The The Bride Jessie Buckley film is already shaping up to be one of the most divisive movies of 2026. Critics have delivered sharply mixed reactions ahead of the film’s cinema release this week.
Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Bride! reimagines the classic monster story from Bride of Frankenstein. That earlier film itself drew inspiration from Frankenstein, the iconic gothic novel written by Mary Shelley.
However, while the premise has intrigued audiences, early reviews reveal a split response from critics.
Set in the 1930s, the The Bride Jessie Buckley story follows a bold scientific experiment. A groundbreaking scientist brings a murdered woman back to life to become the companion of Frankenstein’s monster.
In the film, Annette Bening plays Dr. Euphronious, the scientist behind the shocking experiment. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley portrays the resurrected woman, and Christian Bale plays the monster.
The star-studded cast also includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Penelope Cruz, and Peter Sarsgaard.
Currently, the The Bride Jessie Buckley film holds a critics’ score of about 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. Therefore, the film sits firmly in mixed-review territory.
Some critics praised its ambition and striking visuals. For instance, India Block of Evening Standard awarded the film four stars and said it keeps viewers “squirming in your seat” thanks to its frequent shocks.
However, others felt the film struggles to combine its ideas effectively. Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent described the film as imaginative but uneven in her three-star review.
Similarly, Owen Gleiberman of Variety compared the movie to a chaotic blend of several films but argued that the story lacks momentum.
Meanwhile, Ryan Lattanzio from IndieWire said the film contains plenty of rage and emotion but struggles to focus its message.
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter delivered one of the harsher assessments. He argued that the movie ultimately feels like a “joyless slog.”
Despite the divided reviews, interest in the The Bride Jessie Buckley film remains high. The film will open in cinemas on Friday, March 6.
As a result, audiences will soon decide for themselves whether the bold Frankenstein reimagining succeeds—or becomes one of the year’s most debated films.
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