Christian Bale’s New R-Rated Monster Film Is Dividing Critics & Audiences On Rotten Tomatoes

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I’ve just seen The Bride! and it’s clear audiences have already made up their minds about the film. Christian Bale delivers a compelling performance as Frankenstein, and Jessie Buckley is captivating as his bride. It’s a movie that’s definitely sparking conversation!

Reviews for The Bride! have been mixed. The film tells the story of a woman brought back to life by the famous scientist Cornelia Euphronious (Annette Bening), in a modern take on the Frankenstein story. While director Maggie Gyllenhaal created a visually striking Gothic romance, many critics found the script confusing and the film’s tone inconsistent, making it feel unfocused and disjointed.

Ultimately, it’s moviegoers’ opinions that count the most, and they’ve made their decision. The Bride! has earned a strong 74% audience score based on over 500 ratings, which is quite different from the critics’ 59% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – a score considered ‘rotten’.

Viewers generally found the new, intensely violent version of the story to be exciting and captivating, enjoying how it combined horror and film noir elements for a unique take. While some critics and audience members felt the film’s feminist themes weren’t well done, director Gyllenhaal was praised for taking risks and being original. The performances by Buckley and Bale also received high marks, with many comparing their dynamic to a dark and twisted version of Bonnie and Clyde.

It’s not surprising that The Bride! has received mixed reactions. Back in March 2025, Puck reported that early test screenings of the film were problematic and disorganized. Sources said the *Frankensteininspired movie was hard to define, and that seems to be reflected in how people are responding to it now.

Even though audiences liked the movie, it wasn’t enough to make it a financial success. With a budget of $80 million, The Bride! only earned $7.3 million in the US and $13.6 million worldwide. This ended Warner Bros.’s nine-film run of opening at number one, as the movie debuted in second place behind Disney’s Hoppers. Ultimately, the film is considered a box office failure.

Surprisingly, Netflix was initially connected to the film The Bride! before Warner Bros. took over the project with a larger budget. The Wall Street Journal reported that disagreements over money were a factor. Specifically, Jake Gyllenhaal wanted to film in New York City, but Netflix preferred the lower costs of New Jersey.

Even after canceling The Bride!, Netflix was involved in bringing Mary Shelley’s story to life through Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Unlike The Bride!, this film was well-received by critics and has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including the prestigious Best Picture award.

While The Bride! didn’t perform well in theaters, Warner Bros. shouldn’t be significantly impacted, particularly with the upcoming merger with Paramount. The film may still find an audience and gain popularity when it becomes available on streaming platforms like HBO Max, though a release date hasn’t been announced yet.

Alongside Bale and Buckley, the film The Bride! stars Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz. Maggie Gyllenhaal wrote the screenplay, drawing inspiration from the 1935 classic Bride of Frankenstein.

The Bride! is now playing in theaters.

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2026-03-09 07:00