Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is the No. 1 on Netflix worldwide, and with a remarkable 95% viewers' score over on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that many viewers are really resonating with the Oscar-winning director’s spin on Mary Shelley’s standard-setting Gothic novel.
There’s a lot to like about this new interpretation of “Frankenstein,” from del Toro’s trademark lavish (and fittingly Gothic) production design to Jacob Elordi’s tender portrayal of a supposed “monster” with a very human soul. If you’re in the mood for a follow-up movie that offers much of the same, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, I’m picking out the best dark fantasy movies for you to watch after streaming Netflix’s latest high-profile original.
Naturally, my picks are dominated by more movies from del Toro’s uber-impressive filmography, but I’ve also just got to recommend a much earlier take on "Frankenstein," which set a distinct look for the material that is still adhered to in pop culture even in the 21st century.
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
2006’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” is considered by many to be del Toro’s masterpiece, and came after back-to-back comicbook flicks (“Blade II” and “Hellboy”). If you thought the design of the creature in “Frankenstein” was memorable, wait till you see some of the fantastical creations hidden within the simultaneously inviting and spooky world of “Pan’s Labyrinth.” Mixing a handcrafted fictional fantasy world with a dark chapter of real-world history, it’s a compelling tale with several memorable moments that you won’t forget any time soon.
Set in 1944, young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is forced to live in the Spanish countryside with the sadistic Captain Vidal (Sergi López), who has just married her mother (Ariadna Gil). As the soldiers under Vidal’s command hunt down rebels in the surrounding forest, Ofelia is drawn into a fantasy world inhabited by a faun (Doug Jones). Told she is actually a princess in this warped land, to take her place as royalty, she must complete three tasks.
Buy or rent "Pan's Labyrinth" on Prime Videonow
‘The Shape of Water’ (2017)
Guillermo del Toro had been teetering on the edge of Oscar glory before, but it was 2017’s “The Shape of Water” that saw him win not just Best Director, but also Best Picture for this unique fantasy romance. The parallels to “Frankenstein” are immediately clear. While del Toro’s latest sees sparks of affection between Elordi’s creature and Mia Goth’s Lady Elizabeth Harlander, “The Shape of Water” is that kernel of an idea blown up to be a full feature.
Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is a mute janitor who works at a secret government laboratory in 1960s Maryland. Discovering the lab houses a mysterious scaled creature within its depths, she finds herself bonding with this human-fish hybrid. Knowing that the cruel Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) plans to have the creature killed, Elisa hatches a daring escape plan.
On-screen relationships are a tricky beast. If the chemistry isn’t quite right, viewers won’t buy into the partnership, so it’s quite remarkable that del Toro turned a romance between a woman and a humanoid amphibian into one of the most tender (and believable) romances of the past decade.
Buy or rent "The Shape of Water" on Prime Video now
‘Frankenstein’ (1931)
Many of the “Frankenstein” motifs that have become iconic over the years (think the oversized stapled-together forehead, the bolt through the creature’s neck, or Victor declaring “It’s alive” as his creation is born) all originated from 1931’s “Frankenstein.” Directed by James Whale, this Golden Age effort left a huge mark on cinema, and its influence is still being felt. Running a trim 70 minutes, quite the difference from 2025’s “Frankenstein’s” chunky 150 minutes, it’s every bit as watchable now as it was back then.
I won’t rehash the narrative cliffnotes, as presumably you’re very familiar with the tale of Victor Frankenstein and his hubristic attempts to create new life, but it tells the classic story with all the horror, drama and humanity you’d expect. Such was its success that it birthed a whole franchise. While the overall results were mixed (1943’s cheesy “Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman” was doing an MCU-style crossover before it was trendy), the sequel, 1935’s “Bride of Frankenstein,” is enjoyable and makes for a great double feature.
Buy or rent "Frankenstein" (1931) on Prime Video now
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