Daybreakers

R

Released Jan 8, 2010

1 hr. 38 min.

Horror

Sci-Fi

Action

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List

69%

157 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Ten years after a plague turns most of the world's population into vampires, a critical blood shortage causes panic and gruesome mutations among the reanimated. Edward (Ethan Hawke), a vampire hematologist, tries to develop a blood substitute when he meets Lionel (Willem Dafoe) and Audrey (Claudia Karvan), two fugitive humans who claim to have a possible cure. Edward casts his lot with them in the hope of perfecting the cure before it's too late.

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Critics Consensus

Though it arrives during an unfortunate glut of vampire movies, Daybreakers offers enough dark sci-fi thrills -- and enough of a unique twist on the genre -- to satisfy filmgoers.

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John A

It refreshingly injects a sci-fi elements and a sleek kind of aesthetic for a mid-budget film. The 3 main big name performers are fairly strong here. Very moody cinematography.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/01/23

Full Review

Logan D

In the recent past (2009), vampirism has spread to most of the US and humans are used as food sources by corporations. A sympathetic vampire stumbles upon a human resistance enclave and promises to aid them in finding a cure. I passed on viewing this when originally released because of poor reviews. I think many audience members expected a horror movie. It's not that. Instead, it's more of a scifi film with a vampire element. Ethan Hawke performs well and it's hard to get a bad performance out of Willem Dafoe. I found this film to be interesting. They provide a reason for the "Nosferatu" vampires and the effects are well done. Very stylish and brooding.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/01/23

Full Review

Andrian P

I loved this movie! As a person who doesn't often watch or like vampire movies, this was amazing, even with the ending and the subtle romance it was great. I'll definitely be adding this to my list of favorite movies!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/26/23

Full Review

Emilliano Jr S

Original and not your typical vampire movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/14/23

Full Review

Sean S

This movie was a waste of Ethan Hawke's talents. It was watchable, and the special effects vampire creatures weren't bad, but the movie didn't really click too well but passed the time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/08/23

Full Review

Larry J

Daybreakers does a great job of taking a played-out genre like "vampires" and makes it something new! Ethan Hawk, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill are perfect for their roles. Very cool movie!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/24/23

Full Review

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Michael Spierig

Director

Peter Spierig

Director

Ethan Hawke

Edward Dalton

Willem Dafoe

Lionel 'Elvis' Cormac

Claudia Karvan

Audrey Bennett

Michael Dorman

Frankie Dalton

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Daybreakers: Trailer 2

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

The conceit is worked out in whiz-bang diabolical detail... and brought to life with imaginative effects.

Oct 26, 2020

Full Review

Laura Kern

Film Comment Magazine

A slick, violent, and intensely gloomy horror/action/sci-fi hybrid that stands out in a crowded field of end-of-mankind movie scenarios.

Sep 24, 2014

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

As a vigorous reclamation of what vampire-genre movies should be, "Daybreakers" is, oh, positive.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 20, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Daybreakers proves Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig have the potential to become great genre filmmakers

Rated: 3/4

Aug 25, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

There is a lot of talent wasted in epic effort for a pyrrhic end. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 25, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Ten years after a plague turns most of the world's population into vampires, a critical blood shortage causes panic and gruesome mutations among the reanimated. Edward (Ethan Hawke), a vampire hematologist, tries to develop a blood substitute when he meets Lionel (Willem Dafoe) and Audrey (Claudia Karvan), two fugitive humans who claim to have a possible cure. Edward casts his lot with them in the hope of perfecting the cure before it's too late.

Director: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Executive Producer: Jason Constantine, Peter Block
Screenwriter: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Pacific Film and Television Commission, Lionsgate Films, Australian Film Finance Corporation, Paradise Productions, Furst Films
Rating: R (Language|Brief Nudity|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 8, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.0M
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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