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Comedy horror film

Lisa Frankenstein (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Lisa Frankenstein (2024) movie poster

Lisa Frankenstein is a 2024 comedy horror film directed by Zelda Williams, starring Kathryn Newton as Lisa, Joe Chrest and Carla Gugino. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes and earned $9.9 million worldwide on a $13 million budget. Critics gave it 52% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
52%
worldwide gross
$9.9M
Echo Score
50
Metascore
47
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Lisa Frankenstein (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 41m (101 min)
Director
Zelda Williams
Genres
Comedy , Horror , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$13M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Lisa Frankenstein About?

The premise of Lisa Frankenstein without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A witty and darkly comedic horror-romance, the film follows Lisa Frankenstein, a misunderstood teenager who unexpectedly falls for her high school crush. After a series of unusual events, he returns from the dead, and together they begin a quest filled with both bloodshed and a search for love and happiness, complicated by the challenge of piecing his body back together.

Lisa Frankenstein Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • gothic teenager
  • social outcast
  • zombie
  • high school
  • stepsister stepsister relationship
  • cemetery
  • stepmother stepdaughter relationship
  • cheerleader
  • tombstone
  • psychiatric nurse
  • reference to the cure the band
  • mute
+38 more
  • missing body part
  • severed hand
  • chopping off someone's hand
  • goth
  • sewing hands onto a body
  • loss of mother
  • grief
  • losing one's virginity
  • school
  • penile mutilation
  • teenage girl
  • reanimated corpse
  • tanning bed
  • hiding in a closet
  • 1980s
  • transfer student
  • drugged drink
  • pcp
  • high on drugs
  • gravestone rubbing
  • new outfit
  • father daughter relationship
  • husband wife relationship
  • groping
  • reference to the violent femmes
  • reference to pabst blue ribbon beer
  • reference to reo speedwagon
  • piano
  • playing a piano
  • pianist
  • lightning
  • sewing
  • needle and thread
  • axe
  • throwing an axe
  • axe murderer
  • severed ear
  • disposing of a dead body
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Cast & crew

Lisa Frankenstein Cast & Characters

Kathryn Newton leads the cast as Lisa, with Joe Chrest as Dale and Carla Gugino as Janet. Directed by Zelda Williams; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Lisa Frankenstein

· 16 more
From the director

More from Zelda Williams

One more film directed by Zelda Williams: Kappa Kappa Die.

Full filmography
Ratings

Lisa Frankenstein Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Lisa Frankenstein 52% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in sensory experience (65) and weakest in story & flow (30).

50 /100

Lisa Frankenstein Echo Score Breakdown

The film elicits a markedly mixed response, with commendations for its visual style and performances contrasted by widespread critique of its narrative coherence. While several viewers appreciate the authentic 1980s atmosphere and engaging cast chemistry, many critics highlight uneven direction and a lack of sustained momentum. Sentiments range from potential cult appreciation to outright disappointment over the flimsy plot and hesitant pacing. Overall, Lisa Frankenstein registers as an uneven effort whose stylistic flair does not fully compensate for its storytelling shortcomings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 55

    In terms of art and craft, the film presents a blend of striking design elements and hesitant direction. Critics note that the camera often holds back, diluting comedic energy, yet numerous viewers praise the period-accurate costumes and vivid production design. While some sequences feel visually timid, standout moments of polished set decoration and color choices lend a partial stylistic payoff. The net effect is a mixed visual execution that alternates between charisma and conservatism.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances deliver reliable moments of engagement despite uneven depth. Multiple reviewers commend Kathryn Newton’s charismatic turn and the chemistry with her co-star, while a few find lead motivations thin and side characters underdeveloped. Dialogue fluctuations occasionally disrupt emotional resonance, yet committed work from the principal cast sustains viewer interest. Overall, the film offers moderately compelling performances that elevate otherwise inconsistent character writing.

  • Story & Flow 30

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative struggle is a prevailing shortcoming. Commentators describe the plot as rudderless, overreliant on nostalgic references, and incapable of generating genuine suspense or humor. Pacing issues interrupt engagement, with scenes that feel halfhearted and script choices that undermine concept potential. Despite an intriguing Frankenstein premise, the storyline never coalesces into a coherent or compelling sequence. The overall result is a markedly weak and disjointed narrative.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    Regarding sensory experience, the film offers an evocative 1980s ambiance paired with moments of dynamic visual and musical flair. Some critics argue that the spectacle fizzles and gags fall flat, yet many audience members applaud the soundtrack, period-appropriate wardrobe, and bold color schemes. Sound mixing and musical choices enhance scene transitions, even if not every visual joke lands. Altogether, the sensory design achieves intermittent delights within a broadly uneven aesthetic framework.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Concerning rewatch factor, opinions graze from potential cult revival to immediate forgettability. A subset of viewers believes the film’s nostalgic tone and genre blending could reward subsequent viewings, while others cite a hollow center that fails to sustain repeat engagement. Memorable moments are too sporadic to foster strong lasting appeal, though curious audiences might revisit for standout performances or specific visual elements. In sum, Lisa Frankenstein offers modest replay value rather than enduring enthusiasm.

Plot

Lisa Frankenstein Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Lisa Frankenstein from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1989, we meet Lisa Swallows, a troubled teenage girl grappling with the profound grief of losing her mother, who was tragically slain by an axe murderer two years prior. Her situation is further complicated when her father, Dale (Joe Chrest), marries Janet (Carla Gugino), a self-absorbed and cruel woman. This new union brings Lisa a vivacious and popular stepsister, Taffy (Liza Soberano), but it does little to alleviate her feelings of isolation. Much to her family’s dismay, Lisa frequently finds solace in the eerie quiet of the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, where her heart finds a haunting place of peace.

Full summary

The whole story of Lisa Frankenstein, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Lisa Frankenstein Box Office & Budget

Lisa Frankenstein grossed $9.9 million worldwide on a $13 million budget, 76% of what it cost. $9.8 million came from the US and Canada and $153,429 (2%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$9.9M

76% of its budget back

US & Canada
$9.8M
International
$153.4K
Budget
$13M
US & Canada 98% Rest of the world 2%
Videos

Lisa Frankenstein Trailers & Videos

23 videos: 3 trailers, 6 teasers, 8 clips and 6 featurettes.

All 23 videos
Official Teaser Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official International Trailer (w/ Liza Soberano Intro)
  • Teaser it's giving unliving
  • Teaser she's slaying, he's decaying
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Lisa Frankenstein?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What year is the movie set in?

Details

Lisa Frankenstein Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “리사 프랑켄슈타인” and “ליסה פרנקנשטיין”.

Also known as
  • 리사 프랑켄슈타인
  • ליסה פרנקנשטיין
  • Лиза Франкенштейн
  • 怪奇麗莎
  • 丽莎·弗兰肯斯坦, ლიზა ფრანკენშტეინი
  • Liza Frankenštein
  • Ліза Франкенштейн
  • ลิซ่า แฟรงเกนสไตน์
  • 科學怪麗莎
  • Lisa Frankenstein Và Người Tình Hồi Sinh
  • Лиса Франкенштајн
  • リサ・フランケンシュタイン

Seen Lisa Frankenstein?

FAQ

Lisa Frankenstein FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Lisa Frankenstein, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Lisa Frankenstein?

Lisa Frankenstein runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).

When was Lisa Frankenstein released?

Lisa Frankenstein was released on February 9, 2024.

Who directed Lisa Frankenstein?

Lisa Frankenstein was directed by Zelda Williams.

More films by Zelda Williams

Who is in the cast of Lisa Frankenstein?

Lisa Frankenstein stars Kathryn Newton as Lisa, Joe Chrest as Dale and Carla Gugino as Janet, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Lisa Frankenstein make at the box office?

Lisa Frankenstein grossed $9.9 million worldwide ($9.8 million domestic, $153,429 international) on a budget of $13 million.

How is Lisa Frankenstein rated?

Lisa Frankenstein has 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, 47 on Metacritic, 64% on TMDB and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Lisa Frankenstein have a post-credit scene?

No. Lisa Frankenstein has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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