How Dracula became a red-hot lover

Count Dracula was originally a rank-breathed predator. His transformation into a tragic romantic mirrors a century of shifting attitudes about sex, gender and desire.

By: Stanley Stepanic, University of Virginia, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 20, 2026

Words: 1,179

Last Updated: 1 day, 11 hours ago

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By Stanley Stepanic, University of Virginia

The Lord of Vampires. The King of the Undead. The Ultimate Lover. All refer to the immortal Count Dracula, who originally appeared in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel.

Yet the character’s fame has sprung more from his 200-plus cinematic resurrections, beginning with “Dracula’s Death” in 1921 and, most recently, in Luc Besson’s “Dracula,” which premiered in the U.S. in February 2026.

Besson’s rendition has received particular attention for its …

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