After all these years, it’s still alive. Frankenstein is one of those unkillable tales that continues to influence the media, as well as keeps getting adapted. To get your best understanding of the story, here are 6 adaptations or pieces of media influenced by Frankenstein.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818)
This is where it all begins.
Yes, this is not an adaptation, but it is truly not fair to watch all these other adaptations without first reading the iconic source material.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein novel has yet to be topped or even matched after all these years.
First things first, if you didn’t already know, Frankenstein is the name of the scientist and not the monster.
Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus is the gothic literary classic built to stand the test of time.
Shelley began writing this story as a teenager when participating in a competition with her husband and friends to see who could write the best horror story.
Their circle of friends was interested in the occult, which dominated much of their topics of conversation.
Naturally, Shelley gravitated toward a tale of a young scientist conducting macabre experiments which leads to the creation of life from dead body parts.
The novel spawned numerous stories across various genres, as you will see when we chronicle just a selection of those inspired by Frankenstein.
Frankenstein (1910)
Technically, the first film adaptation of Frankenstein is a silent film from the silent era of cinema.
The film was a production of Edison Studios, which was owned by famous inventor Thomas Edison.
Due to the cinema’s limited technical capabilities, the short motion picture didn’t cover much of the novel.
As with most adaptations, it isn’t faithful to the novel and diverts its own path.
The film was long considered lost until a print was discovered to be in the possession of a collector who didn’t realize its rarity.
The Library of Congress has since completed a full restoration of the short film and has been made available to the public.
The silent short film is an interesting watch and emphasizes just how long the Frankenstein tale has had impact on popular culture.
Frankenstein (1931)
This film is perhaps known as the definitive adaptation because of its huge success and development of the mainstream image of the monster.
Director James Whale significantly changed the novel but developed a sympathetic portrait of the monster.
Audiences were so terrified by this gothic horror film that it warranted an introduction by one of the actors warning of the terror they were about to witness.
Frankenstein is much tamer by today’s standards, but it was quite shocking for the 1930s decade.
The film was followed up by The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), which is often considered an equal and sometimes greater film.
Success from this film sparked the crazed interest in monster movies, which would exist for a decade or more until the films became sillier in their nature.
Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein are available for rent or on the Internet Archive.
Young Frankenstein (1974)
After the years of Universal monster films not being taken serious, Mel Brooks came along and made a proper parody of the genre.
Unfortunately, Young Frankenstein is currently not available for streaming and the only way to watch in its entirety is through physical media.
There are clips and trailers on YouTube that can give you an idea of the film.
Actor and comedian Gene Wilder co-wrote and starred in the film, which is often considered one of the best comedy films of all time.
Young Frankenstein is an example of the classic gothic story’s ability to morph between genres.
The story has engrained itself so far into the culture that it is versatile enough to appear in any form.
The Monster Squad (1987)
The creature has a small supporting role in a cheesy family-friendly action comedy from the 1980s.
The Monster Squad is about a group of kids who get together over their shared interest of monster movies.
However, one day those monsters appear in their town, so the kids must come together to save the world.
The film is fairly straightforward and a little outdated but you can see how it would later influence similar blockbuster films.
Frankenstein’s monster also has a cute and heartwarming role in this film, which flips a story point from the 1931 film.
Here, rather than accidently killing the little girl at the lake, they become friends and he is her protector.
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
One of the most recent adaptations is this horror comedy film which released just last year.
Lisa Frankenstein has a strong dark romance theme in this film between the creature and the main character.
Rather than the creatures love interest being another creature, it’s now a human character.
This character is Lisa who develops a romantic relationship with a resurrected Victorian-era man.
The film takes no story adaptation from the novel and only uses the resurrection and name as reference points.
Overall, the film is a fun and spunky take on an old tale brought to a modern stylized 80s setting.
Lisa Frankenstein is in many ways the version of the story that a Mary Shelley in 2024 might’ve made.
Can’t Keep a Good Monster Down (2025 & Beyond)
The story of Frankenstein or that of his monster is far from dead.
Just like the doctor, creatives and audiences keep coming back and resurrecting this story.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein, a long anticipated take from the auteur director is streaming on Netflix Nov. 7 after years of teasing his development on the project.
Director and actor Maggie Gyllenhaal will bring a take on the tale next year called The Bride! which will feature an all-star cast and focus on the creature’s bride.
This list only touches the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this monstrous tale.
Several more adaptations exist in film, tv, comics and more, as well as pieces of media who only take loose inspiration from the story.
Not to mention the merchandise, theme park attractions, music and general references made in pop culture and our everyday lives.
Shelley’s Frankenstein is forever cemented in the cultural zeitgeist, and the monster will continue to rise every time a crazed creative decides to pull that lever and send a jolt of electricity through the creature’s flesh.
