Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Earns Spot on AFI’s Top 10 Films of 2025, Signaling Oscar Buzz
By Samaran, Founding Editor
The Indian Cinema
December 6, 2025
LOS ANGELES – In a nod to gothic reinvention and emotional depth, Guillermo del Toro’s long-gestating adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been named one of the American Film Institute’s (AFI) Top 10 Films of 2025, placing the Netflix production alongside cinematic heavyweights like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Wicked: For Good. The announcement, made on December 4, underscores the film’s early momentum in the awards season, positioning it as a frontrunner for Academy Award contention.
Directed, written, and produced by the Mexican auteur del Toro – an Oscar winner for The Shape of Water (2017) and Pinocchio (2022) – *Frankenstein* reimagines the 1818 novel as a lyrical exploration of creation, abandonment, and the human condition. Starring Oscar Isaac as the brilliant yet hubristic Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the tragic Creature, the film delves into the fraught father-son dynamic at its core, blending visceral horror with profound pathos. Supporting turns from Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, Christoph Waltz as the enigmatic Harlander, and Charles Dance as Victor’s domineering father add layers of psychological complexity to this visually arresting tale.
Premiering to acclaim at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2025, the film earned a 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising del Toro’s “gloriously gothic and heart-breaking” vision. One reviewer hailed it as “gory, emotional, and morally complex,” while another noted its “prodigious craftsmanship” in capturing the novel’s emotional arc. Following a limited U.S. theatrical run starting October 17 – complete with select 35mm and IMAX screenings – it became available globally on Netflix from November 7, amassing millions of streams and sparking global conversations on themes of monstrosity and empathy.
The AFI Awards, now in their 24th year, honor works deemed “culturally and artistically representative” of the year’s most significant achievements in American cinema. Unlike competitive accolades, the list celebrates collaborative artistry without rankings, often serving as a bellwether for Oscar nominations – with eight of last year’s honorees securing Best Picture slots. This year’s full motion pictures slate includes: Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios), Bugonia (Focus Features), Hamnet (Focus Features), Jay Kelly (Netflix), Marty Supreme (A24), One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.), Sinners (Warner Bros.), Train Dreams (Netflix), and Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures). Netflix leads with three entries, highlighting the streamer’s growing influence on prestige fare.
For del Toro, whose passion project dates back three decades, the recognition is particularly poignant. “It was a religion for me,” he shared in a recent interview, drawing parallels to his Catholic upbringing and Latin American storytelling roots. Composer Alexandre Desplat, a frequent collaborator, infused the score with “lyrical and emotional” tones, eschewing mere horror for a symphony of sorrow. At a reported $120 million budget – ambitious for the genre – the film marks Netflix’s bold theatrical commitment, with a three-week exclusive window before streaming.
From an international lens, *Frankenstein* resonates deeply in India, where del Toro’s fantastical worlds have long captivated audiences through festivals and platforms like Netflix India. Its themes of scientific overreach and otherness echo in Bollywood’s own explorations of the supernatural, from *Tumbbad* (2018) to *Stree* (2018), inviting cross-cultural dialogues on humanity’s darker impulses. As the film hurtles toward the 2026 Oscars – with the AFI ceremony set for January 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles – del Toro’s modern Prometheus could ignite a awards firestorm.
The AFI’s seal of approval not only validates Frankenstein’s artistic merits but also reaffirms del Toro’s status as a bridge between Hollywood spectacle and global introspection. In a year dominated by sequels and blockbusters, this intimate epic reminds us why we return to the classics: to confront the monsters we create, both in labs and in our own hearts.
Samaran is the Founding Editor of The Indian Cinema, championing the intersection of global narratives and South Asian storytelling.
