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IMDbPro

Van Helsing

  • 20042004
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
263K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
980
461
Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing (2004)
Hugh Jackman is best known for Wolverine, but he wasn't the first actor offered the role. He was, however, offered a few OTHER superhero and a super-spy roles later in his career.
Play clip4:16
What Roles Has Hugh Jackman Been Considered For?
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Fantasy
The famed monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula, who is using Dr. Frankenstein's research and a werewolf for nefarious purposes.The famed monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula, who is using Dr. Frankenstein's research and a werewolf for nefarious purposes.The famed monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula, who is using Dr. Frankenstein's research and a werewolf for nefarious purposes.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
263K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
980
461
  • Director
    • Stephen Sommers
  • Writer
    • Stephen Sommers
  • Stars
    • Hugh Jackman
    • Kate Beckinsale
    • Richard Roxburgh
Top credits
  • Director
    • Stephen Sommers
  • Writer
    • Stephen Sommers
  • Stars
    • Hugh Jackman
    • Kate Beckinsale
    • Richard Roxburgh
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 132Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 21 nominations

    Videos1

    What Roles Has Hugh Jackman Been Considered For?
    Clip 4:16
    What Roles Has Hugh Jackman Been Considered For?

    Photos313

    Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing (2004)
    David Wenham in Van Helsing (2004)
    Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing (2004)
    Will Kemp in Van Helsing (2004)
    Van Helsing (2004)
    Kate Beckinsale in Van Helsing (2004)
    Kate Beckinsale in Van Helsing (2004)
    Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing (2004)
    Stephen Sommers in Van Helsing (2004)
    Bob Ducsay and Stephen Sommers in Van Helsing (2004)
    Kate Beckinsale and Richard Roxburgh in Van Helsing (2004)
    Kate Beckinsale and Will Kemp in Van Helsing (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hugh Jackman
    Hugh Jackman
    • Van Helsingas Van Helsing
    Kate Beckinsale
    Kate Beckinsale
    • Anna Valeriousas Anna Valerious
    Richard Roxburgh
    Richard Roxburgh
    • Count Vladislaus Draculaas Count Vladislaus Dracula
    Shuler Hensley
    Shuler Hensley
    • Frankenstein's Monsteras Frankenstein's Monster
    David Wenham
    David Wenham
    • Carlas Carl
    Elena Anaya
    Elena Anaya
    • Aleeraas Aleera
    Will Kemp
    Will Kemp
    • Velkanas Velkan
    Kevin J. O'Connor
    Kevin J. O'Connor
    • Igoras Igor
    Alun Armstrong
    Alun Armstrong
    • Cardinal Jinetteas Cardinal Jinette
    Silvia Colloca
    Silvia Colloca
    • Veronaas Verona
    Josie Maran
    Josie Maran
    • Marishkaas Marishka
    Tom Fisher
    Tom Fisher
    • Top Hatas Top Hat
    Samuel West
    Samuel West
    • Dr. Victor Frankensteinas Dr. Victor Frankenstein
    Robbie Coltrane
    Robbie Coltrane
    • Mr. Hydeas Mr. Hyde
    Stephen Fisher
    Stephen Fisher
    • Dr. Jekyllas Dr. Jekyll
    • (as Stephen H. Fisher)
    Dana Morávková
    Dana Morávková
    • Barmaidas Barmaid
    Zuzana Durdinová
    • Opera Singeras Opera Singer
    Jaroslav Vízner
    Jaroslav Vízner
    • Gendarmeas Gendarme
    • Director
      • Stephen Sommers
    • Writer
      • Stephen Sommers
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Stephen Sommers deliberately chose to avoid the style of transformations from other werewolf films, where the character would usually grow hair as part of the change. Instead the decision was made to have the character rip his skin off to reveal the werewolf form underneath, going with the idea that the beast "comes from within".
    • Goofs
      In the opening scene in Paris, when Van Helsing picks up the wanted poster,the Eiffel tower is seen in the background only half built, however, when on the roof of the Cathedral, while Hyde is holding Van Helsing up, the tower can be seen fully built behind them.
    • Quotes

      Aleera: Anna, my love. It is your blood that shall keep me beautiful. What do you think of that?

      [laughs triumphantly, then screams as Anna catches a silver stake and impales her through the chest]

      Anna Valerious: I think if you're going to kill somebody, kill them! Don't stand around talking about it!

    • Crazy credits
      The Universal logo turns black and white, then catches on fire, fading into a torch carried by an angry villager.
    • Connections
      Featured in Van Helsing: The Man and the Monsters (2004)

    User reviews1.4K

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Silly, lacking in plot, but good fun
    It's big, it's dumb, it's cheesy as hell, but I found it to be enormous fun. This was made to be a roller-coaster ride and by that token it should be judged.

    Actually after the opening pastiche of the Boris Karloff Frankenstein movie, I thought this had the potential to be a 5 star movie. It was very atmospheric and had me hooked. However the film never really captures any sense of magic from there onwards.

    The main body of the movie does go on a bit, and it could have done with some attempt to create engaging characters. Plot and story are not always necessary for fun movies, but you do need characters with a level of interest to capture the mind, otherwise you tend to find yourself not giving a s**t. I felt Van Helsing did verge into this territory, but for the most part it's so fast paced this doesn't matter so much. The points where it does try to introduce plot are the moments where it really does fail. In fact there is too much going on that is never really explained, and I think it would've been better not to have bothered at all, than use the nonsense Sommers resorts too. For example the attempts at backstory to Van Helsing. Better to have one of those interlude chatty scenes you have in the Indy films, where it establishes he's a dude, rather than the poor attempts at angst and pathos. Really bad was the moment he gets upset over Frankie's Monster. What the hell was that all about?

    Hmm maybe I took that a bit seriously, but the movie knows what it is, why try be something else. I also thought that that masked ball sequence was a natural conclusion, the eventual finale at the castle felt like an add on, which lacked any real punch.

    Far better was Van's introduction to Transylvania, with the benefit of some neat angles and panning shots, the crossbow battle with the brides was cool. The coach chase was exciting without being exhilarating, but kept the flow going, so it's a shame some more bad plot gets thrown in, especially when it was involving the underwritten Velkan. That's the film's main problem - overkill of characters, with little space given to any of them to evolve.

    Finally a word on the CGI. I thought it was very good, especially the morphs that were used. The very first moment Drac starts to turn made me jump a touch, and when the vampires turns into their fanged, contorted state it looked pretty scary to me. The wolfman transformation, with the ripping flesh looked genuinely painful. At this point I was thinking the CGI was genuinely stunning. I'd have preferred the finale if it had just been Van vs Drac though, having CGI characters fight felt uninvolving, and Drac in snarly state was far better than the beast he turns into.

    This is a movie to genuinely switch of the brain and enjoy. At times there's too much going on and perhaps a bit too much swinging about for my liking, but it's an adrenaline filled ride. I'd probably give it 7 out of 10.
    helpful•178
    69
    • Axel-9
    • Nov 21, 2004

    FAQ4

    • Why didn't Van Helsing kill Frankenstein's Monster?
    • What happened to Anna?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 7, 2004 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Czech Republic
    • Official site
      • Van Helsing Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Van Helsing: Cazador de monstruos
    • Filming locations
      • Prague, Czech Republic
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • The Sommers Company
      • Stillking Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $160,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $120,177,084
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $51,748,040
      • May 9, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $300,157,638
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 11 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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