Del Toro's Vampire Classic Returns to Sundance in 4K Glory
The Oscar-winning filmmaker will attend a special screening of his breakthrough horror debut, complete with restored visuals and an exclusive audience discussion.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will pause his current Frankenstein promotional tour to celebrate his breakthrough vampire tale. The director's 1993 debut feature will receive a special presentation at Sundance's Park City Legacy program, showcasing a newly restored 4K print on January 27, 2026.
Del Toro plans to attend the screening personally. A question-and-answer session with the acclaimed horror filmmaker will follow the presentation.
Sundance Revisits Its 1994 Lineup
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Cronos joined the festival section dedicated to revisiting notable past screenings. Del Toro's vampire story originally premiered at Sundance in 1994, sharing that year's spotlight with Clerks, Reality Bites, Hoop Dreams, and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Park City Legacy runs from January 27-30, featuring multiple restored classics. This year's program includes Little Miss Sunshine, Half Nelson, Mysterious Skin, and Saw alongside del Toro's work. Each title will screen in its respective digital restoration.
A Different Kind of Vampire Story
Cronos defies typical bloodsucker conventions. Del Toro crafted something deeper than the usual seductive vampire narrative, weaving mythological elements throughout his genre approach.
The story centers on antique dealer Jesús, who discovers a powerful artifact that transforms him into a vampire. While gaining eternal youth, he develops an insatiable blood craving. Jesús must solve his predicament while fighting off those seeking to reclaim the ancient object.
According to Rotten Tomatoes:
"Antique dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) stumbles across Cronos, a 400-year-old scarab that, when it latches onto him, grants him youth and eternal life – but also a thirst for blood. As Jesús enjoys his newfound vitality, he's unaware that a dying old man, Dieter de La Guardia (Claudio Brook), has sent his nephew, Angel (Ron Perlman), to find the scarab and bring it back to him. But Jesús will not give immortality up easily, even risking the life of his orphan granddaughter (Tamara Shanath)."
Enduring Horror Innovation
Del Toro's directorial debut demonstrated his horror mastery immediately. More than three decades later, Cronos remains a singular vampire film that generates genuine sympathy for its monstrous protagonist.
The movie departed significantly from standard '90s horror formulas. Its character-driven narrative creates an unusual viewing experience where audiences root for the supposed villain. Del Toro proved early that traditional genre boundaries couldn't contain his creative vision.