Nosferatu (1922)

Kernel Score: 86% · 2,403 ratings · Rated NR

Genres: Horror, Fantasy

Released: 1922-02-16

Runtime: 89 minutes

Is Nosferatu worth watching?

Must-watch. The 1922 silent vampire film that set the template. Count Orlok's shadow and creeping presence still unsettle, and it runs short enough to be an easy way into silent horror.

Watch it if you

  • want to see where vampire cinema began
  • like atmospheric, slow-creep horror
  • enjoy German expressionist visuals

Skip it if you

  • need jump scares and gore
  • won't watch silent films

Best for: Late-night classic horror

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Nosferatu

  • Stream: Prime Video, Fubo, Shudder, FlixFling, Eternal Family, Cultpix
  • Free with ads: JustWatch TV Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, FlixHouse, Darkroom
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-22.

Overview

The mysterious Count Orlok summons a happily married real estate agent to his castle, located up in the Transylvanian mountains, to finalise a terrifying deal.

Nosferatu parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that Nosferatu (1922) is a silent gothic horror classic about a vampire, featuring death and supernatural dread.

  • Violence & scariness: Moderate — Gothic horror imagery involving a vampire, death, and self-sacrifice, though non-graphic by modern standards.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Nosferatu

If you liked Nosferatu, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) — 82%: Werner Herzog's atmospheric remake of this exact story.
  • Faust (1926) — 89%: Murnau's follow-up, another shadowy expressionist fantasy.
  • M (1931) — 90%: Early-sound German classic with menacing shadows and dread.
  • Dracula (1931) — 79%: The Universal vampire classic that followed Nosferatu's lead.
  • The Last Laugh (1924) — 86%: Murnau silent drama with striking visual storytelling.
  • Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) — 88%: Murnau's lyrical silent masterwork with expressive imagery.

Director

F. W. Murnau

Cast

  • Max Schreck as Count Orlok
  • Gustav von Wangenheim as Hutter
  • Greta Schröder as Ellen
  • Georg H. Schnell as Harding
  • Ruth Landshoff as Ruth
  • Gustav Botz as Professor Sievers
  • Alexander Granach as Knock
  • John Gottowt as Professor Bulwer
  • Max Nemetz as A Ship Captain
  • Wolfgang Heinz as Sailor 1

Nosferatu FAQ

Is Nosferatu worth watching?

Must-watch. The 1922 silent vampire film that set the template. Count Orlok's shadow and creeping presence still unsettle, and it runs short enough to be an easy way into silent horror.

Where can I watch Nosferatu?

In the US you can stream Nosferatu on Prime Video, Fubo, Shudder, FlixFling, Eternal Family and Cultpix, watch it free with ads on JustWatch TV Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, FlixHouse and Darkroom and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Nosferatu OK for kids?

Nosferatu is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Nosferatu (1922) is a silent gothic horror classic about a vampire, featuring death and supernatural dread.

What movies are like Nosferatu?

If you liked Nosferatu, try Nosferatu the Vampyre, Faust, M and Dracula.