5 Dracula Movies Most Horror Fans Haven’t Seen (But Should)

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Bram Stoker’s Dracula, published in 1897, is a hugely important and influential novel. The story has been adapted for the screen over 80 times, from faithful retellings to creative interpretations, making Dracula one of the most famous characters in horror – and he’ll likely remain a popular figure in movies for years to come.

Everyone knows the famous Dracula movies like Nosferatu and the classic Universal Monster films. But beyond those, there are a lot of great Dracula movies – both old and new – that many fans haven’t seen. These films range from funny to truly terrifying, and they’re well worth discovering.

Love at First Bite is a Comedic Take on the Classic Tale

If you’re looking for a fun vampire comedy, Love at First Bite is a great choice. Released in 1979 and directed by Stan Dragoti, the movie features Count Dracula (played by George Hamilton) being forced to leave his home in Romania.

He and his assistant, Renfield, head to New York City looking for the reborn Mina Harker, now a fashion model. Unbeknownst to them, her current boyfriend is the descendant of Van Helsing.

Love at First Bite isn’t meant to be taken seriously – it’s not a frightening movie at all. However, it’s genuinely funny, especially watching Dracula comically struggle to adjust to modern city life. Rather than scary, the film presents a charming and unusual take on the classic Dracula character.

The Monster Squad is a Nostalgic and Fun Dracula Movie

Initially overlooked when it came out, this movie has since gained a dedicated following as a cult favorite. The story centers on Dracula (played by Duncan Regehr) who travels to a quiet town in search of a powerful amulet that would give him world domination. He’s joined by other iconic Universal monsters, like Frankenstein’s Monster (Tom Noonan), the Wolf Man (Jonathan Gries), the Mummy (Michael Reid MacKay), and the Gill-man (Tom Woodruff).

In this playful take on classic monster movies, 12-year-old Sean (Andre Gower) and his friends are the only ones who can stop the creature. It’s a film both longtime fans and newcomers will enjoy.

Over time, this film has developed a dedicated fanbase, even inspiring the 2018 documentary Wolfman’s Got Nards, which takes its name from a memorable line in the movie. It’s a surprisingly accessible horror film for younger audiences, earning a PG-13 rating and brimming with nostalgic appeal.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter Adapts a Mysterious Chapter of Bram Stoker’s Novel

Directed by André Øvredal, known for Trollhunter, this movie adapts a specific section of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and stands out as a particularly suspenseful and frightening installment. The story centers on the crew of the ship Demeter as they sail from Transylvania to London, carrying Dracula (played by Javier Botet) hidden amongst their cargo – just as described in the original novel.

Once free, Dracula causes chaos on the ship, and the crew desperately struggles to survive. While it’s uncommon to base an entire movie on just one chapter of a book, Bram Stoker intentionally made the sea voyage enigmatic, making this adaptation a curious choice.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter is a consistently suspenseful film that should satisfy fans of the horror genre. Although reviews from critics were mixed upon its release (currently 50% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences generally consider it a strong Dracula movie, praising its intense moments and atmospheric setting.

Shadow of the Vampire Imagines a Different Take on a Classic Film

I just saw this really cool, creepy movie, and it’s like if Peeping Tom and Nosferatu had a baby! It basically asks ‘what if’ about the making of Nosferatu. It imagines what really happened with F.W. Murnau, the director, and Max Schreck, the actor who played the vampire. The movie, which came out in 2000, shows Schreck (played by Willem Dafoe) actually being a vampire, and Murnau (John Malkovich) hiring him to make the film more realistic. It’s funny, but also genuinely terrifying!

True to form, Schreck’s character consumes crew and actors, but Murnau presses on with filming, determined to finish his film. Shadow of the Vampire powerfully illustrates the pain and sacrifices often required in the pursuit of artistic creation.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is the Quintessential Horror Comedy

During the 1930s, Universal monster movies—featuring characters like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf-Man—dominated the horror genre. But by the late 1940s, horror films became less popular, largely because of World War II. With so much real-life tragedy happening, people preferred to watch comedies, especially those with Abbott and Costello.

The 1948 film blends horror and comedy brilliantly. As the title suggests, the story centers around two baggage handlers who accidentally damage a crate and must visit a spooky museum to make amends. There, they encounter iconic Universal monsters like Dracula, played by Bela Lugosi.

Abbott and Costello aimed for comedy in the film, while actors like Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., and Glenn Strange focused on creating scares. The movie was part of a trend where classic monsters and characters crossed over into each other’s stories, eventually including Boris Karloff, The Invisible Man, Captain Kidd, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Keystone Cops, and The Mummy.

Towards the end of their careers, Abbott and Costello became well-known for a series of comedy films where they encountered classic monsters. While none were quite as successful as their first, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein – considered a standout Dracula movie – gained further recognition when it was added to the Library of Congress in 2001.

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2026-01-31 00:38