Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein Is Officially A Best Picture Contender

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Throughout awards season, it was difficult to get a firm grasp on Netflix’s movie lineup. While several films were considered potential Best Picture nominees, Netflix couldn’t realistically campaign for all of them. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly generated initial buzz, but didn’t receive strong reactions at their Venice Film Festival premieres. A House of Dynamite performed better there, and briefly appeared to be Netflix’s strongest contender, until its wider release in October. Unfortunately, discussions about the film’s ending quickly became the main focus, overshadowing everything else.

While some debated its approach, Train Dreams actually gained popularity after appearing on Netflix. Both it and Jay Kelly are still being considered, but Frankenstein has clearly become Netflix’s strongest awards contender following the SAG-AFTRA nominations. It’s now almost certain to be nominated for Best Picture at the 2026 Oscars, and could receive a significant number of nominations overall.

Frankenstein’s Awards Season Comeback Will Score It A Best Picture Nomination

Despite a rocky start at the Venice Film Festival, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein quickly gained momentum. While it didn’t fully win over critics at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), it came in second place for the People’s Choice Award. This award is often a good sign for a film hoping to be nominated for Best Picture, and this year’s winner, Hamnet, was immediately considered the favorite. Finishing as runner-up showed that Frankenstein resonated with general audiences even if critics weren’t fully convinced.

Those initial predictions turned out to be accurate. The film Frankenstein quickly gained attention with its release in theaters and on Netflix, and was recognized as one of the year’s best by both the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review – groups often seen as indicators of potential Oscar winners. While the New York and Los Angeles film critics didn’t give it much attention, other critics’ groups around the country praised it. When the Golden Globes nominated it for five awards, its chances of success seemed much more likely.

SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union and a major part of the Academy, has announced its nominations. The classic film Frankenstein is up for the top prize – Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – at the Actor Awards. It’s competing against Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, and Sinners, which are also considered strong contenders for Best Picture.

While Frankenstein was anticipated to gain support from those working in creative trades – and received a nomination from the Art Directors Guild – securing commitments from actors is key to getting votes when nominations are announced. The film clearly resonated with performers, as it was also nominated for Outstanding Stunt Ensemble, indicating strong support from SAG-AFTRA’s stunt performers.

Most experts now believe Frankenstein is guaranteed a spot among the ten films nominated for Best Picture, though it’s not considered the frontrunner. One Battle After Another is still the clear favorite, even though Sinners is performing well. However, of all the films Netflix plans to release in 2025, Frankenstein is their strongest contender to finally win the Best Picture award they’ve been pursuing for years. We can anticipate a significant increase in their promotional efforts in the coming weeks as they try to secure a win.

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2026-01-08 21:18