Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein had a rocky start at Venice, and then its North American premiere during the Telluride Film Festival. Many questioned whether the film could gain traction as an awards contender, and early reactions suggested it might struggle compared to some of its festival peers.
A THR piece, “How Hollywood Fell For Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein,” tackles how, despite the initial hesitancy, “Frankenstein” has emerged as a major awards contender. The film has consistently earned nominations alongside front-runners like “One Battle After Another,” and “Sinners.” Jacob Elordi has drawn attention as a supporting actor candidate, solidifying the film’s position as one of Netflix’s main Oscar priority.
Audience response has helped fuel the momentum. After Telluride, “Frankenstein” was runner-up for the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award and now holds a 94% verified audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Del Toro has embraced the enthusiasm, sharing testimonials, and noting that positive reactions—from casual viewers to A-list directors—show it is resonating.
Commercially, “Frankenstein” has been a notable success for Netflix, ranking among the platform’s top five most-viewed films in its first five weeks and performing well in theaters, with nearly 1000 global screenings selling out. It continues to play in major U.S. cities months after release, with del Toro describing the audience reaction as “unprecedented.”
Filmmakers are also on the bandwagon, some of the film’s most outspoken supporters include Francis Ford Coppola, Jon Favreau, Jason Reitman, Bradley Cooper, Emerald Fennell, Ava DuVernay, Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuarón, Bill Hader, Celine Song, and Margot Robbie — the latter calling it del Toro’s “magnum opus.” All have publicly praised “Frankenstein.”
Speaking of Scorsese, he recently had glowing praise for “Frankenstein”:
I actually dreamed of it […] It’s a remarkable work. The film stays with you. It just stays with you. It’s very moving. A remarkable feat. Grand opera.
This isn’t the first time Scorsese has praised a del Toro film. Back in 2021, he even wrote a Los Angeles Times op-ed urging audiences to give “Nightmare Alley,” which he called “disturbing and exhilarating,” a chance in theaters. The filmmaker elaborated that “Nightmare Alley” didn’t deserve the mixed reviews it received from critics, adding that it had “a special power and resonance” that left him to “wonder if there has been a real appreciation of Guillermo’s accomplishment.”
For the time being, and much like “Nightmare Alley,” del Toro is looking at yet another one of his films earning a Best Picture nomination. “Frankenstein” is clearly adored. The man is absolutely beloved in the industry, and, according to his peers, anything he touches seems to turn into cinematic gold.
