1992's Dracula Was The Twilight Of Its Day

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Bram Stoker's Dracula

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Twilight. True Blood. Vampire Diaries. Love stories involving vampires are the latest sensation and, yet, Bram Stoker's Dracula did it 18 years ago. Since its release, the film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, has divided fans. On one hand it's the most faithful adaptation of the novel. On the other hand, it added a love story that many felt did not belong. However, could the movie have new life in this era? It has all the requirements. Plus, it's a real horror film which is what the other franchises are lacking.

Bram Stoker's Dracula begins in 1462 during the end of a war between Romania and the Ottoman Empire. Vlad Dracula (implied to be Vlad the Impaler) returns home to discover that his wife, Elisabeta, has committed suicide upon hearing false reports that he was killed in battle. Enraged, he renounces God and is cursed to live his life as a vampire. Fast-forward to 1897 and audiences are treated to the classic Dracula story, but with the addition of a love story centered on Dracula (Gary Oldman) romancing Mina (Winona Ryder) whose the reincarnation of his wife.

Upon its release, the movie performed well at the box office. It opened at #1 with $30.5 million and went on to gross $82.5 million domestically. The worldwide gross was $215.8 million, which adjusted for inflation is over $400 million. That's about the same as the first Twilight installment. Then, it went on to win three Academy Awards. That's something the Twilight series has yet to accomplish.