Some directors earn respect through their box office numbers, while others earn it through awards. Then there are the rare few who inspire near-universal admiration from actors, filmmakers, and audiences alike. Guillermo del Toro has long belonged to that final category, and after the success of Netflix’s Frankenstein, affection for the Oscar-winning visionary only seems louder than ever. Now, months after the film’s release, one of its leading stars, Oscar Isaac, has offered a rare glimpse into what makes working with del Toro such a special experience, praising the filmmaker in glowing terms.

So, what exactly did Oscar Isaac say about the celebrated director of Frankenstein, and why are fans loving every word of it? Here is everything you need to know.

Released on November 7, 2025, on Netflix, Frankenstein featured Oscar Isaac in the starring role as Victor Frankenstein in Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited adaptation. Recently appearing on Happy Sad Confused, Isaac seemed to waste no time praising del Toro by calling him as someone who can see the big picture while still being fully present for actors. Isaac said what amazed him most was that the director lives in “open communion with existence” in an incredible way. He added that del Toro has immense flow, a striking lack of pretension, and remains constantly open to learning, changing, shifting, moving, and letting go of things.

“Someone who sees the big picture, but can still be there for the actor, he is in open communion with existence in such an incredible way. He has so much flow, such a striking lack of pretension, and is constantly learning, changing, shifting, moving, and letting go of things.” –  Isaac told host Josh Horowitz.

Isaac further noted that although Del Toro was once highly controlling about his vision, he has evolved over the years. On Frankenstein, a project the filmmaker had wanted to make for decades, Isaac said it was incredible to watch how much he was willing to let go, even allowing scenes to be discovered in the moment and making changes on the fly while a crane shot was already moving around the set. 

The creative freedom clearly resonated with audiences as well. The film debuted at number one globally with 29.1 million views in its first three days. Within its first 10 days, the film had reached 62.9 million views, before climbing to 98 million cumulative views by January 2026. 

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While its viewership numbers reflected the film’s success, it was the incredible cast that helped keep the haunting world of Frankenstein alive even today.

Storming onto screens in 2025, Frankenstein quickly emerged as one of the year’s most talked-about body-horror sci-fi spectacles under the vision of Guillermo del Toro. While Oscar Isaac led the film as Victor Frankenstein, much of the spotlight also turned toward Jacob Elordi, who delivered the film’s haunting Creature. The ensemble further featured Mia Goth in a dual role as Elizabeth Harlander and Claire Frankenstein, Charles Dance as Leopold Frankenstein, Christoph Waltz as Heinrich Harlander, and Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson.

For Guillermo del Toro, the project carried even deeper meaning, having long stood as a lifelong dream. The filmmaker has often described Frankenstein by Mary Shelley as his “Bible,” while once calling the Creature his “personal messiah.” The film has also been the frontrunner in the Oscars this year, earning nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Jacob Elordi. It went on to win Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design, while drawing praise for its lavish visuals, heart-shattering emotional core, handmade aesthetic, and the 42 prosthetic appliances used to bring Elordi’s Creature to life.

Adding to the film’s praise, Oscar Isaac’s recent admiration for Guillermo del Toro only reflects the strong team spirit that helped make the film so memorable.

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What are your thoughts on Oscar Isaac’s glowing praise for Guillermo del Toro? Let us know in the comments.