Dracula | Rotten Tomatoes

Dracula

Released Feb 12, 1931

1h 15m

Horror

List

Movieclips: Best of the Universal Monsters

17:15

View more videos

94%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

82%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

The dashing, mysterious Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), after hypnotizing a British soldier, Renfield (Dwight Frye), into his mindless slave, travels to London and takes up residence in an old castle. Soon Dracula begins to wreak havoc, sucking the blood of young women and turning them into vampires. When he sets his sights on Mina (Helen Chandler), the daughter of a prominent doctor, vampire-hunter Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) is enlisted to put a stop to the count's never-ending bloodlust.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent Dracula on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

TIME Magazine

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.

Oct 15, 2008

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

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

Oct 7, 2008

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

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.

Sep 25, 2007

Full Review

Carson Timar

ClapperCast

Bela Lugosi is Dracula! What a strong start for the Universal Monsters!

Oct 31, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It may not be the definitive version, but it’s easily the most famous, a veritable cultural touchstone, and it was a smash...

Oct 15, 2022

Full Review

Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

As a whole, Dracula balances out as a brilliant classic of an early introduction to sound films and early horror inductions.

Apr 17, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert

Very cool to see a classic film on the big screen, hopefully they do this all the time with movies I never got to see in theaters

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/15/23

Full Review

babarizam D

This considers best version of Dracula movies but for me it didnt work that way. Movie seems on fast track mood.Its and alright film, after watching Nosferatu, This seems less appealing. Actors voice doesn't feel scary, Nosferatu even without sound nailed it in every genre

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/22/24

Full Review

onio w

i am in love with bela lugosi

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

Me D

Very well executed for its time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Alec B

Stylish and iconic. Yeah it cuts the novel down but that forces them to get creative and economical.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Lilith M

Despite the lack of sound design, 'Dracula' is far from boring and does not fail to hook an audience with its iconic tale. Its gothically eerie atmosphere and gorgeous, gloomy sets really work to make Bela Lugosi's notorious and timeless blood-sucking villain stand out from the rest of the cast. This film is filled with nightmares and dread in all the best ways as Lugosi gives his greatest performance as The Count as he terrorises 20th century England. This film really takes the crown as the best adaptation of Bram Stoker's gothic novel and will always be remembered as such.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Tod Browning

Director

Bela Lugosi

Count Dracula

Edward Van Sloan

Prof. Abraham Van Helsing

Dwight Frye

Renfield

David Manners

John Harker

Herbert Bunston

Dr. Jack Seward

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula Kills Renfield

1:39

Dracula: Official Clip - Rats, Rats, Rats!

1:41

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula Kills Lucy

2:01

Dracula: Official Clip - I Never Drink... Wine

1:19

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula Kidnaps Mina

1:28

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula vs. Van Helsing

2:24

Dracula: Official Clip - The Last Voyage of the Vesta

2:53

Dracula: Official Clip - Van Helsing Slays Dracula

2:23

Dracula: Official Clip - Dracula Meets Renfield

1:50

Dracula: Official Clip - Mina Attacks Jonathan

3:15

View more videos

94%

87%

Frankenstein

89%

74%

The Mummy

64%

43%

Dracula's Daughter

98%

87%

Bride of Frankenstein

79%

46%

Murders in the Rue Morgue

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rob Zombie’s Five Favorite Horror Films

Movieclips: Best of the Universal Monsters

17:15

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

The dashing, mysterious Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), after hypnotizing a British soldier, Renfield (Dwight Frye), into his mindless slave, travels to London and takes up residence in an old castle. Soon Dracula begins to wreak havoc, sucking the blood of young women and turning them into vampires. When he sets his sights on Mina (Helen Chandler), the daughter of a prominent doctor, vampire-hunter Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) is enlisted to put a stop to the count's never-ending bloodlust.

Director: Tod Browning
Producer: Tod Browning, Carl Laemmle Jr.
Screenwriter: John L. Balderston, Garrett Fort, Dudley Murphy, Bram Stoker
Distributor: Universal Home Entertainment, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Screen Gems, Realart Pictures Inc., Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1931, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Runtime: 1h 15m
Sound Mix: Mono

Most Popular at Home Now