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Fantasy horror film

Renfield (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Renfield (2023) movie poster

Renfield is a 2023 fantasy horror film directed by Chris McKay, starring Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, Nicolas Cage and Ben Schwartz. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $26.5 million worldwide on a $65 million budget. It won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Supporting Actor in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2024. Critics gave it 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

IMDb rating
6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
58%
worldwide gross
$26.5M
award won
1
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Renfield (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
Chris McKay
Genres
Fantasy , Horror , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$65M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Renfield About?

The premise of Renfield without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Nicholas Hoult portrays Renfield, the long-suffering assistant to the flamboyant and demanding Dracula, played by Nicolas Cage. Seeking freedom from his master's monstrous schemes and a chance at a normal life, Renfield struggles to escape a codependent relationship and forge his own path, leading to darkly comedic consequences.

Renfield Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • vampire
  • police officer
  • support group
  • dracula character
  • female cop
  • new orleans louisiana
  • villain
  • super villain
  • swarm of bats
  • stylized violence
  • slow motion scene
  • one against many
+38 more
  • superhuman strength
  • police corruption
  • police
  • massacre
  • urban setting
  • henchman
  • violence
  • gore
  • master servant relationship
  • sister sister relationship
  • urban fantasy
  • count dracula
  • mother son relationship
  • crime family
  • family matriarch
  • vampire horror
  • eating insect
  • insect
  • count dracula character
  • horror comedy
  • splatter horror
  • torture chamber
  • vampire familiar
  • no opening credits
  • inmate
  • gothic
  • love
  • haunting
  • policewoman
  • southern gothic
  • supernatural power
  • evil
  • evil man
  • good versus evil
  • character's point of view camera shot
  • dutch angle
  • freeze frame
  • montage
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Cast & crew

Renfield Cast & Characters

Nicholas Hoult leads the cast as Renfield, with Nicolas Cage as Dracula and Ben Schwartz as Tedward Lobo. Directed by Chris McKay; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Renfield

· 9 more
From the director

More from Chris McKay

More films directed by Chris McKay, best-rated first: The LEGO Batman Movie, The Tomorrow War, Batman Is Just Not That Into You and Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III.

Full filmography
Ratings

Renfield Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Renfield 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 71/100, strongest in rewatch factor (80) and weakest in story & flow (60).

71 /100

Renfield Echo Score Breakdown

Renfield delivers a mixed experience that leans toward entertainment rather than artistic ambition. The film benefits from Nicolas Cage’s flamboyant performance and a handful of visually striking action set‑pieces, while its narrative structure feels uneven and its pacing inconsistent. Supporting cast moments add occasional charm, but the overall cohesion remains elusive. Consequently, the movie offers generally moderate enjoyment with notable flaws.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 72

    Artistic execution in Renfield is uneven, with moments of visual flair offset by technical slip‑ups. The practical gore effects and occasional striking cinematography, such as the POV vampire shot, demonstrate creativity, yet editing choices produce choppy pacing and some over‑processed CGI. Overall, the film’s craft is competent but inconsistent.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    Character work centers on Nicolas Cage’s over‑the‑top Dracula and Nicholas Hoult’s anxious Renfield, both delivering energetic performances that anchor the film. Supporting actors provide occasional humor, yet chemistry between the leads feels thin, and deeper emotional arcs are underdeveloped. Consequently, the character dimension is lively but lacks substantive connection.

  • Story & Flow 60

    Storywise, Renfield attempts a fresh horror‑comedy premise but falls into a formulaic pattern. The plot oscillates between goofy set‑pieces and rushed exposition, resulting in uneven pacing and a vague climax. While the concept offers potential, execution feels hurried and the narrative cohesion remains weak.

  • Sensory Experience 73

    Sensory elements blend vivid gore with a pulpy aesthetic, delivering moments of striking visual texture. The soundtrack complements comedic beats, and sound design accentuates the cartoonish blood splatter. Nevertheless, some auditory cues feel excessive, and the over‑the‑top violence may alienate certain viewers. Overall, the sensory experience is engaging yet polarizing.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    Rewatch potential hinges on the film’s comedic vigor and Cage’s memorable performance, which many viewers cite as a reason to return. The blend of gory set‑pieces and occasional witty dialogue provides occasional fun moments on subsequent viewings. However, narrative thinness and inconsistent tone limit lasting appeal. Consequently, the movie offers moderate replay value, especially for fans of campy horror comedy.

Plot

Renfield Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Renfield from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the early 20th century, a Transylvanian vampire named Count Dracula encounters an English lawyer, R. M. Renfield, who initially hopes to negotiate a land deal but inadvertently becomes Dracula’s familiar. For many years, Renfield has depended on supernatural abilities fueled by his consumption of bugs. However, after a harrowing encounter with some determined vampire hunters who nearly end his life, the duo relocates to New Orleans to recuperate.

Full summary

The whole story of Renfield, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Renfield Box Office & Budget

Renfield grossed $26.5 million worldwide on a $65 million budget, 41% of what it cost. $17.3 million came from the US and Canada and $9.2 million (35%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$26.5M

41% of its budget back

US & Canada
$17.3M
International
$9.2M
Budget
$65M
US & Canada 65% Rest of the world 35%
Awards

Renfield Awards & Nominations

Renfield won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Supporting Actor in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2024.

1 win5 nominations1 ceremony

  • Saturn Awards logo
    Saturn Awards 2024 1 win · 5 nominations
    • Won Best Supporting Actor in a Film – Nicolas Cage
    • Nominated Best Film Production Designer
    • Nominated Best Horror Film
    • Nominated Best Make‑Up in a Film
    • Nominated Best Music in a Film
Videos

Renfield Trailers & Videos

12 videos: 4 trailers, 1 teaser, 3 clips, 3 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 12 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official International Trailer (Redband)
  • Trailer Final Trailer
  • Trailer International Final Trailer (Redband)
  • Teaser Digital & Blu-ray Promo
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Renfield?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What was Renfield's profession before he became Dracula's servant?

Cars

Cars in Renfield

31 cars on screen, including the 2021 Dodge Challenger and the 2007 Cadillac Escalade.

All 31 cars
  • 2021 Dodge Challenger in Renfield 2021 Dodge Challenger Main role
  • 2007 Cadillac Escalade in Renfield 2007 Cadillac Escalade Important role
  • 2015 Cadillac Escalade in Renfield 2015 Cadillac Escalade Important role
  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade in Renfield 2021 Cadillac Escalade Important role
Details

Renfield Also Known As

19 alternative titles, including “Renfield: Dando Sangue pelo Chefe” and “吸血鬼奴才: 雷菲爾”.

Also known as
  • Renfield: Dando Sangue pelo Chefe
  • 吸血鬼奴才: 雷菲爾
  • 린필드
  • 吸血鬼奴才:蕾菲爾
  • เรนฟิลด์
  • Renfield: Tay Sai Của Quỷ
  • Ренфийлд
  • 렌필드
  • レンフィールド
  • Renfield: Asistente de vampiro
  • 雷恩菲尔德
  • Ренфилд
+7 more
  • Ренфілд
  • 吸血鬼特助:雷菲爾
  • רנפילד
  • رنفیلد
  • Renfildas
  • Ρένφιλντ, რენფილდი
  • Asistentul vampirului

Seen Renfield?

FAQ

Renfield FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Renfield, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Renfield?

Renfield runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was Renfield released?

Renfield was released on April 14, 2023.

Who directed Renfield?

Renfield was directed by Chris McKay.

More films by Chris McKay

Who is in the cast of Renfield?

Renfield stars Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, Nicolas Cage as Dracula and Ben Schwartz as Tedward Lobo, among 13 credited actors.

How much did Renfield make at the box office?

Renfield grossed $26.5 million worldwide ($17.3 million domestic, $9.2 million international) on a budget of $65 million.

How is Renfield rated?

Renfield has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.

What awards did Renfield win?

Renfield won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Supporting Actor in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2024.

Does Renfield have a post-credit scene?

No. Renfield has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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