Director Robert Eggers has an unexpected hero to thank for helping introduce Nosferatu to younger audiences: SpongeBob SquarePants. The classic vampire from the 1922 silent film gained a second life, not only through arthouse screenings, but also through his cameo in Nickelodeon’s beloved cartoon.
Robert Eggers: “Thanks, SpongeBob!”
On the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of his highly anticipated Nosferatu remake, Eggers was asked if he was aware of the vampire’s appearance in SpongeBob SquarePants. The director smiled and gave a great response we can all relate to!
Many millennials and Gen Z viewers first met the sinister figure not through the original film, but in the SpongeBob season 2 episode “Graveyard Shift.”
Director Robert Eggers thanks SpongeBob for introducing younger people to #Nosferatu pic.twitter.com/HQgmQ4WEMR
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 13, 2024
SpongeBob SquarePants Nosferatu Episode
In the episode, SpongeBob and Squidward are working late at the Krusty Krab, spooked by eerie happenings like flickering lights. The culprit? None other than Nosferatu himself, who appears with a toothy grin in a hilarious cameo.
Eggers, a cinephile since childhood, appreciates how pop culture can unexpectedly spark interest in classic films. “I knew Nosferatu was in SpongeBob, and I think it’s awesome,” he said. Eggers shared that his own introduction to horror classics came in a similarly unexpected way: the animated show Muppet Babies.
“That weird cartoon would show little clips of Lon Chaney’s Phantom of the Opera and early Cyrano de Bergerac films,” Eggers recalled. “It planted seeds that led me to explore those films later on. So, thanks, SpongeBob!”
Nosferatu’s appearances in SpongeBob SquarePants didn’t end with one episode. The vampire made multiple cameos, even inspiring a younger version of the character, “Kidferatu.” This ongoing connection has solidified Nosferatu’s place in pop culture for a new generation.
On the other hand, Nicholas Hoult, who stars as Thomas Hutter in Eggers’ remake, admitted he wasn’t as familiar with the SpongeBob reference but appreciated its impact. “I’ve got to go back and watch more SpongeBob,” Hoult said with a laugh. “Hopefully, this movie will reintroduce Nosferatu to people in a whole new way.”
Eggers’ reimagining of Nosferatu features a stellar cast, including Bill Skarsgård as the iconic vampire, Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter, and Nicholas Hoult as Thomas Hutter. Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson round out the lineup, bringing a fresh take to the gothic classic.
literally me pic.twitter.com/1swr9yYBqZ
— holly ❆ || happy nosferatu month .ᐟ (@theseventhshe) December 15, 2024
