Explore the Availability of Previous Adaptations: 'Nosferatu' Vampire Timeless Classics
Movie director Robert Eggers' modern adaptation of the chilling vampire tale "Nosferatu," featuring Bill Skarsgård, is garnering rave reviews in the box office. However, this isn't the sole adaptation of the 1922 horror classic.
Set in 1838, the movie follows real-estate agent Thomas Hutter, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, dispatched to Transylvania to help Orlok sell his castle and find a new estate. But things take a chilling turn when Thomas realizes Orlok is a vampire with an obsession for his wife, Ellen.
As informed by Deadline, the remake, featuring Skarsgård as the vampire Count Orlok, has grossed approximately $69.4 million domestically since its theater premiere on Christmas Day.
The movie boasts an R rating and features an ensemble cast including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Simon McBurney, Ralph Ineson, and Willem Dafoe.
Before or after watching the remake, viewers can delve into previous adaptations of the classic vampire story via streaming services. A recommended choice is the original 1922 version directed by F.W. Murnau, featuring Max Shreck as Count Orlok, also known as "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror."
This classic is available on free streaming platforms like the Roku Channel and Tubi, although with advertisements. To avoid interruptions, viewers can opt for subscription services such as Screambox and Philo.
Amazon's Prime Video subscription service provides the colorized version of 1922's "Nosferatu," while the original black and white version can be rented digitally on Prime Video.
1979 Marked The First 'Nosferatu' Remake
Notably, Robert Eggers is not the first filmmaker to remake "Nosferatu." In 1979, Werner Herzog introduced his version of the story—dubbed "Nosferatu the Vampyre"—with some revised character names.
Deviating from the common titles such as Thomas Hutter, Count Orlok, and Ellen Hutter, the remake utilized the names of Bram Stoker’s characters—Count Dracula (Klaus Kinski), Jonathan Harker (Bruno Ganz), and Lucy Harker (Isabelle Adjani)—since the original screenplay credit for the original "Nosferatu" included Stoker's novel.
Bear in mind that Herzog's film stylistically mirrors the original "Nosferatu," particularly when it comes to Kinski's bald and pale Dracula, a stark contrast to the traditionally dark-haired character portrayals.
Herzog's adaptation of "Nosferatu the Vampyre" is part of Prime Video and Peacock's subscription packages, and can also be streamed with ads on the Roku Channel.
In addition to directing the remake, Eggers penned the latest adaptation of the 1922 film, which the credits acknowledge is “inspired by the screenplay Nosferatu by Henrik Galeen and the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.” The R-rated adaptation is currently playing in theaters.
- Bill Skarsgård also played the role of Count Orlok in the 2024 remake of 'Nosferatu', following in the footsteps of Max Shreck and Klaus Kinski who portrayed the character in the 1922 and 1979 versions respectively.
- For those interested in streaming the 1979 adaptation of 'Nosferatu', titled 'Nosferatu the Vampyre', it's available as part of Prime Video and Peacock's subscription packages, or with ads on the Roku Channel.
- If you're wondering where you can stream the original 1922 'Nosferatu' movie, it's available on free streaming platforms such as the Roku Channel and Tubi, but with advertisements. Or, you can rent the colorized version on Amazon's Prime Video.
- Werner Herzog, the director of the 1979 'Nosferatu' remake, chose to use the names of Bram Stoker’s characters in his adaptation to honor the original screenplay credit of Stoker's novel.
- The 'Nosferatu' movie, including the 2024 remake starring Bill Skarsgård, is generating buzz on the box office, while the 1922 classic continues to be a popular choice among horror fans looking to delve into previous adaptations of the chilling vampire tale.
