The trailer for Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! has just been released, and it has quickly become one of my most anticipated movies of 2026.
Forget about Frankenstein – including the Guillermo Del Toro Netflix version – as Gyllenhaal's upcoming film takes the narrative in a fresh direction, diverging from the character we briefly encountered in Mary Shelley's original novel.
Starring Best Actress Oscar contender Jessie Buckley as the titular character and featuring Annette Bening as groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronius, who resurrects a murdered young woman to be a companion for Frankenstein's monster (played by Christian Bale), this film promises to be a standout. The trailer only heightens the excitement.
Set in 1930s Chicago, The Bride! is expected to include grand musical numbers and a wild partnership, along with music from Florence and the Machine. If this evokes memories of certain classic films, you're not alone.
In fact, I believe these three films make for the perfect binge-watch before The Bride! hits theaters worldwide on March 6. Let’s explore what to watch to get you in the mood and where to stream them.
Chicago
Release date: December 2, 2002
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah
Runtime: 113 minutes
RT rating: 87%
The original crime-filled story set in 1930s Chicago is the iconic musical Chicago, featuring unforgettable numbers like 'Cell Block Tango' and 'All That Jazz'. The gritty mob atmosphere surrounding Roxy (Zellweger) and Velma (Zeta-Jones) aligns perfectly with the tone of The Bride!.
Even as someone who typically doesn't enjoy musicals, I fell in love with Chicago early on. I even cut my hair into a bob to emulate Velma at 14 (a decision I wouldn’t recommend). The film exudes charm and glamour, and I have high hopes that Gyllenhaal will deliver a similar razzle-dazzle come March.
- Stream Chicago on Paramount+ in the US
- Stream Chicago on ITVX in the UK
- Stream Chicago on Apple TV in Australia
Joker: Folie à Deux
Release date: October 4, 2024
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Harry Lawtey, Jacob Lofland
Runtime: 148 minutes
RT rating: 31%
Undoubtedly, Joker 2 is another film that the trailer for The Bride! brings to mind. Featuring a chaotic romantic partnership, dreamlike musical sequences, and a crime spree, both films are also Warner Bros. productions.
While not everyone can match Lady Gaga's vocal talent, Jessie Buckley is no stranger to singing, having started her career on a West End competition show called I'd Do Anything. The combination of Buckley and Bale as an acting duo is formidable, and I suspect The Bride! will garner more popularity than Folie à Deux.
This film may have been judged more harshly than it deserved. While it doesn't quite compare to Joker, it has many redeeming qualities and is truly a fever dream in the best sense.
- Stream Joker: Folie à Deux on Prime Video in the US
- Stream Joker: Folie à Deux on Prime Video in the UK
- Stream Joker: Folie à Deux on Prime Video in Australia
The Bride of Frankenstein
Release date: April 19, 1935
Cast: Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson
Runtime: 95 minutes
RT rating: 98%
Of course, the original 1935 film must be included. It provides essential context for understanding the framework of Gyllenhaal's story, even though she has set it in a different world. Lanchester portrays both the Bride and a fictional version of Mary Shelley.
This film is as wonderfully bizarre as it sounds. It explores the classic theme of an outsider seeking companionship and builds beautifully upon the narrative established by the 1931 film Frankenstein. Gyllenhaal was inspired to create The Bride! after seeing a man with a tattoo of the Bride of Frankenstein—need I say more?