Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- brooding
- visceral
- propulsive
- late night action marathon
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that the film’s fierce, plentiful, stylish action and striking visual design outweighed its thin and sometimes underdeveloped plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Blade’s half-vampire, half-human nature defines his abilities, vulnerabilities, and outsider position.
The film presents vampire society through dark urban spaces, exaggerated shadows, extreme angles, and high-contrast action imagery.
Blade’s stated goal is to rid the world of vampire evil, placing his individual crusade against an organized supernatural population.
Blade’s swordplay, close-quarters fighting, and weaponized combat are central to the film’s action identity.
Films like Blade, and why
Underworld
shares stylish vampire mythology, supernatural action, comic book source material, and a relentless monster hunter protagonist
The Crow
shares R-rated comic book action, heightened visual design, martial arts combat, and a brooding heroic lead
From Dusk Till Dawn
shares vampire horror, kinetic genre action, underground supernatural societies, and visceral violence
Constantine
shares stylish neo-noir atmosphere, supernatural threats, and an action-driven hero confronting an occult conspiracy
Movie Details
- Director
- Stephen Norrington
- Release Date
- 1998-08-21
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (6998)
Cast
- Wesley Snipes
- Stephen Dorff
- Kris Kristofferson
- N'Bushe Wright
- Donal Logue
- Udo Kier
- Arly Jover
- Traci Lords
- Kevin Patrick Walls
- Tim Guinee
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Blade about?
- A half-vampire warrior wages a stylish, brutal campaign against an underground vampire society preparing to unleash a supernatural catastrophe.
- What is Blade like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Blade as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Blade violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Blade as graphic.
- What did critics think of Blade?
- Critics broadly agreed that the film’s fierce, plentiful, stylish action and striking visual design outweighed its thin and sometimes underdeveloped plot.
- Which films are like Blade?
- Films with a similar feel include Underworld, The Crow, From Dusk Till Dawn, and Constantine.
- How long is Blade?
- Blade runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch Blade?
- In United States, Blade is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
