--- title: "Dracula: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/dracula-2025/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/dracula-2025" critics_score: 54 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Dracula (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 54 from 12 reviews: 1 positive, 9 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics land in the middle on Luc Besson’s Dracula, finding it silly, knowing it is silly, and largely forgiving it for that. The praise clusters on Caleb Landry Jones, whose committed, faintly camp performance as the lovesick count is the one thing nearly every review singles out, with Christoph Waltz’s priest a close second. Several also admire the costumes and set design, and a late battle sequence draws approval from more than one quarter. The reservations are about the script and the tone. Reviewers agree Besson has chosen romance over horror, and the mixed majority are split on whether that is charming or stodgy; complaints recur about repeated flashbacks, thin supporting characters and plot holes. The spread is wide for a film so few love outright: Variety and Slant call it dull and inert respectively, while Radio Times stands alone in finding the leads weak, against the general view that Jones is the reason to watch. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jordan Mintzer Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2026. The critic describes the film as a kitschy, surprisingly tame bodice-ripper that emphasizes romance over gore in its century-spanning story. Caleb Landry Jones earns praise for his earnest, committed performance as the lovestruck vampire amid the film's silly and ludicrous elements. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/dracula-a-love-tale-review-luc-besson-caleb-landry-jones-1236490638/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2025. The critic finds Besson’s romantic reimagining ridiculous but watchable overall, with ambition and panache that make it preferable to more solemn recent vampire films. The perfectly cast performances of Caleb Landry Jones as Dracula and Christoph Waltz as the priest are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/25/dracula-a-love-tale-review-luc-besson-caleb-landry-jones-christoph-waltz) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2026. Besson’s highly stylized ‘Dracula’ is over the top and CGI-heavy, taking the side of the monster as a lovesick romantic martyr. The critic praises the actors matching the campy operatic tone but notes script distractions and multiple flashbacks. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-02-06/dracula-review-caleb-landry-jones-christoph-waltz-luc-besson-zoe-bleu) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 3/5. The critic finds the adaptation visually stunning with gorgeous costumes and set design, and praises a bravura battle scene, but criticizes the stodgy script, emphasis on romance over horror, and weak performances from the leads. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-bm920f/dracula-a-love-tale/) ## Time Out — Eurico de Barros Rating 3/5. 2 September 2025. The critic notes Besson's focus on Dracula as a tragic romantic anti-hero in 19th-century Paris, highlighting good ideas like the final army attack alongside weaker ones like the perfume search, and a comic-book ambiance, with Waltz as a priest version of Van Helsing and an original ending. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/pt/filmes/dracula-uma-historia-de-amor-2025) ## IndieWire — Alison Foreman Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2026. The review highlights Caleb Landry Jones having fun in this mixed-bag Gothic adaptation by the director of The Fifth Element, with Christoph Waltz also starring in the take on the 1897 horror novel. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/dracula-review-caleb-landry-jones-christoph-waltz-1235178015/) ## The New York Times — Chris Azzopardi Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2026. Luc Besson’s extravagantly silly twist on the timeless monster is deliciously operatic but ultimately a letdown. The critic singles out the campy scenes of Dracula narrating his signature fragrance like a perfume commercial. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/movies/dracula-review-jones-waltz.html) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 7 February 2026. Luc Besson’s take is a wan, derivative potboiler that fails to add much new to the vampire legend. The critic singles out Caleb Landry Jones’ stylish, fey performance as the main point of interest amid otherwise dull romance and schlock. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/dracula-review-caleb-landry-jones-luc-besson-1236654534/) ## Slant Magazine Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2026. Besson's adaptation is called frustratingly inert, leaning into tragic romance but failing to enliven the proceedings despite Christoph Waltz's efforts; the only notable addition is a visual departure from genre norms. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/dracula-review-luc-besson-caleb-landry-jones/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 2025. The critic views Besson's Dracula as a visually sumptuous Gothic romance that prioritizes aesthetics, music, and central chemistry over horror or narrative logic. She singles out the lead performance for expanding into conventional territory rather than offering something more distinctive. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/dracula-2025-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Collider — Aidan Kelley Rating 6/10. 4 February 2026. The critic praises Caleb Landry Jones's sympathetic and charming portrayal of Dracula as the film's highlight, making viewers root for the character despite flaws. They complain about underdeveloped supporting characters, plot holes, and inconsistencies in the story. [Read the review](https://collider.com/dracula-2026-movie-review-caleb-landry-jones-vampire-horror-luc-besson-christoph-waltz/) ## Polygon — Jesse Hassenger Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2026. The critic views the film as a silly, sincere Gothic romance that embraces dumb fun over elevation, highlighting its ridiculous yet enjoyable take on the monster love story and Jones's performance. They single out the daft, adolescent vibe and lack of coherent thematic depth as both complaint and charm. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/luc-besson-dracula-review-caleb-landry-jones/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/dracula-2025.md