Frankenstein is an American gothic-horror film released in 1994 and directed by Kenneth Branagh. It is an adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus and is sometimes billed as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The film was produced by Francis Ford Coppola's production company American Zoetrope along with Columbia TriStar Pictures. Kenneth Branagh also stars in the film in the lead role of Victor Frankenstein. The Monster is played by Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro. Of all the Frankenstein films that have been made over the years, it is the most faithful theatrically released adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel to date.