Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is set to have its world premiere at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, followed by a limited theatrical release starting October 17, 2025, ahead of its global Netflix debut on November 7, 2025.
Frankenstein, directed and co-written by del Toro, will first be introduced to audiences at Venice and subsequently hold its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, marking significant festival milestones before the film reaches a wider audience. According to confirmed sources, the movie will play in select theaters worldwide for approximately three weeks, including some international markets beginning October 24, ensuring it meets eligibility criteria for awards considerations, a strategy similar to del Toro’s previous Netflix collaborations such as Pinocchio and The Killer.
The film runs for 2 hours and 29 minutes and carries an R rating due to bloody violence and grisly images. The story reinterprets the classic tale of a brilliant yet egotistical scientist whose monstrous experiment unleashes tragic consequences for both creator and creation. The cast includes Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz, adding notable star power to the production.
This project continues del Toro’s ongoing partnership with Netflix, complementing his expanding slate of upcoming works for the streamer, including the stop-motion film The Buried Giant and a vampire-themed project currently in development. The director’s commitment to a combination of festival, theatrical, and streaming avenues highlights a deliberate approach to how genre films are introduced to audiences in the contemporary market.
Industry insiders emphasize the significance of the Venice and Toronto Film Festival premieres for positioning Frankenstein within awards and critical circuits ahead of its streaming release, reinforcing del Toro’s reputation for blending artistic vision with strategic distribution. Viewers worldwide can anticipate the film’s availability on Netflix beginning November 7, 2025, while those keen on a theatrical experience will have the opportunity to engage with the film during its October run.