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How this ranking weighs the four films
This is a critical ranking, not an objective measure of quality. Historical influence matters, but it is not the same as ease of viewing: a silent film can be essential and still feel less immediate to someone unaccustomed to silent cinema. The ranking also considers how each film shapes the familiar vampire story through its imagery, performances, and point of view. These are distinct interpretations, not four interchangeable versions of one identical film.
1. Nosferatu (1922)
F. W. Murnau’s silent film takes first place because it is both a formidable piece of horror cinema and the foundation against which the later versions can be understood. It was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula; its Count Orlok, played by Max Schreck, is a gaunt, rodent-like figure rather than a straightforward screen version of Stoker’s count. The British Film Institute treats it as one of German expressionist cinema’s great classics.
Why it ranks first
The film’s importance is not just a matter of being first. Its silent-era images and expressionist visual language make dread legible through composition and movement rather than dialogue. Orlok remains a singular screen vampire: less a charming aristocrat than an unsettling presence. That difference gives the story a distinctive character that later filmmakers can echo, resist, or reinterpret.
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#1 Best Overall
Who should watch it
Choose the original if you want to see the source of the Orlok tradition, or if film history is part of the appeal. Its age and silent form ask for a different kind of attention from a modern sound film; viewers looking for the most immediately accessible entry may prefer to begin with the 2024 version and return to this one afterward.
Filmportal.de records the film’s Berlin premiere on 15 March 1922. Restored versions exist, so the presentation, intertitles, and accompanying score may differ between releases.
Rank #2
2. Nosferatu (2024)
Robert Eggers’s film takes second place as the most accessible contemporary entry in this ranking. Its cast includes Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, Adéla Hesová, and Milena Konstantinova. Eggers directs, with Jarin Blaschke also credited on Universal’s film page.
Why it ranks second
The 2024 film is a confident modern interpretation rather than a replacement for Murnau’s original. It gives viewers a current, sound-era route into the material while preserving room for the vampire story’s oppressive atmosphere. Its scale and performances make it an inviting choice for viewers who want a contemporary horror film first; its place below the 1922 film reflects the original’s historical and formal significance, not a claim that modern filmmaking is inherently lesser.
Rank #3
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Which cut to choose
Universal lists the theatrical cut at 2:12:17 and the extended cut at 2:15:45. Those are distributor-listed runtimes for the specified cuts; other listings may round differently or reflect a territory’s convention. Universal’s page lists Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and DVD editions with a February 18, 2025 street date, and says the extended cut and bonus material are available in specified home-video editions. Check the individual format listing, since disc contents differ.
3. Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
Werner Herzog’s 1979 film, starring Klaus Kinski, earns third place as a notable later reimagining between the silent original and the two more recent versions. It is a useful choice for viewers interested in how a filmmaker working in a different period approaches the same vampire figure and story.
Rank #4
Why it ranks third
Its position reflects the strength of the two films above it for this particular ranking: Murnau’s defining historical achievement and Eggers’s more accessible contemporary entry. Herzog’s version has its own identity, but the available documentation here is less complete for detailed comparisons of its production, reception, and release editions. That makes a confident claim that it surpasses either film harder to establish.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.4. Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (2023)
David Lee Fisher’s 2023 film, featuring Doug Jones, is the least familiar of the four entries and the one most likely to be missed by viewers searching for the major Nosferatu films. It belongs in the comparison, but it has less established historical standing than Murnau’s classic and less visibility than the 2024 release.
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Why it ranks fourth
This is the most cautious placement in the list. The available documentation identifies the film and its lead performer but offers less solid support for a deep comparison of its production, reception, or editions. Its lower rank should therefore be read as a recommendation order, not a definitive verdict that it has no value. Viewers curious about adaptations and reinterpretations may find it worthwhile after the better-known films.
Which Nosferatu should you watch first?
- For the most accessible modern starting point: watch Eggers’s 2024 Nosferatu, then compare it with Murnau’s silent original.
- For film history: begin with Murnau’s 1922 film, then watch the later versions to see how each returns to the vampire story.
- For a middle-period interpretation: choose Herzog’s 1979 film after either of the top two.
- For the less familiar entry: seek out Fisher’s 2023 film once you have seen the better-known versions.
There is no single best order for every viewer. Starting with 1922 puts the later films in historical context; starting with 2024 lowers the barrier to entry without preventing a rewarding comparison later.
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