Dracula

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Dracula

Released Feb 12, 1931

1h 15m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

The dashing, mysterious Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), after hypnotizing a British soldier, Renfield (Dwight Frye), into his mindless slave, travels to London and takes up residence in an old castle. Soon Dracula begins to wreak havoc, sucking the blood of young women and turning them into vampires. When he sets his sights on Mina (Helen Chandler), the daughter of a prominent doctor, vampire-hunter Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) is enlisted to put a stop to the count's never-ending bloodlust.

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Critics Consensus

Bela Lugosi's timeless portrayal of Dracula in this creepy and atmospheric 1931 film has set the standard for major vampiric roles since.

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TIME Magazine

An exciting melodrama, not as good as it ought to be but a cut above the ordinary trapdoor-and-winding-sheet type of mystery film.

Oct 15, 2008

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Variety Staff

Variety

A sublimated ghost story related with all surface seriousness and above all with a remarkably effective background of creepy atmosphere.

Oct 7, 2008

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

The opening scenes, set in Dracula's castle, are magnificent -- grave, stately, and severe. But the film becomes unbearably static once the action moves to England.

Sep 25, 2007

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Carson Timar

ClapperCast

Bela Lugosi is Dracula! What a strong start for the Universal Monsters!

Oct 31, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It may not be the definitive version, but it’s easily the most famous, a veritable cultural touchstone, and it was a smash...

Oct 15, 2022

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Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

As a whole, Dracula balances out as a brilliant classic of an early introduction to sound films and early horror inductions.

Apr 17, 2022

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Robert

Very cool to see a classic film on the big screen, hopefully they do this all the time with movies I never got to see in theaters

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/15/23

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The Wandering D

What a classic of the horror genre. An absolutely amazing film that surprisingly shows us so much without showing basically anything!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/13/24

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Audience Member

A very dated Movie. but it remains important for horror fans and film students in general. There are some good things about it of course. Bela Legosi is mesmerizing as Count Dracula and it's shot beautifully and has some remarkable set design. The writing, pacing and direction in general are all off though and the editing is abysmal. We can try to attribute that to it's age but "Frankenstein" came out the same year and still holds up as a classic film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

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William S

This is the standard that all Dracula portrayals are compared to.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/04/24

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David K

This is absolutely one of the iconic films in cinema history and Lugosi's role as the Count is, likewise, one of its iconic roles. From the cinematography to the acting...all splendid. Any criticisms that disparage the film are probably coming from people without any historical perspective or appreciation. Discard them and watch this movie. You won't be scared but you will appreciate the film's beauty and tone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

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Audience Member

Too strange for me to completely enjoy

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

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Tod Browning

Director

Bela Lugosi

Count Dracula

Edward Van Sloan

Prof. Abraham Van Helsing

Dwight Frye

Renfield

David Manners

John Harker

Herbert Bunston

Dr. Jack Seward

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Dracula: Official Clip - Rats, Rats, Rats!

1:41

Dracula: Official Clip - Mina Attacks Jonathan

3:15

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula Kills Renfield

1:39

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula Kidnaps Mina

1:28

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula Kills Lucy

2:01

Dracula: Official Clip - I Never Drink... Wine

1:19

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula vs. Van Helsing

2:24

Dracula: Official Clip - The Last Voyage of the Vesta

2:53

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula Meets Renfield

1:50

Dracula: Official Clip - Van Helsing Slays Dracula

2:23

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Movieclips: Dracula's Best Scenes

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Synopsis

The dashing, mysterious Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), after hypnotizing a British soldier, Renfield (Dwight Frye), into his mindless slave, travels to London and takes up residence in an old castle. Soon Dracula begins to wreak havoc, sucking the blood of young women and turning them into vampires. When he sets his sights on Mina (Helen Chandler), the daughter of a prominent doctor, vampire-hunter Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) is enlisted to put a stop to the count's never-ending bloodlust.

Director: Tod Browning
Producer: Tod Browning, Carl Laemmle Jr.
Screenwriter: John L. Balderston, Garrett Fort, Dudley Murphy, Bram Stoker
Distributor: Realart Pictures Inc., Universal Pictures, Screen Gems, Universal Home Entertainment, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1931, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Runtime: 1h 15m
Sound Mix: Mono

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