Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro recently appeared at Netflix’s TUDUM 2025 event to promote his upcoming movie, Frankenstein. Alongside him, we saw Oscar Isaac (playing Victor Frankenstein) and Mia Goth (playing Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor’s fiancée) attend the event with the prominent director. At the event, del Toro revealed that he had been working on Frankenstein for nearly 25 years. Based on his comments, it seems like his upcoming movie may emerge as his best work to date. But how does Frankenstein benefit Netflix?
We all know how Netflix has revolutionised TV shows with many critically acclaimed and popular originals, but their original movie catalogue often falls short in terms of consistent quality. This could largely be attributed to the platform’s strategy with original films—a strategy that primarily relies on the concept of “quantity over quality.”
While this strategy has built a substantial and impressive-looking movie library for subscribers, a large number of Netflix’s original films are merely mediocre or poorly received by critics and audiences. One study shows that the average IMDb rating for the platform’s original movies is around 6.27, which is surprisingly low for a streaming giant like Netflix.
Will Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein be able to change all this for Netflix? Absolutely not. Even if it turns out to be the director’s magnum opus, it’s still just a single movie at the end of the day. But what it can do is earn strong critical reception and possibly become one of the critics’ favourite films this year. Frankenstein could even emerge as one of the top contenders during the 2025–26 awards season, including the Academy Awards, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and more.
Plus, del Toro is a master storyteller, renowned for his visually stunning, emotionally rich, and often dark fantasy films (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Pinocchio). His name alone carries significant prestige and signals a commitment to artistic quality. That instantly elevates Frankenstein above many other Netflix original films.
We now have the official trailer for del Toro’s Frankenstein, thanks to Netflix’s TUDUM 2025 event. And it looks absolutely phenomenal and breathtaking. The announced cast—Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance—looks stellar in the new trailer.
If the film actually turns out to be sensational in the eyes of its viewers after its release in November this year, it could help Netflix strengthen its movie catalogue.
It’s not that Netflix is completely devoid of great films, but the platform often lacks a consistent stream of true “prestige” movies that spark widespread critical discussion and become cultural touchstones. Frankenstein could be one such film.
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein isn’t just another movie for Netflix—it’s a strategic move to bolster its reputation as a serious player in the film industry. It challenges the perception that their original movie catalogue is “poor” and demonstrates a real commitment to cinematic excellence. It’s a key piece in their ongoing effort to balance quantity with undeniable quality. Stay tuned for more updates.
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