Van Helsing

"The one name they all fear."

2004 2h 12m EN

😐

6.4

MID

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

6.1

IMDB

★6.4TMDB · 6,893●35Metacritic★6.1IMDB · 305,501

HorrorAdventureAction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Famed monster slayer Gabriel Van Helsing is dispatched to Transylvania to assist the last of the Valerious bloodline in defeating Count Dracula. Anna Valerious reveals that Dracula has formed an unholy alliance with Dr. Frankenstein's monster and is hell-bent on exacting a centuries-old curse on her family.

“The one name they all fear.”

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Cast

Hugh Jackman
Van Helsing
Kate Beckinsale
Anna Valerious
Richard Roxburgh
Count Vladislaus Dracula
Josie Maran
Marishka
David Wenham
Carl
Shuler Hensley
Frankenstein's Monster
Elena Anaya
Aleera
Kevin J. O'Connor
Igor

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Stephen Sommers
Writers: Stephen Sommers, Jerry Bingham
Languages: English, Latin
Countries: Czech Republic, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

$160M budget — tentpole studio territory.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 22 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Latin.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Czech Republic, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

265+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Stephen Sommers, shot by Allen Daviau. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alan Silvestri. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Bob Ducsay shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Stephen Sommers directs. Allen Daviau behind the camera. Alan Silvestri scores. Bob Ducsay cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in Czech Republic, United States of America. Dialogue in English, Latin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1$160M budget — tentpole studio territory.
2Released 22 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Latin.
4International production across 2 countries: Czech Republic, United States of America.
5265+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
6Directed by Stephen Sommers, shot by Allen Daviau. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Alan Silvestri. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Bob Ducsay shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale and Richard Roxburgh carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "The one name they all fear.".
11IMDB entry: tt0338526 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Classified under 15 themes, including "transylvania", "vampire", "vatican (holy see)", "bite".
13Released under 12 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Allen Daviau
Original score: Alan Silvestri
Editing: Bob Ducsay
Production design: Allan Cameron
Costume design: Gabriella Pescucci
Makeup / hair: Nena Smarz
VFX supervisor: Scott Squires
Sound: Harry Cohen
Stunt coordinator: R.A. Rondell
Runtime: 132 min · 2h 12m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $160,000,000
Box office: $300,257,475
Return: 188% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Van Helsing (2004)
Metacritic: 35/100
IMDB rating: 6.1/10 · 305,501 votes
MPAA: PG-13

Awards

3 wins & 21 nominations total

TV Krant Filmposter Award

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Stephen Sommers

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2018-05-16
★ 6/10
Big Dumb Blockbuster Monster Fun Although writer/director Stephen Sommers had an unexpected hit with 1999's "The Mummy," he went overKILL with the 2001 sequel "The Mummy Returns," a prime example of modern blockbuster dreck that's full of explosions and "exciting" things going on, but somehow is strangely boring. That's the problem with 2004's "Van Helsing," although not as bad. THE PLOT: In 1887 Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) teams up with Anna (Kate Beckinsale) in Transylvania to fight Dracula, his three lovely but vicious brides, the Frankenstein monster, werewolves, vampire babies, etc. It won't take long for the viewer to perceive that "Van Helsing" shouldn't be taken too seriously. It's a partial parody/homage of the classic Universal monster movies and part serious, just barely. Imagine "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992) with the over-the-top thrills of Indiana Jones and the flair of classic monster parodies like “The Vampire Happening” (1971) or "Young Frankenstein” (1974) and you'd have a good approximation. The film looks good, but there's too much CGI and some of the monsters look really cartoony, like Mr. Hyde and the werewolves. Others look quite good, like the flying vampire brides and Frankenstein's monster. As was the case with "The Mummy Returns" the film is strangely tedious despite all the manic happenings. Thankfully, there are worthy hints of depth, e.g. the Frankenstein monster and Anna. I wish there was more. Speaking of Anna, Kate Beckinsale is definitely one of the highlights here as she looks stunning throughout in an amazing form-fitting costume and thigh-high boots seemingly appropriate for the late 1800s (speaking as someone who’s not even a Beckinsale fan). Josie Maran and Elena Anaya are also striking as two of Dracula's wives, Marishka and Aleera. Needless to say, excellent job on the female front. On the other side of the spectrum, Jackman is a great, masculine leading man, perfect for the role. Richard Roxburgh (Dracula), David Wenham (Carl), Kevin J. O'Connor (Igor) and Shuler Hensley (Frankenstein’s monster) are all entertaining or effective. At the end of the day, though, "Van Helsing" barely rises above the limitations of what it is: a big, dumb modern blockbuster with all its over-the-top trappings. Considering the $160 million thrown into it, it shoulda/coulda been better. The story needed time to breathe and less constant mania. The movie’s also over-long at 2 hours and 11 minutes. Still, it's better than "The Mummy Returns" and there's enough here to make it worthwhile, if you're in the mood for this type of fare. THE FILM WAS SHOT in the Czech Republic, Rome and Paris with studio work done in Southern Cal and Orlando, Florida. GRADE: B-/C+
John Chard2019-11-09
★ 5/10
Absinthe Actioner! Van Helsing is written and directed by Stephen Sommers. It stars Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham, Shuler Hensley, Elena Anaya, Will Kemp, Kevin J. O'Connor and Alun Armstrong. Music is by Alan Silvestri and cinematography by Allen Daviau. Famed monster hunter Van Helsing (Jackman) is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula's (Roxburgh) fiendish plan involving the Frankenstein Monster and the Wolf Man. Well it was universally savaged by the pro critics and is considered a flop. Yet whilst understanding those things, it does for a reason hold above average ratings on the big internet movie sites. It did find a market (and continues to do so), it's like one big long MTV video, a sort of chaotic monster fun frolic in rock opera style. It's effects laden, which is no great thing since they are shoddy, and the dialogue is often as cringe worthy as some of the accents are. Yet it's still a thrilling ride, a strap yourself in and run with it job, to be in the company of sexy lead actors in Gothic garb and devilish period surrounds. Loud and boisterous for sure, and tacky at times, but exhilarating all the same for those after some pure escapist carnage. 5/10
The Movie Mob2022-08-27
★ 7/10
Van Helsing doesn't deserve its early grave and should be resurrected for more fun adventures. Why do people love to hate such an enjoyable movie? Van Helsing falls much more in the adventure genre than horror but still has a little of the edge of a scary movie. Stephen Sommers' influence can be felt throughout with a lot of the same charm that made The Mummy (1999) so great. Van Helsing showcases many of the Universal classic monsters while building a shared universe that should have been explored more than once. With big names like Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale, blockbuster effects, goofy fun moments, and all the adventure one could hope for. Van Helsing deserves way more love and a lot less disdain. Sure it isn't a perfect movie, but it was a much better attempt at a shared Monsterverse than Tom Cruise's The Mummy (2017) and was entitled to more.