Blade

Blade is about a man caught between two worlds, born human but infected with vampire traits, who dedicates himself to stopping the predators that stalk the night. Known as the Daywalker, he moves through shadowy cityscapes hunting an underground vampire society while keeping a small circle of allies close, including his weaponsmith and a medical worker who helps him. The film follows his investigations, firefights, and the moral strain of protecting people who fear him, as he closes in on a charismatic vampire leader whose plans threaten humans and vampires alike. The story sticks to intense action and atmosphere without giving away key surprises or its final resolution.

Released in 1998, Blade was directed by Stephen Norrington and adapted from the Marvel Comics characters created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, with a screenplay by David S. Goyer. Wesley Snipes leads the cast, joined by Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, N'Bushe Wright, and Donal Logue.

On release it performed strongly at the box office and proved a profitable venture, helping justify sequels and a franchise. Its commercial success showed studios there was a market for darker, comic-book based action films with mature tone.

The movie left a noticeable mark on pop culture, popularizing a noir-infused, action-heavy approach to superhero stories and showing a Black actor in a leading comic-book role. Its visual style, costume design, and signature fights have been referenced and echoed in later genre films and TV, and it helped normalize grittier takes on comic properties.

Critics were mixed to positive, with many praising Snipes' physical presence, the inventive action choreography, and the film's sleek mood, while some reviewers pointed to a thin script and uneven supporting material. Thematically it wrestles with identity, loyalty, and what it costs to live between hostile communities, set against a relentless pace of violence and conspiracy.