Stellar First 'The Bride!' Reactions Hint Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' May Have Met Its Match

Early praise for Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale's performances in Maggie Gyllenhaal's horror reimagining.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The first reactions to Maggie Gyllenhaal's new horror film 'The Bride!' are starting to surface, and they are overwhelmingly positive. The film, which reimagines the classic 'Bride of Frankenstein' story, stars Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale as the monster and his mate. Set in 1930s Chicago, the movie blends classic horror with a Bonnie and Clyde-esque crime spree. Early reviews praise the performances and Gyllenhaal's bold vision for the material.

Why it matters

Gyllenhaal's 'The Bride!' is the latest in a string of high-profile Frankenstein adaptations, following Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-nominated hit from last year. This new take on the classic story promises to put a fresh spin on the material, blending genres and exploring themes of identity, monstrosity, and the human condition. The positive early buzz suggests 'The Bride!' could emerge as one of the best horror films of 2026.

The details

Set in 1930s Chicago, 'The Bride!' stars Christian Bale as the monster, who asks Dr. Euphronious (Annette Bening) to build him a mate. She revives a murdered woman (Jessie Buckley) known as 'The Bride,' and the two revenants end up going on a Depression-era crime spree. The film also stars Penélope Cruz, Julianne Hough, John Magaro, and Jeannie Berlin, with Maggie Gyllenhaal's brother Jake Gyllenhaal and her husband Peter Sarsgaard in supporting roles.

  • The Bride! had its red-carpet premiere in London, England this week.
  • The film is set to be released in theaters on March 6, 2026.

The players

Maggie Gyllenhaal

The director of 'The Bride!' and Jessie Buckley's co-star in the acclaimed film 'The Lost Daughter.'

Jessie Buckley

The actress starring as 'The Bride' in Gyllenhaal's film, who is currently nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in 'Hamnet.'

Christian Bale

The acclaimed actor portraying the monster in 'The Bride!'

Annette Bening

The veteran actress playing a riff on the mad Dr. Pretorius character from 'The Bride of Frankenstein.'

Guillermo del Toro

The acclaimed director whose recent Frankenstein adaptation has helped spark renewed interest in the classic story.

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What they’re saying

“Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jessie Buckley built The Bride! in a lab to give me the movie of my dreams. A shrieking, brazen journey of an ungovernable woman and a man who wants her to burn it all down if it means feeling her warmth. I loved every second of it.”

— BJ Colangelo, Co-host of This Ends at Prom (Twitter)

“It's a love letter to storytelling, science fiction, movies, and so much more.”

— Rachel Leishman, Collider contributor and The Mary Sue editor-in-chief (Twitter)

“It's what going to the theater is all about.”

— Nerdist (Twitter)

What’s next

The Bride! lumbers into theaters on March 6, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

The takeaway

Maggie Gyllenhaal's bold reimagining of the Bride of Frankenstein story has generated early buzz as one of the most exciting horror films of 2026, with praise for the performances of Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. This new take on a classic tale promises to blend genres and explore timely themes, potentially emerging as a worthy successor to Guillermo del Toro's recent Frankenstein adaptation.