Overview

• Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi led the cast at the world premiere, which ended in a prolonged standing ovation that left del Toro and Elordi in tears.
• Early reviews range from raves to critical notices, with initial aggregator scores in the high 70s and several noting the film’s two-and-a-half-hour length.
• Del Toro said the movie is not an artificial-intelligence metaphor, adding, “I’m not afraid of artificial intelligence. I’m afraid of natural stupidity.”
• The approximately $120 million production prioritizes practical sets and prosthetics over heavy CGI to achieve a tactile, gothic look.
• The film competes for Venice’s Golden Lion and is slated for a limited theatrical release on Oct. 17 before debuting on Netflix on Nov. 7.