questioned about its limited release, del Toro tweeted that the film is scheduled to expand significantly next weekend, potentially reaching 1500–2000 screens.
This development comes as AMC — which previously refused to show Netflix films — has struck a deal with the streamer to screen “Kpop Demon Hunters” for its upcoming re-release from October 31 through November 3. Will “Frankenstein” be getting AMC screens as well? It’s quite possible.
“Frankenstein” is getting the kind of theatrical support that Rian Johnson’s ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ couldn’t secure from Netflix chief Ted Sarandos, which is great news for del Toro given the movie’s $120M budget. Sarandos has long described cinemas as an “outdated concept,” but attitudes may be shifting. Greta Gerwig also persuaded Netflix to give her Narnia a theatrical run in November 2026.
The film features a richly developed, character-driven ensemble. Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz lead the cast, supported by talents such as Lars Mikkelsen, Ralph Ineson, and Charles Dance. “Frankenstein” will arrive on Netflix on November 7, immediately following the end of its theatrical engagement.