More than twenty years after its initial release, Guillermo del Toro Blade II has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, climbing into the top 10 most-watched titles on Paramount+ in the United States. This renewed interest was reported by FlixPatrol, which noted the film’s strong streaming performance on consecutive days over the past week. The movie’s return to prominence highlights the lasting appeal of del Toro’s work and the growing audience for early 2000s superhero cinema on digital platforms.
Early Struggles and Breakthroughs in Del Toro’s Career
Before Guillermo del Toro established himself as one of Hollywood’s leading filmmakers, he faced notable challenges, including a difficult period working under producer Harvey Weinstein. His early Mexican horror film Cronos was well-received, leading to opportunities in the United States. However, his 1997 movie Mimic underperformed, and the setbacks weighed heavily on him. Returning to his Mexican roots with The Devil’s Backbone revitalized his career, allowing him to re-enter Hollywood with greater confidence. The opportunity to direct Blade II became a defining moment, showcasing his unique vision and solidifying his reputation in genre filmmaking.
Blade II’s Box Office Performance and Critical Reception
Released in 2002 with Wesley Snipes reprising his role as the vampire hunter Blade, Blade II brought a darker, more stylized approach to the franchise. The film earned more than $155 million worldwide, surpassing the $145 million gross of the original Blade from 1998, which was directed by Stephen Norrington. Critically, Blade II received mixed reviews, holding a Rotten Tomatoes score of 57%, closely matching the first film’s 59%. The third installment, Blade: Trinity, released in 2004 and directed by David S. Goyer, faced harsher criticism and lower reviews, with a 24% rating, despite grossing over $130 million globally.
The Status of the Blade Reboot Within the Marvel Universe
Wesley Snipes briefly returned to the Blade role last year in the blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, which earned over $1.3 billion worldwide. Meanwhile, a reboot of the Blade franchise has been in development since 2019, with Mahershala Ali announced as the lead. This new iteration has experienced multiple director changes and delays, leading to speculation about its future. Variety reported in July that Marvel had deprioritized the reboot program, reflecting shifting studio priorities within the evolving Marvel Cinematic Universe. Guillermo del Toro, meanwhile, has continued his successful career, directing two Hellboy adaptations and earning an Oscar for Best Director, with a Frankenstein project due for release this year.
Availability of the Original Blade Films for Viewers
Fans of the franchise can currently stream the original Blade movies on Paramount+ within the U.S., where the growing interest in classic superhero films has breathed new life into the series. The streaming surge for Blade II underscores the enduring popularity of del Toro’s distinctive style and the movie’s place in early 21st-century genre filmmaking.
“Cronos broke out with his Mexican horror film Cronos, and was promptly brought to America, where he set to work on the 1997 film Mimic.”
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“The movie underperformed at the box office, and his experience with Weinstein crushed him, but the filmmaker bounced back some years later by going back to his roots with The Devil’s Backbone.”
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“Blade II was witnessing a spike in interest on Paramount+.”
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“Blade II was released in 2002 to mixed reviews, grossing over $155 million against a reported budget of more than $50 million.”
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“Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali was announced to star in the project, which has run through several directors.”
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