Over 200 years ago, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, was published. Since then, there have been countless reimaginings, including James Whale’s 1931 film adaptation starring Boris Karloff and Colin Clive. It’s widely considered the definitive on-screen adaptation of the novel, along with the 1935 sequel, Bride of Frankenstein.
As we’ve seen in recent years, notably the 2025 release of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s upcoming horror-musical, The Bride!, hitting theaters next year, Shelley’s story still resonates with artists and audiences.
To cap off the spooky season, here are some great Frankenstein adaptations worth checking out during Halloween. We love these uniquely monstrous retellings.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The ultimate midnight movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, is a cult classic that has stood the test of time, thanks to the brilliance of Richard O’Brien, the talented cast, killer music, fabulous costumes, and diehard fans.
When a young couple, Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), break down in the rain and warily visit a spooky castle for help. What they actually get is a bizarre yet exciting experience with the lingerie-clad mad scientist and his eerie underlings, Columbia (Nell Campbell), Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and Riff Raff (O’Brien). They’ve arrived on the night of a party, the unveiling of Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s (Tim Curry) creation, Rocky (Peter Hinwood). Instead of the classic nuts-and-bolts and a lumbering gait, his Creature is a fit, “man with blonde hair and a tan.” What follows is a celebration of sex, science fiction, and horror.
This year marks Rocky Horror’s 50th anniversary, the perfect time to do the Time Warp again, or for the very first time.
Where to watch: Hulu (or find a midnight showing near you!)
The Monster Squad (1987)
Often considered a Halloween staple, The Monster Squad brings iconic movie monsters to suburbia. In this horror comedy, Frankenstein’s Monster, played by Tom Noonan, has a tenderness that leads to him befriending a little girl named Phoebe (Ashley Bank). With the friendly looming figure by her side, she finally gets to join her older brother, Sean (Andre Gower), and his friends, Patrick (Robby Kiger), Horace (Brent Chalem), and Rudy (Ryan Lambert), as a member of the Monster Squad. It’s up to the young gang of horror aficionados to save their town and stop Count Dracula’s (Duncan Regehr) diabolical plan.
In search of a powerful ancient amulet that will allow him to rule (or destroy) the world, Dracula assembles a team of monsters, including the Wolfman (Jon Gries/Carl Thibault), the Mummy (Michael Reid MacKay), the Gill-man (Tom Woodruff Jr.), and a trio of vampire brides. Frankenstein’s Monster isn’t on board with the cause and decides to help his new friends instead. Noonan’s portrayal as the benevolent creature is a favorite among many.
Where to watch: Prime Video
May (2002)
Lucky McKee’s May is one of the best horror movies of the 2000s, a time when genre remakes were popping up left and right. Instead of a narcissist with a god complex, May (Angela Bettis) is a lonely, awkward girl whose only friend is a doll she’s had since childhood. She longs for human connection, but between her overly flirty coworker, Polly (Anna Faris), and Adam (Jeremy Sisto), the cool guy she’s crushing on, May isn’t finding the kind of friendship she craves. So, the next best thing is to create her own. On Halloween night, she goes out looking for parts to stitch together.
May is an underrated gem that isn’t talked about nearly enough. Indie scream queen Angela Bettis delivers a captivating performance. Even during the most uncomfortable scenes, of which there are many, it’s hard to look away.
Where to watch: Tubi
Penny Dreadful (2014–16)
Throughout its three seasons, Showtime’s Gothic horror drama Penny Dreadful never received the attention it deserved. The series follows former explorer Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton), enigmatic clairvoyant Vanessa Ives (Eva Green), and American gunslinger Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett ) as they search for his kidnapped daughter. It also features a lineup of famous literary figures, including Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), Henry Jekyll (Shazad Latif), Abraham van Helsing (David Warner), and, of course, Victor Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway).
As one of the lead protagonists, the young doctor helps Murray’s crew by examining a corpse that may lead to his daughter’s captor. But most of his interactions are with his abandoned Creature (Rory Kinnear), who goes by various names, including John Clare and Caliban. Loosely following the storyline of Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s painfully lonely creation demands that his maker give him an immortal companion, and will keep destroying his life until he does so. Kinnear’s take on the iconic character closely resembles Shelley’s original description.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Creature Commandos (2024–)
James Gunn’s (Peacemaker) animated action comedy Creature Commandos kicked off the new DCU, fittingly as a part of his Gods and Monsters chapter. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) puts together a new team of violent antiheroes out of Belle Reve penitentiary’s non-human internment division, this time skipping the human criminals for a team of monstrous misfits. While Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) helms the new squad, The Bride (Indira Varma) is the obvious leader. She’s inhumanly strong and knows how to fight, but is aloof when it comes to her new crew, or anyone, for that matter.
In the first episode of the series, Task Force M(onster) heads to the fictional European country of Pokolistan. The Bride returns to her birthplace, Frankenstein Manor, where we get glimpses of her backstory with Victor Frankenstein (Peter Serafinowicz). Her creation follows the usual story beats, with her terrified reaction to seeing her betrothed, Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour), Victor’s first creation. Unlike most interpretations of the Creature, Eric is eloquent in his speech. However, he’s so insecure and obsessed with the woman he feels entitled to that he only comes off as aggressive. It’s a fun, rather hilarious take on the familiar story.
Where to watch: HBO Max
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023)
Written and directed by Bomani J. Story (Rock Steady Row), The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster centers on genius teenager Vicaria (Laya DeLeon Hayes). The budding mad scientist is grieving the death of her brother, Chris (Edem Atsu-Swanzy), who died from a gunshot wound after a gang-related altercation. Believing that “death is a disease,” she sets out to discover a cure and ends up reanimating her brother’s corpse. But as we’ve seen in other Frankenstein-inspired tales, one’s creations can, and likely will, be dangerous.
Aside from the 1973 Blaxploitation film Blackenstein, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is the first time I’ve seen Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through a Black lens. Like the character of Victor in the famous novel, Vicaria lost her mother at a young age, inspiring her to find another way to create life.
Where to watch: Hulu
