On August 21, Blade, starring Wesley Snipes in the title role, turned 25 years old. And, skeleton CGI aside, it holds up very well. Slick, sleek and violent, Blade has style to spare. From the opening fight scene in the blood-soaked vampire club, to the final look at Blade hunting vampires in Moscow, every shot in the movie is framed like the splash page of a comic book.
The action, filled with slow-motion sparring and shooting, is more Hong Kongese than American, both in the way that it’s filmed and in the way that it’s cut together. Extended shots show off long sequences of punches, counters, and reversals that tell a story on their own, rather than being shoehorned between the exposition.
The movie received mixed reviews from critics at the time of its release, but the fans loved it, which resulted in two sequels. An MCU Phase Six reboot, starring Mahershala Ali as Blade, is currently scheduled to debut on February 14, 2025. Nothing says “happy Valentine’s Day” like vampire mayhem.
Here are 17 Easter eggs and bits of trivia about Blade–a superhero film ahead of its time. Did we miss any good ones? Let us know in the comments. And while you’re at it, take a look at what we previously learned about the movie from producer Robert Engelman and cast member Eric Edwards.
