Guillermo del Toro Declares ‘There’s No Substitute’ for Cinemas at Frankenstein Screening

Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro reaffirmed his commitment to theatrical moviegoing while introducing an IMAX screening of his latest film, Frankenstein, in London on Saturday night. Joined by actor Jacob Elordi, who stars as the Creature in the adaptation, del Toro spoke passionately about the irreplaceable experience of watching films in cinemas, calling it a collective and artistic ritual that cannot be replicated at home.

The event at the British Film Institute (BFI) IMAX came shortly after major industry news broke about Netflix’s $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros., fueling concern about the future of theatrical distribution. Del Toro acknowledged the anxiety but emphasized the continued importance of cinemas.

“There’s no substitute,” del Toro said. “You can see it at home, sure, but here you experience it together. A big screen showing big ideas.”

The director joked about needing popcorn as he accepted handfuls from fans in the front row, before diving into the legacy of Frankenstein and the personal impact the story has had throughout his life.

A Lifelong Connection to Frankenstein

Del Toro shared that watching James Whale’s 1931 classic Frankenstein was a transformative moment in his youth.

“I was struck by God,” he recalled, explaining that the film helped him understand concepts he had wrestled with growing up Catholic. “Frankenstein’s Creature made sense to me.”

He described completing the film as an emotionally draining process, likening the aftermath to postpartum depression.

“Everything I’ve made — Pan’s Labyrinth, Shape of Water, Cronos — practiced for this movie,” he said.

Hand-Crafted Cinema

Del Toro also emphasized the artistry and craftsmanship behind the production, revealing meticulous work on costumes and sets.

“We wove the fabric. We aged it, printed it, tinted it — every veil is embroidered by hand,” he said. “We’re not making eye candy, we’re making eye protein.”

Elordi praised del Toro’s process and credited the filmmaker with helping him fulfill a lifelong dream.

“Since I was 13, I wanted a performance like this,” Elordi said. “This is the only way to make movies — by hand. Every person an artist.”

He added that del Toro’s collaborative approach gave him “wind in my sails to keep making movies until I’m dead.”

What’s Next for Del Toro

Before leaving the stage, del Toro confirmed his next project will be stop motion animation, returning to the form he explored in his Oscar-winning 2022 film Pinocchio.

“The next one is stop motion. Back to stop motion,” he teased.