Over the years, while Netflix has gained the reputation as one of the best streaming services, it has also attracted some backlash from fans. The recent news about Oscar Isaac’s upcoming movie, Frankenstein might also spell trouble for the streamer if they decide not to comply with a wish that fans have clearly expressed.
In the past couple of years, there has been a lot of debate around some movies only getting digital releases instead of theatrical ones. Initially, it did not gain people’s attention, but once they realized what was happening, there was no going back.
Recently, they have expressed similar concerns about Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and the producers might want to consider their appeals, especially after the disappointing news about the Millie Bobby Brown starrer-film, The Electric State broke.
Netflix Might Get on the Wrong Foot with Fans If Frankenstein Only Gets a Digital Release
Guillermo del Toro | Picture by Gage Skidmore, Licensed to CC BY-SA 2.0, Source: Wikimedia Commons
Every now and then, Netflix gets under fire for cancelling a fan-favorite show, but in the recent years, that is not the only thing the streamer had to endure backlash for. As more and more films only get digital releases, fans have begun to express their dissatisfaction with this as they believe that some movies like Glass Onion, The Tomorrow War and Turning Red should have gotten theatrical releases.
Even, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio could have probably done well in the theaters, but unfortunately, it was released straight on Netflix. According to Vanity Fair‘s recent report, his upcoming movie Frankenstein which stars Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the titular monster, will also be released on Netflix.
This has obviously rung alarm bells in people’s heads as they pointed out that the movie deserves a theatrical release. Here is what some of them had to say on X:
Guillermo del Toro is one of the most acclaimed directors in Hollywood and can undoubtedly draw the audience to the theaters. Add to it the fact that Frankenstein is a very popular fictional character, and fans have always loved watching it take over the big screen. Even if the movie gets limited theatrical release, there is a huge chance that fans will not be very pleased with it because most of them won’t get to see it just like The Electric State.
The Electric State Directors Anthony and Joe Russo on Whether or Not the Film Will Get a Theatrical Release
A still from The Electric State | Source: Netflix
Based on the 2018 eponymous graphic novel Simon Stålenhag and directed by the Russo brothers, The Electric State is a sci-fi comedy-drama with a sprawling star cast featuring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Woody Harrelson, Giancarlo Esposito, and many others. This movie is also set to be released on Netflix.
When asked about the release format in an interview with Collider‘s Steve Weintraub, Anthony and Joe Russo clearly stated:
There’s no theatrical run attached to it. I’m sure we’ll do some theater screenings of the film for fans, but it’s not intended for any theatrical release.
When Weintraub expressed his desire to watch the movie on a big movie screen, the directors said that they will be doing “special screenings“. This probably means that most fans will miss out on a complete theatrical experience of the film.