Draculais one of the most popular horror monsters of all time. He’s appeared in movies and TV series countless times, so often that the only literary character who’s been adapted more times is Sherlock Holmes. Dracula has been portrayed in different ways, both as a soulless creature as well as an almost caring being.
With so many adaptations to choose from, it’s difficult to pick the best to watch. Luckily, some movies have stood the test of time and already proved that they have a lot to offer to the audience who wants to see Dracula on the big screen and enjoy his different versions.
Updated July 18, 2025, by Kath Leroy:What even horror fans might find surprising is that Dracula is one of the most adapted literary characters of all time, right alongside Sherlock Holmes. The most famous of all vampires, Dracula doesn’t always play the leading part but even when he appears as a small antagonist or a part of an ensemble, he often leaves a strong impression. Not just because of his supernatural powers but charisma as well and the ability to trick his opponents. Dracula remains one of the non-aging characters which fits the immortal vampire well. As a result, all his fans have a large variety ofgreat Dracula moviesto pick from.
9Dracula Untold (2014)
If someone has already watched a fair share ofDracula moviesand are in the mood for something a bit different,Dracula Untoldis a good choice. It offers a different look at the iconic monster. In this version, Dracula is a human man who makes a deal with a dangerous creature to protect his people and home from invaders.
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Even if it means losing his humanity and soul in the process. The movie is set in the past and offers epic battle scenes as well as a focused performance from Luke Evans in the titular role, along with good turns by other talented actors such as Charles Dance or Dominic Cooper.
The general rule is that there aren’t that many horror movies for children, at least live-action ones. The 1980s classicThe Monster Squadis one of the few notable exceptions, and it’s enjoyable both for (older) children and adults.
Once again, Dracula isn’t the only monster in the movie. Instead, he’s one of the multiple monsters that the main heroes, a group of children, have to save their city from. The movie also stars Frankenstein’s Monster, the Wolf Man, and others, but Dracula has a special position in the story.The Monster Squadkeeps a fast pace and has the power to both entertain and scare the (younger) audience. Thanks to its overall mood, it’s an idealmovie to watch with the kids during Halloween.
7The Hotel Transylvania Series
As a scary figure, Dracula doesn’t often appear in comedies. TheHotel Transylvaniaseries is one of the few exceptions to this rule. In the series, Dracula can still be imposing, but above all, he just wants to be a good dad to his daughter and take care of his beloved hotel which represents a shelter for all the monsters out there. This Dracula doesn’t spend his nights hunting people, instead, he’s looking after his family and friends.
The series is full of jokes and sympathetic characters, including other well-known classic monsters, such as Frankenstein’s Monster or the Invisible Man. The actors give excellent voice performances, not justAdam Sandler in the leading role.Hotel Transylvaniais a good alternative for all people who enjoy Dracula-centered movies but are tired of getting afraid or want to watch Dracula movies with children.
6Dracula (1958)
TheBritish Hammer Films created some of the most iconic horror moviesin the 1950s and the following decades. In 1958, Hammer Films presented its version ofDracula, which was more fast-paced than the 1931 original. Christopher Lee played Dracula and some viewers believed he was even more convincing in the role than Bela Lugosi.
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Whatever the case, the movie is a must-watch thanks to the actors' performances as well as the captivating story. Other than Christopher Lee, it also stars Peter Cushing as professor Van Helsing.Draculaisn’t the only time Lee and Cushing met in a movie, but it remains one of their best cooperation. The movie spawned multiple sequels that also starred Christopher Lee, but the first movie remains the best.
5Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1973)
Not every movie about the likes of Dracula and the Frankenstein monster has to be a horror, even if it’s aimed at the adult audience.Abbott and CostelloMeet Frankensteinis one of the most underappreciated vampire comedies of all time. Even though it doesn’t have Dracula in its title as in other movies, the vampire plays a vital part in the story since he’s the main antagonist.
The good news for all fans of horror creatures is that the movie stars more of them, such as the Wolf Man. What makes it even more worthwhile is the fact that it’s the second and last timeBela Lugosi played his iconic part of Draculaagain.
4Nosferatu The Vampyre (1979)
This movie is an excellent example that sometimesremakes of popular horror moviescan work almost as well as the original version. Directed by Werner Herzog, the movie stars Klaus Kinski as Dracula. It’s interesting to compare this movie with 1922’sNosferatuand see what changes the creators made, considering they had sound at their disposal.
However,Nosferatu the Vampyreis intriguing even for viewers unfamiliar with the 1920s classic since it creates a strong atmosphere and offers a beautiful setting. Kinski is demonic as Dracula and exudes terror. An interesting detail is that the movie was filmed both in German and in English and a record-breaking one million viewers visited the cinemas in Germany to watch it.
3Dracula (1931)
Just like his distant cousin, the Frankenstein monster, Dracula became even more prominent in the 1930s thanks to the adaptation starring Bela Lugosi. For Lugosi, playing Dracula was his career-defining role, and he never again achieved the same level of success. In the movie, Lugosi is chilling as the hypnotic count Dracula that’s barely speaking and pursues his victims with a beast-like mindedness.
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An interesting fact is that the movie was based on a musical that ran on Broadway from 1928 to 1929, and it managed to save the studio Universal Pictures from going bankrupt. Some fans of the book might not like the fact thatDraculadoesn’t follow the story closely, but the movie is still worth watching thanks to Lugosi’s performance and its overall atmosphere.
2Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
The story of the novelDraculais well-known, but each movie adaptation approaches it differently. In the case ofthe Francis Ford Coppola movie, the adaptation takes some creative liberties with the source material. In the book, Dracula is a monster, pure and simple, while the movie takes the care to humanize him to a certain degree via his developing romantic relationship with Mina, which is something absent in the book.
The movie is visually beautiful and builds a strong gothic atmosphere.Gary Oldman shines in the titular role, but the movie has a strong cast overall, starring other famous names, such as Winona Ryder, or Anthony Hopkins. The movie became a hit, was nominated for four Oscars, and won three of them, including the one for the best costumes. Those who enjoy it should also pay attention to the comic book adaptation of the movie created by Mike Mignola (Hellboy).
1Nosferatu (1922)
Silent movies are a tough pill to swallow for some modern viewersbut those who will find the will to watch the 1922 movieNosferatuare in for an unforgettable experience. Unlike other movies,Nosferatuwas an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel since the movie’s creators didn’t have the rights to the novel.
But even though the main character is called Count Orlock, anybody who reads the book will immediately realize, it’s still Count Dracula. The movie is dark and scary, it builds an intense atmosphere and a large part of its success can be attributed not only to the camera work but to the German actor Max Schreck who played Count Orlock.
Schreck was so convincing in his role as the bloodthirsty vampire that in 2000, a movie calledShadow of the Vampirewas released that has Willem Dafoe play Schreck and suggests that the actor was an actual vampire.Nosferatuinspired multiple other vampire movies, and it’s more than possible that without this movie, horror fans wouldn’t have gotten so many adaptations ofDracula. Even if this is not an official take on the character,Nosferatuis undoubtedly among thebest Dracula movies.
