Mental Floss

VAMPIRES

Max Schreck stars in the original ‘Nosferatu’ (1922).

The 1922 German silent film shamelessly plagiarized Bram Stoker’s novel ‘Dracula.’ But if ‘Nosferatu’ had never been made, the vampire genre so embedded in pop culture might never have taken off.

Mark Mancini








Kate Beckinsale stars in 'Underworld' (2003).

The movie, which hit theaters September 19, 2003, was a surprise hit: It was made for $22 million but grossed nearly $96 million, kicking off a film franchise that brought in nearly $550 million. Here’s what you should know.

Erin McCarthy








Christopher Lee in Horror of Dracula (1958).

Filmmakers have been making movies about vampires almost since the inception of motion pictures, and our public fascination with these creatures of the night has not yet dimmed. Here are 25 of the best of them.

Matthew Jackson




Lyceum Theatre, London, 1897, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

For one of literature’s most enduring works, Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' didn’t receive much of a turnout when it was first adapted for the stage: A total of two people showed up.

Kirstin Fawcett




William Ragsdale stars in Fright Night (1985).

Since 1985, Tom Holland’s critically acclaimed directorial debut has been a staple of Halloween movie marathons everywhere. Hard to believe he wrote the script in just three weeks.

Jennifer M Wood