In 1922, F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu introduced audiences to Count Orlok, a vampire whose eerie appearance and unsettling demeanor have become iconic in horror cinema. However, this silent film's journey to classic status was fraught with legal turmoil, primarily due to its unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Prana Film, the studio behind Nosferatu, sought to capitalize on the growing interest in horror by adapting Stoker's 1897 novel. Unable to secure the rights from Stoker's widow, Florence Balcombe Stoker, the filmmakers proceeded without permission, making several alterations to distance their work from the source material. “We have found nothing to say she (Florence) was ever approached and no license fee was dangled in front of her,” her great-grandnephew, Dacre Stoker, told the Irish Times.
Count Dracula became Count Orlok, Jonathan Harker was renamed Thomas Hutter, and the setting shifted from England to Germany. Despite these changes, the film's narrative closely mirrored that of Dracula.
Florence Stoker's Legal Pursuit
Upon discovering the unauthorized adaptation, Florence Stoker took legal action against Prana Film for copyright infringement. In 1925, a German court ruled in her favor, ordering all copies of Nosferatu to be destroyed. Prana Film, facing financial ruin, declared bankruptcy, further complicating the enforcement of the court's decision. While many copies were indeed destroyed, some prints survived, allowing the film to endure and gain recognition as a seminal work in horror cinema.
Universal Pictures produced its own Dracula movie, starring Bela Lugosi, in 1931 and the studio paid Stoker $20,000 for the rights - about $320,000 in today’s dollars.
Despite its tumultuous beginnings, the 1922 Nosferatu has had a lasting impact on the portrayal of vampires in media. Its survival is a testament to the film's significance and the resilience of art in the face of legal and cultural challenges. Today, Nosferatu is celebrated for its atmospheric storytelling and pioneering cinematic techniques, solidifying its place in film history.
This legal battle underscores the complexities of intellectual property rights in the arts and highlights how Nosferatu managed to transcend its controversial origins to become a cornerstone of the horror genre.
How Dracula Shaped the Horror Genre Forever
Bram Stoker’s Dracula, published in 1897, didn’t just give us one of literature’s greatest villains—it created a blueprint for modern horror. The novel introduced many elements that are now vampire tropes: the aristocratic predator, the clash of old-world superstition and modern science, and the eternal battle between good and evil.
Since 1922 Nosferatu, Dracula has been reimagined countless times, each version reflecting its era’s fears and styles. Here are some of the most important Dracula adaptations that defined horror history:
1. Dracula (1931) – The Birth of a Legend
Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of Count Dracula in Tod Browning’s 1931 film became the definitive image of the vampire. With his hypnotic stare, theatrical presence, and thick accent, Lugosi turned Dracula into a pop culture icon.
2. Hammer Horror’s Dracula (1958) – Gothic Terror at Its Best
Christopher Lee’s Dracula, introduced in Hammer Films’ Horror of Dracula, was more physically menacing and seductive than Lugosi’s. This version leaned into blood, violence, and gothic horror, setting a new standard for vampire films.
3. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) – A Romantic, Tragic Monster
Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula gave the character new depth, blending horror with gothic romance. Gary Oldman’s Dracula was terrifying yet tragic, reinforcing the idea of the vampire as both predator and victim.
4. Nosferatu (2025) – A New Take on a Classic Nightmare
Over a century after the original Nosferatu, Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) released a new adaptation in 2025. Starring Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok, the film brings back the haunting, shadowy horror of the silent original while reimagining it for a modern audience. I liked it and I liked to hear Eggers talking about the process of giving birth to this film, quite inspiring.
Which Dracula adaptation is your favorite? What do you think about the 2025 Nosferatu?