The title comes from a line in La Fiancée de Frankenstein (1935). Dr. Pretorius says to Dr. Frankenstein, "To a new world of gods and monsters."
As of 2020, one of only three movies since the advent of the Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium Oscar to win the award without receiving a Best Picture nomination as well. The others are The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and La justice au coeur (1996).
Sir Ian McKellen said that he felt very comfortable playing the role of James Whale. Like Whale, McKellan is a homosexual British actor, who spent his early career in the theater, and ultimately started a career in Hollywood.
This movie was shot in 24 days. Filming began on June 30, 1997, in Pasadena, California. Principal photography was completed on July 28, 1997.