The Bride! (2026): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The Bride! is a 2026 drama horror film directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, starring Jessie Buckley as The Bride, William Hill and Christian Bale. It runs 2 hours 6 minutes and earned $23.9 million worldwide on a $80 million budget. Critics gave it 55 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 6m (126 min)
- Director
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Original language
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English
- Studio
- First Love Films
- Budget
- $80M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Bride! About?
The premise of The Bride! without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
In 1930s Chicago, a solitary Frankenstein (Christian Bale) seeks the help of avant‑garde scientist Dr. Euphronious (Annette Bening) to fashion a companion. Their experiment revives a murdered young woman, who becomes The Bride (Jessie Buckley). The resulting saga spirals into murder, possession and a cultural movement that exceeds expectations.
The Bride! Cast & Characters
Jessie Buckley leads the cast as The Bride, with William Hill as Chicago Police Sargent and Christian Bale as Frankenstein's Monster. Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal; 20 actors are credited in all.
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Director Maggie Gyllenhaal
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Jessie Buckley as The Bride -
William Hill as Chicago Police Sargent -
Christian Bale as Frankenstein's Monster -
Annette Bening as Dr. Euphronius
Also Starring in The Bride!
· 16 more- Jake Gyllenhaal Ronnie Reed
- Peter Sarsgaard Jake Wiles
- Penélope Cruz Myrna Mallow
- John Magaro
- Julianne Hough
- Louis Cancelmi
- Matthew Maher
- Jeannie Berlin Greta
- Marko Caka Waiter
- Oliver Palmer Rough Boy 1
- Lydia Kelly Restaurant Companion
- Ben Green
- Rob Kellogg Rough Boy 2
- Sofía Ko Lily
- Massiel Mordan Mable
- Stephanie Troyak
The Bride! Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Bride! 55 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 69/100, strongest in character & emotion (82) and weakest in story & flow (48).
The Bride! Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Bride! delivers striking visual flair and memorable lead performances, yet its narrative cohesion suffers from uneven pacing and a lack of clear thematic focus. Critics acknowledge the film’s bold artistic choices and occasional flashes of brilliance, while many note the story’s fragmented structure and overambitious scope. The sensory elements, especially the period cinematography, often elevate the experience, but the disjointed plot diminishes lasting impact. Consequently, the film appeals to niche audiences seeking avant‑garde spectacle rather than mainstream storytelling.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
ART: The film’s direction embraces a flamboyant, gothic aesthetic, supported by striking production design and inventive camera work. Critics highlight the vivid period sets and occasional visual brilliance, while some note inconsistency in editing that undercuts narrative flow. Overall, the craftsmanship creates an engaging sensory backdrop, though occasional lapses prevent a consistently polished experience.
- Character & Emotion 82
CHARACTER: Lead actors Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale receive consistent acclaim for delivering nuanced, emotionally resonant performances that anchor the film’s eccentric premise. Reviewers commend their chemistry and the depth they bring to otherwise chaotic roles. However, several critics argue that supporting characters remain underdeveloped, limiting broader emotional investment. The strong central portrayals compensate partially for these shortcomings.
- Story & Flow 48
STORY: The narrative is widely criticized for its fragmented structure and uneven pacing, which often obscures thematic intent. Critics describe the plot as over‑ambitious, with disjointed scenes that hinder audience engagement. While occasional moments of intrigue arise, the overall lack of coherent storytelling undermines the film’s impact, leading many reviewers to deem it uneven and unsatisfying.
- Sensory Experience 73
SENSORY: The film excels in visual and auditory design, featuring richly detailed period cinematography and inventive color palettes that enhance its gothic atmosphere. Soundtrack choices, including surprising musical interludes, receive mixed reactions, but many praise the immersive sound design. These sensory strengths often elevate the viewing experience, even as narrative flaws persist.
- Rewatch Factor 66
REWATCH: The Bride! offers a distinct cult‑appeal that may reward repeat viewings for audiences drawn to its bold aesthetic and standout performances. While the chaotic storyline can deter general viewers, the film’s visual flair and occasional moments of humor provide enough novelty to merit a second look among niche fans. Overall replay value remains limited for mainstream audiences.
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Metacritic 55 Metascore
User score 4.9
See on Metacritic
The Bride! Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Bride! 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
From the afterlife, Mary Shelley explains that she has a story she wanted to tell after Frankenstein but could not due to her death. To tell it, she possesses Ida, Jessie Buckley, a woman living in 1936 Chicago, who in her trance proceeds to discuss the criminal activities of crime boss Lupino. Lupino’s henchmen Clyde and James discreetly kill her afterward.
Full summary
The whole story of The Bride!, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Bride! Box Office & Budget
The Bride! grossed $23.9 million worldwide on a $80 million budget, 30% of what it cost. $12.7 million came from the US and Canada and $11.2 million (47%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$23.9M
30% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $12.7M
- International
- $11.2M
- Budget
- $80M
The Bride! Trailers & Videos
65 videos: 2 trailers, 40 teasers, 2 clips, 18 featurettes and 3 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Official 1.90 Trailer
- Teaser Official Teaser
- Teaser Official 1.90 IMAX® Teaser
- Teaser Reinvigorated.
How Well Do You Know The Bride!?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress portrays Ida, whose corpse is used to create the Bride?
Seen The Bride!?
Articles About The Bride!
Our article about The Bride!: “The Bride! (2026) Review, Critics' Opinions, Audience Reception & Fan Reactions”.
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Opinions
The Bride! FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Bride!, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Bride!?
The Bride! runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).
When was The Bride! released?
The Bride! was released on March 6, 2026.
Who directed The Bride!?
The Bride! was directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
More films by Maggie Gyllenhaal Who is in the cast of The Bride!?
The Bride! stars Jessie Buckley as The Bride, William Hill as Chicago Police Sargent and Christian Bale as Frankenstein's Monster, among 20 credited actors.
How much did The Bride! make at the box office?
The Bride! grossed $23.9 million worldwide ($12.7 million domestic, $11.2 million international) on a budget of $80 million.
How is The Bride! rated?
The Bride! has 55 on Metacritic.
Does The Bride! have a post-credit scene?
No. The Bride! has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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