Dracula (2025 French film)
A romantic fantasy reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Screenshot from "Internet Archive" of the trailer for Dracula (1931) · Public domain
Dracula (released as *Dracula: A Love Tale* in some countries) is a 2025 English-language French Gothic romantic fantasy film. Luc Besson wrote and directed it, adapting Bram Stoker's 1897 novel. The cast includes Caleb Landry Jones as Dracula, with Christoph Waltz and Zoë Bleu. SND released it in French theaters on 7 January 2025, and it had a wide North American release on 10 January 2025. Critics gave it mixed reviews, while audiences were more positive. The film has earned approximately $12 million worldwide against a $52 million budget, and received financial support from the CNC.
The story begins in 1462 in Eastern Europe, where Prince Vlad of Wallachia lives happily with his wife, Princess Elisabeta. Called to fight the Ottoman Army, Vlad asks his priest to spare Elisabeta if he fights in God's name. While he is away, Elisabeta is ambushed while riding; Vlad arrives too late to save her. Grief-stricken, Vlad renounces God, declaring his life no longer belongs to Him until his wife is returned. This act transforms him into Dracula. Over the next four centuries, Dracula searches for Elisabeta's reincarnation, creating vampiric agents and developing a perfume to lure women. In 1889, while negotiating a real estate deal with solicitor Jonathan Harker, Dracula realizes Harker's fiancée Mina is the reincarnation. He imprisons Harker in his castle, revitalizes himself with nuns' blood, and travels to Paris for the centenary of the French Revolution. With help from a vampiric follower named Maria, Dracula finds Mina and rekindles their love by playing a music box tune that awakens her memories. Mina asks to become a vampire to spend eternity with him, and they return to his castle. Harker escapes and enlists an occultist priest and associates, who besiege the castle. The priest urges Dracula to repent to save Mina's soul; Dracula allows himself to be staked, disintegrating in Mina's arms as he declares his eternal love.
The cast includes Caleb Landry Jones as Dracula, Christoph Waltz as the priest, Zoë Bleu as Elisabeta and Mina Murray, Guillaume de Tonquédec as Dumont, Matilda De Angelis as Maria, Ewens Abid as Jonathan Harker, Bertrand-Xavier Corbi as Captain Targol, Raphael Luce as Simon, David Shields as Henry Spencer, and Thalia Besson as Isabelle de Touraine.
Production was announced in February 2024, with Besson directing and writing.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Luc Besson
- Based On
- Dracula · Bram Stoker
- Producer
- Virginie Besson-Silla
- Starring
- Caleb Landry Jones / Christoph Waltz / Zoë Bleu / Matilda De Angelis / Ewens Abid / David Shields / Guillaume de Tonquédec
- Cinematography
- Colin Wandersman
- Editing
- Lucas "Kub" Fabiani
- Music
- Danny Elfman
- Studio
- Luc Besson Production / EuropaCorp / TF1 Films Production / Société nouvelle de distribution · fr
- Distributor
- SND
- Released
- 30 July 2025 · France
- Runtime
- 129 minutes
- Country
- France
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film opens in 1462 in Eastern Europe, where Prince Vlad of Wallachia lives happily with his wife Elisabeta. Called to fight the Ottoman Army, Vlad asks his priest to spare his wife, as he cannot go on without her. While he is away, Elisabeta is ambushed and dies; Vlad arrives too late. Overcome with grief, he renounces God, stating that his life no longer belongs to Him, and this act turns him into Dracula. Over the next four centuries, Dracula searches for the reincarnation of his wife, creating vampiric agents and developing a perfume to lure women. In 1889, while negotiating a real estate deal with solicitor Jonathan Harker, Dracula discovers that Harker's fiancée Mina is the reincarnation he seeks.
Reader's Guide
Luc Besson's Dracula is notable for its deliberate departure from the horror tradition, instead framing the story as a tragic romance. Besson stated he was not a fan of horror films or of Dracula, but was inspired to work again with actor Caleb Landry Jones after their collaboration on Dogman. He claimed that the love story was present in Bram Stoker's original novel but had been overlooked due to the era's focus on fantasy and sanguine elements. The film received mixed critical reviews but positive audience reviews, and grossed $42.4 million worldwide against a $52 million budget. Its visual style drew from Flemish painting and chiaroscuro, and the production involved extensive practical sets, 550 costumes, and nearly 200 prosthetic makeup pieces. The film's score was composed by Danny Elfman, who created three main themes representing love, a dance sequence, and Dracula's warrior nature.
Did You Know?
- The film's opening shot features a brass music box that is a significant plot element.
- Dracula's armor was crafted by artisan Terry English, who previously worked with Besson on The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.
- The make-up for Caleb Landry Jones as a 400-year-old Dracula required six to seven hours of preparation.
- The film received financial support from the CNC.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made the 2025 French Dracula film?
Luc Besson both wrote and directed the project, reimagining Bram Stoker's 1897 novel as a Gothic romantic fantasy. The English-language production also received financial backing from France's CNC funding body.
Who plays Dracula in the 2025 French film?
Caleb Landry Jones takes on the title role, joined by Christoph Waltz and Zoë Bleu in supporting parts. The ensemble anchors a romance-driven reinterpretation of the classic vampire story.
When did Dracula (2025 French film) hit theaters?
SND brought the film to French screens on 7 January 2025, followed by a wide North American rollout on 10 January 2025. In certain markets it carries the alternate title 'Dracula: A Love Tale.'
How did the 2025 Dracula film perform at the box office?
The picture pulled in roughly $12 million globally against a $52 million production budget, making it a commercial underperformer. Critics offered a mixed reception, though general audiences tended to rate it more favorably.
Why does the 2025 French Dracula matter to fans of Gothic fantasy?
It represents Luc Besson's personal reinterpretation of Stoker's source material, framing the vampire legend through a romance-driven lens. Its production also underscores the continuing appeal of classic Gothic mythology in contemporary European cinema.
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