In search of the most authentic Frankenstein movie

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Frankenstein is the story of a gigantic, stumbling, brutish monster and a mad scientist with a God-complex. After over a century of film adaptations, it’s easy to forget just how different Mary Shelley’s original novel is, or that her creature was actually an articulate, self-taught hybrid, mirroring the despicable actions of the people around him.

Cinematic depictions of Frankenstein go back almost as far as cinema itself. Like the creature, each adaptation is crudely stitched together with shreds from the original novel, combined with cinematic influences of the day, producing everything from blood-drenched Hammer Horror to a knockabout Mel Brooks comedy.

Esteemed Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro is the latest in a long line of film-makers to bring the Gothic masterpiece to the screen. Every adaptation offers a new angle on Shelley's beloved chiller, but which is the most faithful to her original creative vision?

What was the first screen adaptation of Frankenstein?

The first known adaptation was J Searle Dawley's, released in 1910. At only 12 minutes long, the first surviving copy of a Frankenstein film adaptation is a must-watch for fans of early cinema. Strangely, Frankenstein himself seems more like a magician performing a conjuring trick than a methodical scientist. Puffs of smoke billow around him as he throws handfuls of powder into a cauldron; a marionette-like skeleton materialises and bursts into flames; hair and distorted features grow in front of our eyes. This eerie representation of the infamous creature makes it one of the most repulsive and effective in cinema history.

Which is the most popular adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein?

That's got to be Frankenstein by James Whale (1931). This Universal Pictures movie arguably gives us the most iconic and globally recognised version of Frankenstein. The neck bolts, heavy brow and rectangular head have become synonymous with The Monster, despite it being a drastic deviation from Mary Shelley’s original vision. The entire look of the film, from the flashes of lightning casting malevolent shadows across the intimidating laboratory, to a hunchbacked sidekick scuttling to and fro accompanied by the megalomaniacal cries of  “It’s alive!”, set the tone for a whole generation of remakes.

How about the sequel?

James Whale's The Bride of Frankenstein was released in 1935. This sequel goes even more off-script than its predecessor. It begins with an elegant pastiche of the now legendary conversation which sparked the idea of Frankenstein, between Mary, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron. The ensuing plot, involving an additional harebrained scientist and a female mate for The Monster, is undeniably bonkers and culminates in a moving and literally explosive finale. An excellent touch is the casting of Elsa Lanchester, who plays both Mary Shelley and then the ‘bride’, complete with unforgettable lightning streaked wig.

More popular Frankenstein screen adaptations

The Curse of Frankenstein (Terence Fisher, 1957)

The still contentious debate over who is the real monster in Mary Shelley’s novel never falls so clearly down on one side as in this Hammer Horror version; Peter Cushing’s portrayal of Frankenstein as an egotistical, ruthless murderer is a revolutionary spin on the classic. Several iconic Hammer trademarks are introduced in this adaptation. Not only is it the first British horror to be shot in colour, amplifying the gore factor with gushing, crimson blood, but we get our first glimpse of horror legend, Christopher Lee. It may not be the most faithful adaptation but it’s certainly one of the most shocking and entertaining.

Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)

After so many iterations of the iconic duo of Frankenstein and his monster, this beloved Mel Brooks parody starring the inimitable Gene Wilder as Frankenstein’s reluctant grandson (it’s pronounced ‘Frarnkensteen’!) is pure joy. In this retelling, not only do we get to enjoy the characters’ chemistry as they navigate the murky teacher/student, parent/child relationship, we are also treated to an all-singing, all-dancing rendition of ‘Puttin’ On The Ritz’. Even Mary Shelley herself would have undoubtedly approved.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh, 1994)

While it's at least clear that Kenneth Branagh bothered to read the novel before attempting to recreate it on screen, this fairly faithful Frankenstein adaptation veers far more towards camp melodrama than gothic horror. A particularly bizarre moment involves Victor and The Monster (a miserably miscast Robert De Niro) wrestling and struggling with each other amidst a vat of amniotic fluid, making it look more like an episode of ‘Get Your Own Back’ than a depiction of a vital scientific breakthrough. It achieves the dubious accolade of being laughably hammy and instantly forgettable at the same time.

Victor Frankenstein (Paul McGuigan, 2015)

This audacious adaptation has the gall to be an amalgam of almost every Frankenstein adaptation to date and yet virtually ignores the plot of the novel entirely. Perhaps the most unusual thing about it is that the focus is on Igor (an ineffectual Daniel Radcliffe) and his bromance with James McAvoy’s eponymous, overzealous scientist. The monster is almost an afterthought. With its massive budget and frenzied, steampunk style, Victor Frankenstein is a madcap but enjoyable ride.

And how about the latest Frankenstein adaptation?

Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro’s monster obsession comes to a head in this culmination of his life’s work so far. The film, which is available on Netflix from 7th November 2025, explores the boundaries between humanity and monstrosity, asking deep questions about our very existence. Jacob Elordi lends a fragile curiosity to the creature trying to understand his place in the world, while Oscar Isaac’s anarchic and cruel Victor Frankenstein struggles with the ramifications of playing god. Sumptuous mansions, dank basements and breath-taking creature designs make this the most immersive and visually stunning adaptation to date. 

So, which is the most authentic Frankenstein adaptation?

The films depicting Frankenstein’s monster as more realistic and more human are probably closer to Mary Shelley’s original vision. While early adaptations preferred to focus in on the horrifying concept of a body stitched together from multiple parts, recent adaptations force audiences to think deeply and reframe their idea of who the monster really is: the creature, or Frankenstein himself?

There is no perfect adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel; each pulls out a different thread from her writing but - of all of them - James Whales' bolt-necked, square-headed monster has had the greatest impact. His grotesque, cartoonish portrait has remained a fixture in the public imagination for decades.