10 Best Movies Inspired By Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro recently revisited the story of Frankenstein, creating what many consider the most faithful movie adaptation of Mary Shelley’s original novel. However, this is just one of more than 50 films featuring Frankenstein’s Monster – the first appearing in silent movies, and a particularly well-known version released by Universal Studios in 1931.

Beyond the classic Frankenstein monster films, many other movies have been inspired by Mary Shelley’s original novel. Some directly retell the story with a fresh take, while others create entirely new stories that still capture the spirit of Frankenstein.

Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

The 2024 film Lisa Frankenstein draws inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, but with a modern, teenage twist. Similar to how classic Frankenstein movies explored different versions of the Monster, Lisa Frankenstein reimagines the story for a young adult audience.

The movie Lisa Frankenstein centers on a troubled teenager named Lisa who is dealing with family tragedy and a difficult new stepmother and stepsister. After a particularly upsetting event, she finds herself at a graveyard, speaking to a deceased man’s grave when a freak lightning strike brings him back to life.

The movie centers around a zombie, which is what makes it unique. Unlike the story of Frankenstein, Lisa doesn’t create the zombie – she tries to help him. As they work together, they start a violent spree, killing people to find replacement parts for his body. Lisa Frankenstein is a darkly funny and unsettling take on the classic Bride of Frankenstein story, imagining a different path for the monster’s mate.

Mary Shelley (2017)

The movie Mary Shelley tells the story of the woman who wrote Frankenstein, focusing on the period of her life when she created the famous novel. Elle Fanning plays Mary Shelley, and the film depicts her early adulthood – when she lived independently, met and fell in love with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and began her life with him.

Mary Shelley’s path eventually led her to meet the poet Lord Byron. While visiting his villa, they discussed writing a ghost story, inspiring Shelley to develop the idea that would become Frankenstein. Though famous as a horror story, at its heart, the novel is primarily a love story.

I thought Elle Fanning was absolutely brilliant as Mary Shelley! The film really stuck with me because it showed how tough it was for women writers back then, especially when people dismissed their work just because it wasn’t considered ‘proper’ for a woman to write.

Ex Machina (2014)

The film Ex Machina reimagines the classic story of Frankenstein’s monster. While Frankenstein blends horror and science fiction—featuring a scientist who tries to play God and loses control of his creation—Ex Machina fully embraces the science fiction concept.

In Alex Garland’s film Ex Machina, a gifted scientist builds a remarkably human-like robot powered by artificial intelligence. He calls her Ava and invites a programmer from his company to his remote home to evaluate her. Predictably, things don’t go as planned.

I was really struck by how Ex Machina, much like Frankenstein, explores the dangers of humans trying to create life. It seems inevitable that things will spiral out of control, and the creator will ultimately suffer the consequences. Oscar Isaac is just phenomenal as the tech CEO, but Alicia Vikander absolutely blew me away as the AI. The way she portrays the robot becoming self-aware and desperate for freedom is incredible – it’s a truly captivating performance.

Frankenweenie (2012)

As the title suggests, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie is clearly inspired by Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein. Burton first created Frankenweenie as a short film in the 1980s, but Disney felt the story wasn’t suitable for a family-friendly animated movie at the time. Years later, Disney reconsidered, and Burton was finally able to develop his short film into a full-length feature.

Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie is a black-and-white film that pays tribute to classic monster movies. It tells the story of a boy named Victor Frankenstein whose dog tragically dies in an accident. Determined to have his friend back, Victor uses a science project to bring the dog back to life, mirroring the story of Frankenstein. But when other children attempt to revive their own pets, things quickly get out of control.

Tim Burton’s take on the classic Frankenstein story was a delightful and successful film, both with audiences and critics. It was packed with his signature quirky style and allowed him to pay tribute to the horror legend, ultimately earning him an Oscar nomination.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

As a critic, I have to say The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a true phenomenon. Released way back in 1975, it’s incredible that people are still lining up to see it in theaters – over 50 years later! What makes it so special? Well, it’s a wildly fun horror-comedy musical about an alien and the unfortunate travelers who stumble upon his castle. It’s a unique experience, to say the least.

This movie is also a fresh take on the classic Frankenstein story. Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by Tim Curry, is an alien scientist who dresses as a woman and has created his own being, Rocky Horror (played by Peter Hinwood). Trouble starts when Frank’s servants decide to fight back and take control.

Although the film is titled after Frankenstein’s monster, it’s just one piece of a much larger, vibrant story. The movie captures all the key elements of the classic tale, but adds spectacular music and dance sequences to bring it to life.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Released in 1990, Edward Scissorhands is a film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. It’s a gothic romantic fantasy that shares similarities with the story of Frankenstein’s monster. Burton created it after Disney turned down his earlier idea for a movie called Frankenweenie in the 1980s.

An inventor built Edward and brought him to life in his mansion. While finishing Edward’s creation, the inventor homeschooled him. Unfortunately, the inventor passed away before giving Edward hands, so Edward had to make his own using scissors. This frightened some people in town, and they forced him to leave.

The film stays relatively true to Mary Shelley’s original story, portraying Edward as a fundamentally good character who is ostracized and frightened. Unlike Frankenstein’s monster, though, Edward doesn’t react with anger or violence; he remains a deeply sympathetic and tragic figure.

Re-Animator (1985)

While heavily inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the 1985 horror film Re-Animator took a much more visually intense and science fiction-focused approach. Directed by Stuart Gordon and starring Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, it has become a celebrated cult favorite among horror fans.

The movie centers on Herbert, a scientist who’s figured out how to revive the dead. However, no one takes his discovery seriously because his initial attempts went terribly wrong and the subjects didn’t stay alive for long. Like the famous Dr. Frankenstein, Herbert is driven by a desire to overcome death, no matter the consequences.

If you’re a horror movie fan, Stuart Gordon and Jeffrey Combs are as legendary as Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. Their film, Re-Animator, will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025, and it’s a must-see for anyone who enjoys strange, over-the-top, and gory takes on the Frankenstein story.

RoboCop (1987)

As a huge sci-fi fan, I always thought RoboCop was a really clever take on the classic Frankenstein story, but updated for a futuristic, action-packed world. It’s basically about a police officer who’s tragically killed in the line of duty. Then, the department teams up with a powerful corporation to rebuild him – not as a person, but as a cyborg, a nearly invincible law enforcer they call RoboCop. It’s a dark, thrilling ride!

Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop is a critical look at both unchecked capitalism and fascism. Like his other film Starship Troopers, its message is often missed by viewers. Ultimately, the movie argues that not only is RoboCop’s creation problematic, but that letting corporations control such decisions is even more dangerous.

The movie drew inspiration from Frankenstein, showing RoboCop gradually realizing his programming wasn’t perfect and that a part of him was still human, hidden within his artificial intelligence.

Poor Things (2023)

Yorgos Lanthimos is known for creating films that aren’t simple or straightforward. His 2023 movie, Poor Things, was particularly demanding for general viewers. It’s a fresh take on the story of Frankenstein, but presented more like a whimsical fairy tale. The film centers around Godwin Baxter, a scientist who revives a woman after she tragically takes her own life.

This film contained several unsettling scenes, most notably when a pregnant woman tragically died and a scientist shockingly transplanted her fetus’s brain into her body. This resulted in an adult woman with the mind of a child, which made the subsequent romantic attention she received from men even more disturbing.

Emma Stone received an Academy Award for her role as Bella Baxter/Victoria Blessington, the central character in the film. Reviewers highlighted the movie’s unusual and often humorous story, as well as its bright and visually interesting style.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Mel Brooks’ 1974 film, Young Frankenstein, is considered one of the greatest comedy spoofs ever made. It’s a hilarious take on the classic Frankenstein story, starring Gene Wilder as Dr. Frankenstein and co-written by him as well. Peter Boyle famously played the role of the Monster.

I absolutely loved this comedy! One of the funniest parts was when Frankenstein and his monster did a full song and dance routine to “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in top hats – seriously, it was a highlight! And Gene Hackman showed up for a cameo as this really sweet, old blind man, which was a fantastic surprise.

Mel Brooks created many hilarious comedies, but Young Frankenstein is widely considered his masterpiece. As far as funny takes on the Frankenstein story go, this 1970s spoof is unmatched.

2025-11-15 21:03