Binge Watch: Dracula Films

This week Renfield, a new comedy opens in theaters. It features Nicolas Cage in the role of Dracula. He’s hardly the first to play the part, so if you’re looking for more Dracula-related content, this week’s Binge is for you! Below are a few other Dracula-themed films to check out.

Dracula (1931)
About: If you’re going to dive into Dracula films, you might as well start with the original. This film, from the 1930s, features Bela Legosi in the role as Dracula. It’s a classic for a reason, and a great place to jump off if you’re looking for a binge related to the famous Bram Stoker character.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
About: More than 60 years later, Francis Ford Coppola dipped his toes in the Dracula waters, offering another, more serious take on the novel from Bram Stoker. This time we got Gary Oldman in the role of Dracula, with a cast that included Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder as Jonathan and Mina, and Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing. It’s a solid take on the material, and a more serious and modern exploration of Dracula.

Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
About: If comedy is your thing, which might be the case if you loved Renfield, then you’re likely going to be more interested in the Mel Brooks take on Dracula. This version finds the great Leslie Nielsen as Dracula, Peter MacNicol as his aide Renfield and Brooks as Van Helsing. It has its moments, but it’s decidedly more slapstick.

Dracula 2000 (2000)
About: Enter Wes Craven, at least as a producer. This modern re-make, which featured Gerard Butler as Dracula, was billed as “Wes Craven Presents,” though he was merely a producer. Had he directed, maybe it would have been better. It’s a nightmare of a film, especially when you get to the end and there’s a Biblical twist that lands with a thud…

Van Helsing (2004)
About: Fresh off his success with The Mummy, Stephen Sommers turned his attention to another classic monster for a summer blockbuster. This version not only features Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), but a few other classic monsters. It’s also much more interested in its hero, Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman). It’s a different kind of take. I enjoyed it for what it is, but it’s not for everyone.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.