Hugh Jackman’s ‘The Mummy’ Replacement Is Officially Back on Streaming
Van Helsing, Stephen Sommers' action-adventure film starring Hugh Jackman, is now streaming on Peacock this October alongside other monster-themed content. The movie, which nearly launched a major second franchise for Jackman in the early 2000s, offers stylish monster-hunting entertainment that captures the pulpy spirit of classic Universal monsters and appeals to those seeking Halloween fare.
Jackman plays Gabriel Van Helsing, a mysterious monster hunter hired by the Catholic Church who travels to Transylvania to battle Count Dracula alongside Kate Beckinsale's warrior princess Anna Valerious, encountering a Wolf Man, Frankenstein's Monster and other supernatural threats. Critic Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars, calling it both "silly" and "spectacular and fun" whilst praising its atmospheric cinematography and monster mythology. Though the film never received a sequel despite considerable potential, Van Helsing now streams on Peacock alongside The Mummy trilogy and other Stephen Sommers monster films.
- Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman is now streaming on Peacock this October.
- The action-adventure film reimagines classic Universal monsters in stylish fashion.
- Though critically mixed, it remains entertaining Halloween viewing with impressive production design.
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Van Helsing is an action-adventure film from the early 2000s directed by Stephen Sommers that brings together classic movie monsters—Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's Monster—in one interconnected story. The film stars Hugh Jackman as a mysterious monster hunter hired by the Church to battle these supernatural threats, with Kate Beckinsale as a warrior princess fighting alongside him.
The film was created as entertaining, pulpy monster-hunting cinema combining atmospheric visuals with spectacular action, and it received positive critical reviews for its fun and imaginative style. Despite this success and considerable franchise potential, Van Helsing never received a sequel, making it a curious Hollywood footnote.
For audiences seeking early 2000s action films or monster-themed entertainment, the film offers a distinctive vision of adventure cinema that emphasises spectacle and playfulness over serious horror. It draws inspiration from classic Universal Studios monster pictures to create its particular blend of thrilling action and imaginative monster mythology.