Overview
A haunting tale of darkness and sacrifice unfolds as a vampire descends upon a quiet town.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- foreboding
- oppressive
- classic horror night
- silent film viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as an influential silent-era horror masterpiece, celebrated for its eerie gothic atmosphere, expressionist imagery, and Max Schreck's chilling performance as Count Orlok.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film turns castles, staircases, shadows, and landscapes into ominous visual extensions of Count Orlok's threat.
Orlok's journey to Wisbourg is accompanied by coffins, deaths, and a plague explanation that disguises the vampire's arrival.
Ellen learns that a sinless woman can lure the vampire into a fatal delay and faces the cost of protecting the town.
The iconic shadow of Orlok ascending the staircase makes his unseen approach physically and psychologically tangible.
Films like Nosferatu, and why
Dracula
shared gothic horror atmosphere, vampiric menace, expressionist imagery, and themes of infection and desire
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
shared German expressionism, supernatural dread, stark visual design, and psychologically ominous atmosphere
The Phantom Carriage
shared silent-era horror, macabre imagery, predatory supernatural figures, and influential visual style
Bram Stoker's Dracula
shared gothic horror, isolation, erotic menace, and an iconic aristocratic vampire antagonist
Movie Details
- Director
- F. W. Murnau
- Release Date
- 1922-02-16
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (2538)
Cast
- Max Schreck
- Gustav von Wangenheim
- Greta Schröder
- Georg H. Schnell
- Ruth Landshoff
- Gustav Botz
- Alexander Granach
- John Gottowt
- Max Nemetz
- Wolfgang Heinz
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel, Screambox Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Eternal Family, Shudder Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Chilling, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Nosferatu about?
- A haunted estate negotiation draws a young husband into the path of an otherworldly vampire whose plague-ridden arrival threatens an entire town.
- What is Nosferatu like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Nosferatu as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Nosferatu violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Nosferatu as moderate.
- What did critics think of Nosferatu?
- Critics broadly regard it as an influential silent-era horror masterpiece, celebrated for its eerie gothic atmosphere, expressionist imagery, and Max Schreck's chilling performance as Count Orlok.
- Which films are like Nosferatu?
- Films with a similar feel include Dracula, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Phantom Carriage, and Bram Stoker's Dracula.
- How long is Nosferatu?
- Nosferatu runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Nosferatu?
- In United States, Nosferatu streams on Amazon Prime Video, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel, Screambox Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Eternal Family, Shudder Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Chilling, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
