Blade is New Line Cinema's 1998 live-action adaptation of the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is the first movie in the first Blade film series.
Blade is arguably the start of the Marvel revolution in cinema. Released in 1998, it was still a time when comic book movies mostly sucked and Marvel movies always sucked.
Wesley Snipes stars as Marvel's vampire-hunting half-human/half-bloodsucker hero. It was edgy, R-rated, exciting and a completely unexpected hit. Indeed, Marvel was so concerned about the blood and violence that they downplayed their brand in the film's titles. Yet, it gave Avi Arad's burgeoning Hollywood cachet a shot in the arm and launched the first Marvel Cinematic franchise.
Blade is directed by Stephen Norrington from a script by David S. Goyer.
The film spawned two direct sequels in Blade II and Blade Trinity, as well as a made-for-cable follow-up Blade: The Series.
