There are numerous humorously endearing aspects in the movie ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall,’ particularly those delivered by Paul Rudd as his stoned surfer guru (“Oh, the weather outside is just weather!”). However, what truly sets this Nicholas Stoller-directed film apart is its impressive earnings. ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ earned $63.17 million in the U.S., which is remarkable given that the movie concluded with an enormous puppet musical about Dracula (with Jason Segel portraying Bela Lugosi). This means it has grossed more than all of Universal’s 21st-century Dracula films.
Although it’s significantly cheaper to produce, the film “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and its recurring Dracula theme captured more public interest than “Dracula Untold,” “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” and “Renfield.” Surprisingly, Universal Pictures has struggled to make the classic Dracula character a box office success in modern times, despite previous hits like “The Mummy Returns” and “The Invisible Man.” One might wonder why Universal’s Dracula is underperforming at the box office unless he transforms into a singing puppet!
Universal’s Dracula’s Box Office Woes
In the 1930s, Tod Browning’s version of “Dracula” significantly revived the popularity of Universal Monsters, even though “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “The Phantom of the Opera,” which came earlier in the studio’s series, were technically the first. Bela Lugosi, famously portraying Bram Stoker’s 1897 literary character, reprised his role in “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,” while other actors like those in “House of Frankenstein” took on the vampire. Throughout the rest of the 20th century, notable portrayals of Dracula from various studios were brought to life by Christopher Lee and Leslie Nielsen. In an attempt to recapture the success of the original in the 21st century, Universal’s “Dracula” failed to impress at the box office.
Attempts to reimagine Dracula as a tormented superhero, portrayed by Luke Evans in “Dracula Untold,” failed to ignite enthusiasm for future Dracula films among audiences. Likewise, transforming the vampire into a terrifying monster in “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” did not result in long lines at the box office. The studio’s 2024 horror/comedy “Abigail,” which is loosely inspired by the Dracula’s Daughter concept, had mediocre box office earnings ($42.8 million against a $28 million budget). Even an impressive performance by Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage as Count Dracula in “Renfield” did not lead to box office success. Universal has made four unsuccessful attempts at reviving this iconic undead character, while its sister art house studio, Focus Features, has surprisingly achieved great success with the Dracula parody “Nosferatu.” Now, Count Orlok is a more attractive prospect for audiences than Dracula himself!
One challenge that many Dracula films face is that the success of vampire movies, outside of the Twilight and Hotel Transylvania series, has been inconsistent. Films like Interview with the Vampire and Bram Stoker’s Dracula were profitable in the 90s; however, Dark Shadows, Morbius, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and even Let Me In (in October 2010) failed to attract audiences despite favorable critiques. Simply adding a vampire character doesn’t automatically guarantee box office success.
It seems that, currently, viewers are showing some reluctance towards watching vampire movies. To succeed at the box office, you need to make your title stand out as unique or exceptional. Unfortunately, Universal’s efforts to rejuvenate Dracula have yet to find the key to breaking this barrier.
Is There Hope For Modern Dracula Movies?
In contemporary terms, it seems challenging to recreate the same terror that viewers felt for Dracula in 1931, given how frequently he’s portrayed comically, such as in movies like Adam Sandler’s Dracula from Hotel Transylvania. This might be why Count Orlok from Nosferatu has been more successful, since his character doesn’t carry the weight of numerous pop culture spoofs and flopping box office hits that may hinder Dracula’s image, much like an albatross around its neck. It could be that Dracula and his lore don’t adapt as effectively to modern horror films.
If there’s any chance for a filmmaker to revive the upcoming Universal Dracula remake, it lies in the success of recent vampire horror films. The success of movies like Nosferatu shows that Twilight and Hotel Transylvania do not have exclusive rights to profitable vampire productions. Since one modern hit has emerged, another could certainly follow suit. It’s worth noting that the entire concept of modern Universal Monsters seemed lifeless after 2017’s The Mummy. However, The Invisible Man (2020) revitalized these productions. Although 21st-century Dracula films are currently struggling, it doesn’t mean they are destined to fail forever. Perhaps now is the time to consider adapting that Dracula puppet musical from Forgetting Sarah Marshall into a full-length feature film?
Dracula Untold is currently streaming on Netflix.
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2025-01-14 00:39