GKIDS has picked up Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust for a North American theatrical and residential video re-release. The plan begins with choose preview screenings in fall 2026, then expands right into a wider run in 2027.
What really stands out here is the theatrical release of the Japanese-language version with English subtitles. That hasn’t happened in North America before. The film also appears set to use a new HD master, probably drawn from the 2025 Japanese Blu-ray restoration that was scanned from the original 35mm negatives. Yoshiaki Kawajiri directed it, Madhouse handled the animation, and the film adapts Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Demon Deathchase with the Yoshitaka Amano-inspired character designs fans already know well. Bloodlust is still one of anime’s great gothic action movies.
For anyone who keeps up with older anime, this one’s easy to recommend. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust had only a limited original U.S. run and brought in $151,086, but that’s not really how its reputation was built. DVD, Blu-ray, and plain old word of mouth did that work over time. Its return also lines up with Dark Horse releasing Vampire Hunter D: Fortress of Blood in December 2026, followed by the English release of the Rose Princess manga in March 2027.
You’ll be able to see Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust in select North American theaters in fall 2026 before the broader 2027 rollout. GKIDS still hasn’t shared the full city list or ticket details.
