In 1818, Mary Shelley, one of the first architects of the Western science fiction genre, published a fair and profound warning about the ethical dangers of unchecked technological ambitions. Centuries later, as the world stands on the verge of a new tech catastrophe, Guillermo del Toro's timely Netflix adaptation of Shelley's Frankenstein does more than entertain. Presenting his latest work, the director has now declared bold contempt for artificial intelligence, in alignment with his usual monster-based storytelling. 

The director of Frankenstein harnesses the primal energy of organic art and cautions against creations that spin out of control. 

At a Netflix's Frankenstein screening, clips of which are going viral all over social media, Guillermo del Toro did more than sell his new movie. He denounced the spread of artificial generative technologies, firmly shouting, "F--- AI," meeting thunderous cheers from the crowd. This comes right after his take on the same subject at the Venice Film Festival press conference, where he confirmed that his film is not a warning about the proliferation of AI.

Guillermo del Toro referred to a period "of terror and intimidation," in which art becomes necessary now more than ever, as reported by Variety. The filmmaker also joked that it is "natural stupidity" that scares him more than artificial intelligence. At the 17th edition of the Lumière Film Festival, per Euro News, the Oscar-winner continued to stress the importance of art in the current dangerous times, when people are ashamed of emotions, and where AI prompts are labeled art. He pointed out that his Frankenstein was made "by humans for humans." He further added, "AI can go f---- itself!" which closely aligned with the Frankenstein narrative. 

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By calling forth the urgency of emotive human-made art, Guillermo del Toro positions his movie into explicit conversation with contemporary fears.

In this 2025 retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, Oscar Isaac stars as the ambitious Dr. Victor Frankenstein, and Jacob Elordi stars as the staggeringly beautiful newborn Creature. Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, the film remakes the myth as a reflection on creator and creation, with Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, and others appearing in supporting capacities. Expect sweeping Gothic imagery, real craftsmanship, and not AI, and thematic depth that somewhat parallels today's dangers of technology.

The movie has opened in US theaters on October 17, 2025, and will reach every household via Netflix worldwide on November 7, 2025. Guillermo del Toro, for whom Shelley’s creation is "the Bible," per Tudum, insists it is not a horror film but a passionate tale of loss and identity that sings a different key of emotion. del Toro's blunt response to AI at his Frankenstein screening is not a mere rhetorical flourish but a call to action for all human artists and creators to take control of art that could be easily lost to technology, as supposedly evident in Taylor Swift's recent album promos.

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What are your opinions on Guillermo del Toro's thoughts on AI? Comment below.