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Nosferatu the Vampyre

Nosferatu the Vampyre

It is fear and fun. It is a scream of horror and a cry of delight. It is Nosferatu, the Vampyre.

197996 minPGMidcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Director
Werner Herzog
Starring
Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz, Roland Topor

A real estate agent leaves behind his beautiful wife to go to Transylvania to visit the mysterious Count Dracula and formalize the purchase of a property in Wismar.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Nosferatu the Vampyre?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Nosferatu the Vampyre streaming on Cineverse via Prime Video, Fandor via Prime Video, Prime Video, Shout! TV via Prime Video, The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Nosferatu the Vampyre?

Nosferatu the Vampyre earns 7 badges, led by Top 10% of films and Atmospheric.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Nosferatu the Vampyre worth watching?

Nosferatu the Vampyre's Midcredits score is the 90th percentile of all films, from 217K ratings across 6 sources. 78% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

90th percentile

Better received than 90% of films

92nd percentile among Drama91st percentile among 1970s
Acclaim (how much people like it)89th
Approval (how many liked it)88th

74 /100

89th percentile of all films

91st percentile among Drama91st percentile among 1970s

Critics 79 · Audience 74

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.4 — solid but not unanimous.

78% liked it

88th percentile of all films

90th percentile among Drama90th percentile among 1970s
78% rated it 7–1022% rated it 1–6

Critics 93% · Audience 83%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 5 wins / 7 noms overall

95th percentile

217K ratings across platforms

96th percentile among Drama98th percentile among 1970s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$3.8K

6th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

This is a slow, atmospheric, visually-driven meditation on pestilence and the melancholy of the undead, not a conventional horror movie.

Fans praised

  • hypnotic, dreamlike atmosphere and haunting visuals
  • Kinski's tragic, lonely, yet terrifying Count Dracula
  • transcendent plague-set pieces (town square banquet, ship arrival)

Detractors panned

  • lugubrious, self-indulgent pacing that kills all tension
  • wooden, amateurish acting and drab, TV-movie production values
  • muddled, unfocused script with a risible, nonsensical ending

What stands out

AtmosphereDivisive90

oppressively bleak, dreamlike, plague-soaked world

CinematographyDivisive85

muted, painterly color palette; striking use of shadow and light

Sound and musicDivisive80

hypnotic, eerie Popol Vuh score and Wagner excerpts

ActingDivisive75

Kinski's commanding, tragic presence vs. stiff, monotone supporting cast

Effects and spectacleDivisive70

massive, unsettling rat hordes; Kinski's ghastly makeup

CharactersDivisive60

Dracula as a sympathetic, cursed figure; Lucy strengthened, Harker sidelined

Plot and storyDivisive50

minimalist, reverent homage to Murnau, lacking narrative drive

PacingDivisive35

deliberately slow, meditative rhythm that many find tedious

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 9 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 7 points apart
  • Critics vs users 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Nosferatu the Vampyre like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Scary: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want to be scared.

It is intense, takes its time and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings and patience.

What it feels like

Scary.

The answer rests on this: Moods
DreadMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Epic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneHerzog plays the material completely straight, with a mournful sincerity that treats the vampire as a cursed, tragic figure rather than a conventional monster.
The rideThe film sustains a predominantly dread-filled and melancholic atmosphere, with the emotional and Gothic heaviness peaking in the sacrificial ending.
StructureThe story follows a conventional beginning-middle-end structure, with Harker's journey, Dracula's arrival, and Lucy's sacrifice happening in linear order.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetHaunting · 14% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with Lucy's triumphant but tragic sacrifice and Jonathan's eerie transformation, a melancholic victory that lingers.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% (this title) · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

21% of films fit this archetype

with Tragedy underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeJonathan Harker unwittingly infiltrates Dracula's castle, and after Dracula brings plague to Wismar, Lucy must sacrifice herself to destroy him; the film mourns its own monster as much as it fights him.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfMortalitySurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% (this title) · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15% (this title): Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% (this title) · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Survival

Mortality · 2% of filmsSacrifice · 4% of films
Mourns its theme: Grieves its theme, or what has been lost of it.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film confronts the human fear of death and the cursed immortality of the vampire, with Lucy's sacrifice highlighting the cost of life.
StanceThe film mourns the loss and sacrifice demanded by the confrontation with death, treating Lucy's fate with tragic weight.

The world

19th centuryInstitutionalRuralDomesticRealistic
AmbientElectronicSupportive music · original score · Popol Vuh
SettingWismar, Germany, and Dracula's Transylvanian castle
MusicThe score, by Popol Vuh, contributes an eerie, hypnotic atmosphere that complements the film's gothic tone.

Content guide

Is Nosferatu the Vampyre okay for kids?

PG

Nosferatu the Vampyre is rated PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (45/100), sexual content at mild (26/100), language at minimal (3/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (17/100) and frightening material at intense (63/100). Overall it is heavier than 78% of PG-rated films.

Ratings in 11 other countries
  • CanadaPG
  • Germany16
  • FranceTP
  • Brazil16
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-16
  • ItalyVM14
  • Netherlands6
  • Norway15
  • Spain12
  • Sweden15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 30% of all filmsHeavier than 78% of PG-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 72%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 59%
Profanity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 3%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 32%
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-rated film
heavier than 92%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what PG-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Nosferatu the Vampyre have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Nosferatu the Vampyre?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Klaus Kinski
as Graf Dracula (Nosferatu)
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Isabelle Adjani
as Lucy Harker
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Bruno Ganz
as Jonathan Harker
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Roland Topor
as Renfield
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Walter Ladengast
as Dr. Abraham van Helsing
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Dan van Husen
as Warden
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Jan Groth
as Harbormaster
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Carsten Bodinus
as Schrader
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Martje Grohmann
as Mina
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Rijk de Gooyer
as Town official
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Nosferatu the Vampyre?

Movies like Nosferatu the Vampyre include The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023), Nosferatu (1922) and Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films set in a castle, and most are stories about vampires.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Bram Stoker wrote 8 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Nosferatu the Vampyre?

2.7K other films share the rarest tag below, up against: monster. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.