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Dracula Play Trailer

Dracula (1931)

tomatometer

91

Average Rating: 7.7/10
Reviews Counted: 43
Fresh: 39 | Rotten: 4

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

100

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0

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

audience

77

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 43,084

My Rating

Movie Info

"I am....Drac-u-la. I bid you velcome." Thus does Bela Lugosi declare his presence in the 1931 screen version of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Director Tod Browning invests most of his mood and atmosphere in the first two reels, which were based on the original Stoker novel; the rest of the film is a more stagebound translation of the popular stage play by John Balderston and Hamilton Deane. Even so, the electric tension between the elegant Dracula and the vampire hunter Professor Van Helsing (Edward

Unrated,

Classics, Horror

Garrett Fort

Aug 28, 2001

Universal Pictures

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Dracula Trailer & Photos

Critic Reviews for Dracula

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (4) | DVD (27)

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.

October 15, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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

October 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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.

September 25, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Not by any means the masterpiece of fond memory or reputation, although the first twenty minutes are astonishingly fluid and brilliantly shot by Karl Freund.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Tom Milne
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

With Mr. Browning's imaginative direction and Mr. Lugosi's makeup and weird gestures, this picture succeeds to some extent in its grand guignol intentions.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times
Mordaunt Hall
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Dracula deserves its status as a classic, although one might be tempted to append the word 'lesser' to that label.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

...it's clear that the movie simply doesn't hold up terribly well all these years later.

November 17, 2012 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

When it comes to good, old-fashioned creepiness, you can't beat the classic Universal monster movies.

October 3, 2012 Full Review Source: PopMatters
Sarah Boslaugh
PopMatters

Classic vampire movie is more creepy than violent.

November 4, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Common Sense Media

Lugosi's seminal performance and the striking opening act are what distinguish Browning's version of the classic tale.

July 21, 2010 Full Review Source: Cinemania
Dan Jardine
Cinemania Source: Cinemania

A perfect example of the worst traits of Hollywood films in the early sound era.

October 6, 2009 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | Comments (10)
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

Stark, cold, and deeply sensual, "Dracula's" atmosphere and intention is rooted in a fear of unknown lust and desire from which there can be no escape. To view "Dracula" is to be bitten by the vampire's desperate attack.

May 8, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

A classic despite numerous flaws.

November 24, 2008 Full Review Source: ESplatter
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter

All time horror classic starring Lugosi; still creepy as blazes.

March 22, 2008
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com

Bela Lugosi gives the performance of his life in a role that might have been written just for him. Highly atmospheric throughout, this remains a milestone in horror movie history.

September 25, 2007 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

The atmospheric opening is the best part -- moody and full of sinister potential. After that, it's stilted drawing-room talk, variably acted, except for the cultish over-the-top dementia of Dwight Frye.

September 25, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Once you get into the rhythms of the film, you'll discover a masterpiece.

October 8, 2005 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com
David Cornelius
eFilmCritic.com

there is a reason why Bela ended up in Ed Wood movies

May 12, 2005 | Comments (26)
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is
View all critic reviews (43)

Audience Reviews for Dracula

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This version of Dracula is the first widely released film of the tale since the German Nosferatu. It does not take directly from the novel, written by Bram Stoker, and instead uses the stage play, which actor Bela Lugosi performed in before being cast in this MGM classic. Dracula here has never been so seminal, suave, and adamantly foreign. Unlike the hideous incarnation of the famed monster in Nosferatu, here Dracula wears beautiful black capes, has a legion of wives, and travels great distances only to appear in London under an assumed name to find his next victim. In attendance to the dark lord is an entranced lawyer named Renfield, played by the insanely creepy Dwight Frye, giving a performance that leaves an everlasting impression. Most of the film is made up of interesting performances, most notably of Lugosi himself, who took a criminally low wage in order to take on the role he first performed on stage. He even negotiated the rights for the play and book for the MGM. Lugosi is certainly enigmatic, many scenes showing penlights being shone into those dark orbs, brows lowered in mock irritation and sensuality. The way Lugosi uses his hands, his aura permeating every scene, whether flanked by fake spider webs, the foggy docks of the London harbor, the box at the theater, or one hand moving out of his wooden coffin, ready to strike. The two leads who portrayed victim Mina and her beau John were slightly annoying. Mina was susceptible to fainting spells, high pitched screams, and expressions of lost innocence while John's face only held the expressions of concern and horror. The atmosphere of the film was quite interesting, the vampire running throughout the cityscape, his influence over his victims and accomplice evident from the fear they showcased. The chase between the vampire and the famous Van Helsing wasn't as thrilling, years later, and the lack of sound was less off-putting than empty. This was one of two performances Lugosi had as Dracula, while also portraying characters like the vampire in other MGM films. His performance is one of the best in history, and there's no one else who can carry that heavy Hungarian drawl so many years later.
October 14, 2010
FrizzDrop
Spencer S.

Super Reviewer

Dracula released in 1931 is probably the most famous version of Bram Stoker's classic work ever put on-screen. This is a brilliant piece of cinema in the early year's of the silver screen. Universal cemented itself as a leader in the horror genre, and released many classic films that set the standards for many years to come. Dracula made Bela Lugosi a star and ultimately a horror icon of the classic era of film. Although often overshadowed by Boris Karloff, his performance here definitely is a much more in depth performance, as Lugosi brings charisma to the title character that Karloff didn't seem to have. I'm not saying that one is better than the other, all I'm saying is that Lugosi had a bit more screen presence and on-screen demeanor due to his larger speaking role. The film itself has a strong sense of atmosphere, which is key to build effective chills and suspense. This a flawless horror picture that stands out even today because the idea issi simple, yet due to Lugosi you are just captivated and mesmerized by his performance. There has been countless films based on Dracula, however this version along with Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film really stand out because they bring a great cast to tell the Bram Stoker classic which have made vampires such an integral part of the horror genre. Bela Lugosi is wonderful here and his hypnotic performance is among the greatest ever filmed. Dracula remains one of the best vampire films, and its influence on the genre is still apparent today. A definite must see for horror fans.
October 23, 2012
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Dracula Quotes

View All
    1. Count Dracula: Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make.
    – Submitted by Dutch E (2 months ago)
    1. Dr. Van Helsing: We know why the wolves talk, do we not, Mr Renfield?
    – Submitted by Alex K (5 months ago)
    1. John Harker: I say, driver, what do you mean by going at this.
    – Submitted by Alex K (5 months ago)
    1. John Harker: Well, I'm sorry, but there's a carriage meeting me at Borgo Pass at midnight.
    – Submitted by Alex K (5 months ago)
    1. Coach Passenger: We must reach the inn before sundown!...It is Walpurgis Night, the night of evil Nosferatu! On this night, madame, the doors, they are barred, and to the Virgin we pray.
    – Submitted by Alex K (5 months ago)
    1. Dr. Van Helsing: Gentlemen, we are dealing with the undeadâ?¦Yes, Nosferatu, the undead, the vampire. The vampire attacks the throat. It leaves two little wounds, white with red centers.
    – Submitted by Alex K (7 months ago)

Discussion Forum

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There are no discussion threads for Dracula yet.

Latest News on Dracula

April 25, 2013:
Universal Stakes a Date for Dracula
They vant you to buy a ticket on August 8, 2014.

April 9, 2013:
Luke Evans Is Universal's Dracula
Evans gets fitted for fangs in the bloodsucker's upcoming origin story.

July 11, 2012:
Eli Roth in Talks for Harker
Roth could direct Russell Crowe in the troubled Dracula flick.

View all news

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Foreign Titles

  • Dracula (DE)
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