The Bride of Frankenstein Turns 90

Universal Studios has long been the home of cinema’s most legendary monsters, giving life to unforgettable icons like Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Wolf Man, and the Invisible Man. But in 2025, one particular creature marks a monumental milestone—The Bride of Frankenstein turns 90. First appearing in 1935, she became the first true female monster in Hollywood’s horror pantheon, and her haunting presence has endured for nearly a century.

The Bride of Frankenstein wasn’t just a sequel—it was a rare example of one that surpassed its predecessor. Released in April 1935, the film stood out for its deeper exploration of the Monster’s emotional world, highlighting themes of loneliness, rejection, and the desperate yearning for connection. The Bride herself, though on screen briefly, became an unforgettable symbol, simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.

Scholars have long examined the Bride through a Freudian lens, interpreting her creation—engineered by two men without sexual reproduction-as a manifestation of male fears surrounding female sexuality, the body, and autonomy. Her very existence evokes awe and revulsion, reflecting the era’s conflicted views on gender and power.

Now, a bold reimagining is on the horizon. Maggie Gyllenhaal is set to direct The Bride!, a new take on the iconic figure, slated for release on March 6, 2026. As we celebrate 90 years of this unforgettable character, audiences eagerly await to see how the next chapter will revive—and redefine—the Bride for a new generation.