The Bride! has been hailed in first reactions ahead of its cinema release next week. The new movie acts as a reimagining of Bride of Frankenstein, and sees Jessie Buckley take on the titular character, who comes to life when Frankenstein’s monster (Christian Bale) gets a scientist to create a companion.
They “revive a murdered young woman and The Bride is born”, though “what ensues is beyond what either of them imagined: Murder! Possession! A wild and radical cultural movement! And outlaw lovers in a wild and combustible romance!”
The UK premiere of the movie took place in London last night, and going by social media reactions from those who have seen Maggie Gyllenhaal’s movie, it looks to be a winner.
The Mary Sue’s Rachel Leishman called it “a love letter to storytelling, science fiction, movies, and so much more”, adding: “A breathtaking look at Frankenstein and his love and a truly brilliant performance from both Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. Maggie Gyllenhaal made something so special.”
BJ Colangelo from This Ends At Prom further praised it as “one of the most daring and original films of 2026 and one of the best monster reimaginings of all time”.
Warner Bros.
Related: Best streaming services
“Most Frankenstein movies are about the hubris of man, but #TheBrideMovie takes it a step further by asking, ‘What do we do with the f**kmess they’ve left behind?'” Colangelo added.
“Maggie Gyllenhaal’s #TheBride is wild, audacious, & dgaf if you like it,” wrote The Film Maven’s Kristen Lopez. “Buckley & Bale thrill in a movie that feels like what JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX desperately wished it was. Gyllenhaal’s script has a lot of threads it doesn’t weave in perfectly. unlike anything out there.”
Warner Bros.
Fandango’s Erik Davis suggested The Bride! “swings BIG” and is “ferocious, funny, chaotic, romantic and fueled by another knockout Jessie Buckley performance”.
“THE BRIDE! feels like a love letter to classic moviegoing wrapped inside a bold, modern monster movie. Honestly, we need more films like this,” he continued.
Alongside newly-crowned BAFTA winner Buckley and Bale, the movie also features performances by Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard and Julianne Hough.
The Bride! is released in cinemas on March 6, 2026.
The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Taylor Swift, is here! Buy Taylor in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.