30 Days of Night (franchise)

The 30 Days of Night franchise consists of American horror installments including a theatrical film, a prequel miniseries, a sequel limited series, and a direct-to-home video sequel movie. Based on the comic series of the same name created by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, the plot centers around an unsuspecting Alaskan town in the US that is overtaken by a swarm of vampires during a thirty-day polar night period of time. Throughout the franchise, townspeople fight through the events to defeat the mystical creatures with all their resources to survive.

30 Days of Night
Official franchise logo
Based onAn original story
by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith
Release date
  • October 19, 2007 (2007-10-19)
CountryUnited States
LanguageAmerican English

The franchise has been met with an overall mixed critical reception.[1][2] The first movie though initially poorly received,[3][4] has since received praise in modern analysis and earned its status as a horror classic.[5][6][7] In contrast, its sequel and the limited series expansions which included the involvement of franchise creator Steve Niles, had greater negative critical reviews.[6][7] Financially, the franchise turned a profit for the studio at the box office.[8][9]

Origin

The 2002 successful American miniseries, written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Ben Templesmith, and published by IDW Publishing, resulted in the 2007 feature film and its subsequent continuations. Originally developed as film pitch, the comic book series was a critical and financial success, followed by various spin-offs and expansions. The plot centers around a small community in Alaska, that is violently hunted by vampires, during a full month of darkness.[10]

Films

FilmU.S.
release date
DirectorScreenwritersProducer(s)
30 Days of NightOctober 19, 2007 (2007-10-19)David SladeSteve Niles, Stuart Beattie & Brian NelsonSam Raimi and Robert Tapert
30 Days of Night: Dark DaysOctober 5, 2010 (2010-10-05)Ben KetaiSteve Niles & Ben KetaiRobert Tapert

30 Days of Night (2007)

Once a year the remote small town of Barrow, Alaska experiences a month of darkness. Though many of its citizen travel southward during this month, Sherriff Eben Oleson and his estranged wife the deputy sheriff named Estella are among those charged with monitoring the town. A seemingly routine season turns into a living nightmare as its citizens begin getting killed one by one in with violently gory evidence. As the pair begin their investigation, they find that supernatural means may be the source of the town's terror. A group of hungry vampires who with their leader Marlow have begun a feeding spree. Forced to overcome their differences and work together, Eben and Estella band together with the remaining townspeople to fight back against the monstrous creatures with hours until dawn, and create a plan to escape with their lives.[3][4][11][12][5][6]

30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2010)

Estella mourns the passing of her husband one year ago, when he sacrificed himself to save his neighbors from the vampiric massacre at Barrow, Alaska that nearly decimated the population during its annual month-long darkness. Through her grief, she travels the world attempting to convince others of the supernatural events that occurred in her town, resulting in her arrest and questioning of her sanity given the demonic nature of her story. After learning that the vampires who attacked Barrow were under the direction of their queen named Lilith, she assembles a small team to hunt down her location and end their monstrous reign of terror. Determined to exact revenge, Estella travels to the underworldly organizations of Los Angeles with a resolve to find a means of bringing back her husband.[13][7][14][6]

Television

SeriesSeason(s)EpisodesOriginally releasedShowrunnersExecutive producersStatus
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
30 Days of Night: Blood Trails17September 13, 2007 (2007-09-13)October 18, 2007 (2007-10-18)FearnetSteve Niles & Ben KetaiJim Burns, Rob Sebastian, Steve Niles and Steve HeinEnded
30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust16July 17, 2008 (2008-07-17)August 28, 2008 (2008-08-28)Ben Ketai & Ed FowlerJim Burns, Rob Sebastian, Steve Niles, Steve Hein, Jonathan Dana and Shawnee Smith

30 Days of Night: Blood Trails (2007)

A young drug addict named George is hired by a weary vampire hunter from New Orleans, to acquire covert information. Determined to remain sober and to leave town to change his life forever, George takes one final assignment. The job quickly escalates, when vampiric monster begin pursuing him and his contacts are murdered. George fights to stay alive while maintaining his sobriety, and attempts to warn humanity of an impending "feeding" frenzy in Barrow, Alaska.[15][16][17][6]

30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust (2008)

One month after the horrific massacre in Alaska, George Fowler is ruled a convicted murderer and sentenced to prison. Though he tries to warn others about the reality of vampires, they question his sanity. In the process, a nurse at the facility named Sara and a number of security guards are ambushed by a vampire. During the attack Sara's throat is slashed, while George escapes the prison. Her brother Nick, who was previously a police officer, investigates the event believing that the escaped prisoner is responsible. When Nick confronts the escaped prisoner, the same vampire once again attacks. After Sara begins to turn into one of the monsters herself, she calls her brother for help. Together Nick and George race to find her, trying to save her from the nightmarish reality she faces.[18][19][20][6]

Main cast and characters

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  •  V indicates a voice-only role.
CharacterFilmTelevision
30 Days of Night30 Days of Night:
Dark Days
30 Days of Night:
Blood Trails
30 Days of Night:
Dust to Dust
Principal cast
Sher. Eben OlesonJosh HartnettStephen Huszar 
Stella OlesonMelissa GeorgeKiele Sanchez 
Jake OlesonMark Rendall 
Dep. William "Billy" KitkaManu Bennett 
Beau BrowerMark Boone Junior 
Doug HertzJoel Tobeck 
GailRachel Maitland-Smith 
MarlowDanny Huston 
the StrangerBen Foster 
Dane Ben Cotton 
Paul Rhys Coiro 
Lilith
the Vampire Queen
 Mia Kirshner 
Agent Norris Troy Ruptash 
George Fowler Andrew Laurich
Jenny Danielle Joy Foley 
Det. Nick Maguire Christopher Stapleton
Sara Maguire Mimi Michaels
Supporting cast
DeniseAmber Sainsbury 
Lucy IkosElizabeth Hawthorne 
Carter DaviesNathaniel Lees 
Wilson BulosanCraig Hall 
Isaac BulosanChic Littlewood 
John RiisPeter Feeney 
IrisMegan Franich 
ArvenAndrew StehlinAndrew StehlinA 
ZurialJohn Rawls 
SethJacob Tomuri 
Amber Diora Baird 
Todd Harold Perrineau 
Jennifer Katie Keating 
Stacey Katharine Isabelle 
Jane Stacey Roy 
Sandbag Tapas Choudhury 
Eben Stephen Huszar 
Axel Marco Soriano 
Gunther John De Santis 
Eddie Trip Hope 
Chad Geoff Stirling Jr. 
Cal Shawn G. Smith 
Luis Jeremy Lee Shranko 
Pat T.J. Zale 
Judith Ali Marilyn Johnson 
Vampire 1 Patrick Logan Pace 
Vampire 3 Tiffany Barrett 
Jim Maguire Al Burke
Susan Maguire Angelique Yalda
Det. Gina Harcourt Shawnee Smith
Tracy Rainie Davis

Additional crew and production details

TitleCrew/Detail
ComposerCinematographerEditorProduction
companies
Distributing
companies
Running time
30 Days of NightBrian ReitzellJo WillemsArt JonesColumbia Pictures,
Dark Horse Entertainment,
Ghost House Pictures
Sony Pictures Releasing1 hr 54 mins
30 Days of Night: Blood TrailsJermaine StegallNelson CraggFEARnet Productions,
Ghost House Pictures
Fearnet3 hrs 30 mins
(30 mins/episode)
30 Days of Night: Dust to DustAndres BoultonMike WilliamsonFEARnet Originals,
Ghost House Pictures
3 hrs
(30 mins/episode)
30 Days of Night: Dark DaysEric MaddisonBen KetaiSony Pictures,
Ghost House Pictures,
Stage 6 Films,
RCR Media Group
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment1 hrs 32 mins

Reception

Box office and financial performance

FilmBox office grossBox office rankingVideo
sales gross
Worldwide total
gross income
BudgetWorldwide total
net income
Ref.
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwideAll time
North America
All time
worldwide
North America
30 Days of Night$39,569,000$40,707,160$80,276,160#2,275#2,194$27,907,720$108,183,880$30,000,000$78,183,880[8][21]
Totals$39,569,000$40,707,160$80,276,160x̄ #1,138x̄ #1,097>$27,907,720>$108,183,880>30,000,000≥78,183,880

Critical and public response

TitleRotten TomatoesMetacriticCinemaScore
30 Days of Night51% (158 reviews)[1]53/100 (29 reviews)[22]C[23]
30 Days of Night: Dark Days17% (6 reviews)[2][to be determined] (4 reviews)[24]

In other media

Literary

A novelization, written by Tim Lebbon was released on September 25, 2007, and published by Pocket Star. To coincide with the film's release, a novelization by Tim Lebbon was published by Pocket Star on September 25, 2007.[25] Alongside the novelization, a book series published in collaboration by IDW and Pocket Star publishing was released.

The series of novels include:

  • 30 Days of Night (2007) by Tim Lebon
  • 30 Days of Night: Rumors of the Undead (2006) by Steve Niles and Jeff Mariotte
  • 30 Days of Night: Immortal Remains (2007) by Steve Niles and Jeff Mariotte
  • 30 Days of Night: Eternal Damnation (2008) by Steve Niles and Jeff Mariotte
  • 30 Days of Night: Light of Day (2009) by Jeff Mariotte
  • 30 Days of Night: Fear the Dark (2010) by Tim Lebon

References