From James Whale’s groundbreaking 1931 original to Guillermo del Toro’s recent 2025 gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein adaptations have captivated audiences for nearly a century. Whether you’re seeking faithful literary interpretations, campy horror classics, or contemporary reimaginings, these ten films represent the finest interpretations of Mary Shelley’s enduring tale of creation, ambition, and tragedy.
1. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Black and white image of the Frankenstein monster character from the 1931 movie starring Boris Karloff, a classic representation of the Frankenstein films
James Whale’s sequel remains the crown jewel of Frankenstein cinema nearly 90 years after its release. This film expands and refines what made the original great while injecting it with unexpected humor, queer subtext, and anti-authoritarian sentiment. Boris Karloff returns as the monster, and Elsa Lanchester delivers an unforgettable performance as the iconic bride herself. The production design is stunning, and Whale’s direction is masterful—this is genuinely one of the great sequels in all of cinema.
Streaming & Purchase: Available on Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
2. Frankenstein (1931)
Black and white image of the Frankenstein monster character from the 1931 movie starring Boris Karloff, a classic representation of the Frankenstein films
Director James Whale’s Universal Pictures production remains the most influential adaptation ever made, establishing the visual template for the monster that persists today. Boris Karloff’s career-defining performance conveys vulnerability and empathy through subtle expressions, transforming what could have been a simple creature into a tragic figure. The iconic laboratory set, the hunchbacked assistant, and the unforgettable “It’s alive!” moment are cemented in popular culture.
Streaming & Purchase: Available on Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
3. The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
Víctor Erice’s masterful directorial debut uses the 1931 Frankenstein film as a point of departure for a profoundly layered meditation on childhood trauma, fascism, and imagination in post-Civil War Spain. The film was censored by Franco’s regime but released because its artistic symbolism proved too subtle for the authorities to justify cutting. This poetic, visual storytelling creates a devastating portrait of a grieving nation without ever explicitly mentioning the Civil War.
Streaming & Purchase: Check regional availability through criterion.com
4. Young Frankenstein (1974)
Gene Wilder in costume as Young Frankenstein from the 1974 Mel Brooks film
Mel Brooks crafted one of cinema’s perfect films with this affectionate parody starring Gene Wilder as the reluctant grandson of Victor Frankenstein. The recreation of Whale’s classical look and feel is spot-on, while Brooks and Wilder’s script demonstrates genuine affection for the source material. The humor lands perfectly throughout, and the film manages to be hilarious without ever diminishing the beauty of the original adaptations.
Streaming & Purchase: Available on streaming platforms and physical media through 20th Century Studios
5. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester as Frankenstein’s monster and the Bride of Frankenstein in the 1935 movie
Hammer Horror’s revolutionary first entry features Peter Cushing as a far more malevolent and ruthless Victor Frankenstein than anything seen before, and Christopher Lee as an unforgettable monster. Shot in color with genuine gore for the era, this was the first British horror in color and introduces visual style and grit that influenced an entire generation of British Gothic cinema. Terrence Fisher’s direction is superb, and the film spawned numerous sequels.
Streaming & Purchase: Available through Hammer Films collections
6. Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)
This ambitious two-part TV movie, despite its ironic title, delivers a thrilling adaptation featuring Robert Foxworth as Victor and Bo Svenson as the creature. The narrative pairs Victor with the dissolute Dr. Clerval, and the monster begins beautiful before horrifically decomposing into vengeance. Running three hours total, this often-overlooked production brings lavish production values and genuine emotional weight to the classic tale.
Streaming & Purchase: Available through specialty horror collections
7. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)
Kenneth Branagh’s faithful adaptation, written by Frank Darabton, brings nearly every element of Shelley’s novel to the screen. Robert De Niro’s creature is sympathetic and articulate, while Branagh’s Victor is appropriately conflicted. The production design is sumptuous, and the film’s willingness to fidelity to the source material—including the controversial “Bride” segment—distinguishes it from most other adaptations.
Streaming & Purchase: Available on multiple streaming platforms and physical media
8. Poor Things (2023)
Director Yorgos Lanthimos delivers a wild steampunk feminist reimagining that functions as both a parody and deconstruction of Frankenstein mythology. Emma Stone’s luminous performance earned her Academy Award recognition, and the film’s visual aesthetic—moving from black and white to vibrant color—creates a unique visual journey. While controversial in its approach to feminism and bodily autonomy, the film is undeniably ambitious and gorgeously designed.
Streaming & Purchase: Available on major streaming platforms; theatrical release through distributors like A24
9. Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)
This Hammer production deepens the studio’s reimagining of the classic tale with creative new angles on the Frankenstein mythology. The film explores deeper philosophical questions about where evil resides—in the soul, mind, heart, or flesh—while delivering plenty of action and Gothic atmosphere. Peter Cushing returns as the driven scientist, and the film represents one of the strongest entries in Hammer’s extended Frankenstein cycle.
Streaming & Purchase: Available through Hammer Films archives
10. Frankenstein (2025)
Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited Netflix adaptation premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August 2025 before a theatrical release in October, arriving on Netflix November 7. This gothic drama reunites del Toro with Oscar Isaac as an egotistical Victor Frankenstein, with Jacob Elordi as the creature. At over two hours, it navigates Shelley’s neglected aspects while paying homage to the expressive Gothic legacy of Frankenstein on screen. Del Toro has called it a “Miltonian tragedy” he wanted to tell for 50 years.
Streaming & Purchase: Netflix November 7, 2025
Honorable Mentions
Beyond the top ten, several other adaptations merit recognition: Son of Frankenstein (1939), Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957), Flesh for Frankenstein (1973), Gods and Monsters (1998), and Victor Frankenstein (2015). Each brings distinct creative vision to Shelley’s immortal narrative.
The Enduring Legacy of Frankenstein on Screen
From Universal’s revolutionary 1930s classics to contemporary streaming releases, Frankenstein adaptations reveal how each generation reinterprets the same source material through its own cultural lens. Whether emphasizing scientific ambition, Gothic atmosphere, political allegory, comedy, or feminist reclamation, these films prove that Shelley’s 1818 novel contains multitudes
Where to Watch the Top 10 Frankenstein Movies: Streaming, Rental & Purchase Links (2025)
Easily find where to watch the best Frankenstein movies online, with direct links for streaming, renting, or buying in November 2025.
1. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
- Stream on Max (HBO Max): max.com
- Rent or Buy on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B000I9W6TI
- Rent or Buy on Apple TV: apple.com/tv
- Rental on FandangoNOW: fandangonow.com
2. Frankenstein (1931)
- Free on Roku Mometu Channel: roku.com
- Rent or Buy on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B000I9W6X6
- Rent or Buy on Apple TV: apple.com/tv
- Rental on FandangoNOW: fandangonow.com
3. The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
- Stream on The Criterion Channel: criterionchannel.com
- Rent or Buy on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B000P9L0P8
- Rent on FandangoNOW: fandangonow.com
4. Young Frankenstein (1974)
- Free with Ads on Retro Movie (Roku): roku.com/retro-movie
- Buy Blu-ray on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B0013D1QAS
5. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- Free with Ads on Tubi: tubi.tv
- Rent or Buy on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B00D97CQD4
- Free with Ads on Mometu (Roku): roku.com/mometu
6. Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)
- Stream on Amazon Prime Video: primevideo.com
- Rent on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B07BKHZB7L
7. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)
- Rent or Buy on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B00004RC3M
- Rent or Buy on Apple TV: apple.com/tv
- 4K Blu-ray Purchase: arrowfilms.com
8. Poor Things (2023)
- Stream on Disney+: disneyplus.com
- Rent or Buy on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B0B9NFKXCD
- Rent or Buy on Apple TV: apple.com/tv
9. Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)
- Limited Digital Rental on JustWatch:
justwatch.com - Buy Blu-ray on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B07D768HYM
- Free Streaming on Dailymotion: dailymotion.com (Unofficial)
10. Frankenstein (2025)
- Stream on Netflix (from Nov 7, 2025): netflix.com
- Theatrical Release Info: venicefilmfestival.com
Quick Tips for Best Viewing Experience
- Use official platforms for HD quality and legal viewing.
- Check regional restrictions; use VPNs only where legal.
- Physical Blu-ray editions often offer superior restoration and extras.