Synopsis

Blade is a half-human, half-vampire warrior who hunts the undead while resisting the bloodlust inherited from his supernatural side. After rescuing hematologist Karen Jenson from an attack, he learns that the ambitious vampire Deacon Frost is pursuing an ancient ritual that could unleash a powerful vampire god. Blade and his mentor Whistler must stop Frost before the human world is overwhelmed.

Factoids & Trivia

• Screenwriter David S. Goyer developed the film from Marvel's Blade character. New Line Cinema reportedly considered Wesley Snipes, Denzel Washington, and Laurence Fishburne as the leading possibilities for the title role, while Goyer favored Snipes.

• Whistler was created for Blade's appearance in Spider-Man: The Animated Series in 1994. The character proved popular enough to be incorporated into Marvel's wider mythology and later became Blade's mentor in the film.

• Donal Logue dislocated his jaw while filming the hospital fight. The injury was connected to an earlier fracture, which made the scene particularly painful and required medical attention.

• Quinn's part was originally smaller, but Logue's comic timing and improvisation led to the character receiving more screen time and additional dialogue.

• Snipes also served as a producer and contributed to the film's martial-arts choreography, helping shape Blade's physical style and combat-heavy presentation.

• Principal photography took place largely in Los Angeles, with additional scenes filmed in Death Valley. The film was released in the United States on August 21, 1998.

• Made for an estimated $45 million, Blade earned more than $131 million worldwide. Its success led to two theatrical sequels and established a long-running film franchise.