This Friday, April 14, a new spin on the vampire classic hits theaters with the arrival of Renfield, a horror comedy starring Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, and Nicholas Cage that follows the exploits of Dracula’s familiar, R.M. Renfield. Renfield was first introduced in ’s 1897 pillar of Gothic horror, so if you don’t quite recall the specifics, now is the perfect time to get reacquainted with the history of the Count.
Bram Stoker’s has remained an important part of popular culture and literary history since its 19th-century debut. While the Transylvanian villain was not the first fictional bloodsucker, the character has nonetheless become practically synonymous with vampires. After all, if you’re to picture the creation, you’ll likely conjure up an image of a pallid, mysterious, fanged man living in a castle and donning a dark cape.
But Dracula has also had a number of makeovers on screens both big and small. Renfield is just the latest film to pay homage to the most famous vampire in history, but cinema has a long history with this classic horror novel. With more than 200 adaptations and reimaginings of Dracula, it can be difficult to know where to get started. Never fear—our list of must-watch Dracula adaptations will satisfy any vampire lover’s thirst for Gothic drama.
Nosferatu (1922)
Nosferatu is a silent German Expressionist horror film starring Max Schreck and directed by F.W. Murnau. Though often associated with Dracula, it was actually an unofficial adaptation of the source material, and as such, key details in the original were changed to avoid copyright infringement. For one, Count Dracula's name was changed to Count Orlok; still, many details of the story remain the same. The movie follows Count Orlok, played by Schreck, as he preys on the wife of an estate agent and brings terror and death to their town. Notably, this 1922 film was the first media to depict vampires dying when exposed to sunlight, which subsequently became a staple of vampire lore.
Dracula (1931)
This 1931 movie marks the first film adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel with sound. Dracula stars Bela Lugosi, who had previously played the role of the Count on Broadway. Along with winning critical acclaim, this film was a commercial success for Universal Studios, and its popularity was a major factor in cementing Dracula as a prominent character in popular culture to this day. Lugosi's Dracula led to several sequels and spin-offs, including Dracula's Daughter, Son of Dracula, and many more.
