5 Must-Watch TV Shows For Fans Of Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein

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Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is currently very popular on Netflix, and if you liked its dark, gothic style, here are some TV shows you might also enjoy. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has inspired many adaptations over the past two hundred years since the original novel was published.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a classic of Gothic horror and a key work of the Romantic era, hasn’t always translated well to film. Most movie and TV adaptations have been disappointing, making Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 version a particularly impressive achievement.

If you enjoyed the movie Frankenstein and are hoping to find a TV show that’s exactly the same, you won’t have any luck. But if you’re looking for something with a similar dark atmosphere, setting, or feeling of suspense, there are plenty of great options! Here are five TV shows that we think you’ll enjoy just as much as the film.

Servant (2019-2023)

Guillermo del Toro and M. Night Shyamalan both have distinct filmmaking styles, but they share a love for dark, fantastical stories. Even though Servant is a modern show, it clearly draws inspiration from the classic story of Frankenstein.

This Apple TV series centers on a well-off couple in Philadelphia grieving the unexpected loss of their three-month-old baby. Dorothy Turner (Lauren Ambrose) finds a way to cope by caring for a realistic reborn doll. While initially a source of comfort, the doll mysteriously comes to life, dramatically changing the couple’s lives.

1899 (2022)

Despite being canceled after just one season, the series 1899 provides a satisfying enough conclusion that you won’t be left feeling disappointed. This German-language sci-fi horror show has a similar vibe to Frankenstein – you could easily imagine Victor Frankenstein as a passenger on one of the ships featured in the story.

The ships Kerberos and Prometheus are at the heart of this story. Kerberos is traveling from Southampton, UK, to New York City around the turn of the century. Its sister ship, Prometheus, vanished four months ago, but is now sending out distress calls to Kerberos. What happens next is a thrilling, shocking, and incredibly strange turn of events.

Penny Dreadful (2014-2016)

Despite few truly successful Frankenstein adaptations, characters from Mary Shelley’s novel have thrived in related works, like the show Penny Dreadful. This Showtime horror drama takes its name from the sensational, often shocking, magazines popular in the 1800s – publications that both influenced and were influenced by Frankenstein itself.

The series features both the Creature, played by Rory Kinnear, and Victor Frankenstein, played by Harry Treadaway, though their storylines aren’t fully taken from the original novel. It also incorporates many other public domain characters, creating a thrilling, scary, and action-packed adventure that unfolds over three seasons.

The Terror (2018-Present)

I’m completely fascinated by The Terror! It’s an AMC horror series inspired by Dan Simmons’ incredible novel, and what I love is that each season tells a new, chilling story. It always centers around a group of people facing off against a truly frightening creature from legend. The first season, in particular, really grabbed me – it’s set way back in the 1800s and follows two ships from the Royal Navy as they desperately search for the Northwest Passage.

I was completely gripped by this series set in the freezing Arctic – it immediately brought to mind the stark, lonely beginning of Frankenstein. The explorers stumble upon this incredible, bear-like creature called the Tuunbaq, and it systematically hunts them down, punishing them for daring to intrude on its territory. What really struck me, though, was how perfectly it captured that feeling of relentlessly pursuing something that, in the end, feels utterly pointless. It’s a truly bleak, cold, and unsettling story.

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet Of Curiosities (2022)

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is a horror anthology with eight episodes. While Del Toro didn’t direct any of them himself, each one reflects his love for the strange, eerie, and surprisingly lovely. The episodes are based on stories by authors like H.P. Lovecraft, as well as entirely new tales.

Almost every story is set in the 20th century, particularly in its early years—a period Guillermo del Toro loves and which gives each tale a dreamlike feel. The slow-burn, creeping horror will especially appeal to fans of classic, unsettling stories like Frankenstein.

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2025-11-18 17:00