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Byzantium

Play trailer Poster for Byzantium R Released Jun 28, 2013 1h 58m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 118 Reviews 51% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Mayhem follows when two female vampires who are on the run from a kindred group take refuge at a seaside British community.

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Byzantium

Byzantium

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Critics Consensus

Director Neil Jordan remains as expert as ever when it comes to setting a chilling mood, but Byzantium struggles to match its creepily alluring atmosphere with a suitably compelling story.

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Critics Reviews

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Amy Taubin Film Comment Magazine Arterton and Ronan's characters have the determination and brio of true heroines. Aug 29, 2019 Full Review Deborah Ross The Spectator It's melancholia at its most trying. Sep 5, 2018 Full Review Larushka Ivan-Zadeh metro.co.uk Arresting, gory and surprising, this flight-of-horror fantasy is wonderfully acted for post-Twilight vamp lovers craving something altogether eerier but emotionally resonant. Rated: 4/5 Sep 5, 2017 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review From the stunning compositions to Eleanor’s thoughtful narration to the poetic drama of Jordan’s treatment, the theme of storytelling itself unfolds and transforms what may be considered familiar vampire material into operatic fantasy. Rated: 4/4 Sep 2, 2022 Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse An elegant, if slightly dull film, that tries to bring something new to the Twilightized vampire genre, but staked by flawed storytelling. Rated: 2/5 Jan 31, 2021 Full Review Brent McKnight The Last Thing I See Occasionally bloody and violent, "Byzantium" is primarily a somber tale of a woeful, savage life. Rated: B Jul 8, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kalissa H A gripping story. Very unique vampire lore which I liked. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/27/25 Full Review Holly O I really enjoyed this as it was different from the typical vampire movie and the acting was great. Surprised by the negative reviews. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/04/25 Full Review Scott R I love a good vampire movie and this is not one of them. It has a decent cast but they were mostly wasted on this movie. I dislike films where the plot is propelled by the protagonists stupid decisions. For example, the girl in the film confesses her big secret to her male love interest and hands over her manuscript to he teachers because he doesnt believe her. Then after some drama and a basic mumbled conversation the girl is happy to forgive him, just like that, and they get back together again. So much of this film made no sense to me. Also, Caleb Landry Jones needs to stop mumbling his lines. He was supposed to be the young male love interest in this movie but his character was fecklss, had no common sense, and mumbled all the way through the movie. Deeply irritating. Very dissapointing. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review Pamela F If you're a fan of something different in a vampire movie, you really need to check out an older movie Byzantium. I came upon this movie out of sheer boredom and was completely taken back of the story, acting, in other words the whole total package. This is not your run of the mill vampire story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/07/25 Full Review Tink L Had you asked me yesterday which vampire movies are the best, I would have said "Let the right one in" and "Only lovers left alive". Now I have a third favourite. I can't understand the few negative reviews, both from critics and audience. The sombre, melancholy atmosphere, the musical score, the acting - all sublime. Sure, they broke w/ a few of the vampire stereotypes, but that made it all the more interesting, I thought. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/25 Full Review Kimberly L It is great! A true story of brilliance! Thought provoking and interesting when they show how different Clara and Eleanor choose to feed. Eleanor with compassion and Clara with purpose and exacting finality. I really enjoyed it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Byzantium

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Cast & Crew

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Neil Jordan

Director

Gemma Arterton

Clara

Saoirse Ronan

Eleanor

Jonny Lee Miller

Ruthven

Caleb Landry Jones

Frank

Sam Riley

Darvell

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Byzantium

Gemma Arterton as Clara Webb in "Byzantium." Caleb Landry Jones as Frank in "Byzantium." Gemma Arterton as Clara Webb and Sam Riley as Darvell in "Byzantium." Saoirse Ronan as Eleanor Webb in "Byzantium." (L-R) Thure Lindhardt as Werner, Uri Gavriel as Savella, Gemma Arterton as Clara Webb and Sam Riley as Darvell in "Byzantium." Gemma Arterton as Clara Webb in "Byzantium." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Mayhem follows when two female vampires who are on the run from a kindred group take refuge at a seaside British community.
Director
Neil Jordan
Producer
Stephen Woolley, Alan Moloney, Elizabeth Karlsen, William D. Johnson, Sam Englebardt
Screenwriter
Moira Buffini
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Parallel Film Productions Ltd., Lipsync Productions, Number 9 Films
Rating
R (Language|Bloody Violence|Sexual Content)
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 28, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$84.3K
Runtime
1h 58m
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