32 Top Vampire Films and Television Series

2025-03-31 12:46:17

Dive into a new collection of thrilling tales featuring fangs that are anything but dull!

Vampire stories have existed for over a century, with various mediums covering various icons of undead bloodsucking. Whether they’re funny, frightening, or somewhere attractively in between, vampire stories are too good to pass up. So if you’re looking to hang out with these creatures of the night, check out this list of the best vampire movies and TV shows! (Sorry Twilight fans, you didn’t make the cut.)

The Lost Boys (1987) is a cult classic film that blends horror and comedy, showcasing the story of two brothers who move to a California town and encounter a gang of vampires. With its iconic soundtrack and memorable performances, the film has become a significant part of 80s pop culture.

One of the best ‘80s movies ever, The Lost Boys introduced us to David (Kiefer Sutherland), the Peter Pan of vampires. Director Joel Schumacher’s horror-comedy kept vampires terrifying, while also adding the attractive allure that we’ve seen repeated throughout various incarnations. Not to mention, this has one of the best final punchlines a movie has ever landed.

Alexander Skarsgard, with his flowing long hair, is positioned against an unusual red backdrop in the series True Blood.

True Blood (2008 - 2014) 是一部美国电视剧，基于查尔斯·斯特罗斯的小说系列。

Adapting Charlaine Harris’ novels revolving around Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), True Blood is an HBO hit that fans still reflect upon. By the end of its seven-season run, the small town of Bon Temps encountered sultry romance, dark comedy, and terror at the hands of werewolves, fairies, and witches. But the bedrock of this series has always been the social commentary told in a world where vampires are widely acknowledged…and are naturally persecuted.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

For a performer as versatile as Tom Cruise happens to be, it’s still a disappointment that he was never given the chance to return to the role of Lestat de Lioncourt. Interview with the Vampire’s 1994 film adaptation saw Brad Pitt play the forlorn Louis de Pointe du Lac to Cruise’s chaotic sadist, and the contrast is amazing to watch in action. Also, Kirsten Dunst lands one hell of a breakout performance as Claudia, making this disturbing vampire family complete.

Fright Night (1985) is a classic horror-comedy film that tells the story of a teenager who discovers that his new neighbor is a vampire. As he tries to convince those around him of the supernatural threat, he enlists the help of a television horror host to confront the sinister creature. The film blends humor, suspense, and supernatural elements, making it a beloved entry in the genre.

Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) was your typical ‘80s movie teenager…until Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) moved into the neighborhood. Director Tom Holland’s vampire classic shows us what happens when a dopey teen squares off with a seductive yet sinister supernatural force; and it doesn’t skimp on the blood or the comedy in the process.

What We Do In The Shadows (2019 - 2024)

Six seasons still doesn’t feel enough for FX’s What We Do in the Shadows adaptation. Expanding Taika Waititi’s 2014 mockumentary into an extended universe of lunacy, following Long Island’s found family of fang bearers (and Harvey Guillén’s Guillermo) became one of those rare cases where the TV version outdid the source film it was based on. From its humble origins, straight through to What We Do in the Shadows’ perfect series finale, the series was a consistently funny delight.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

Much as 2024’s Nosferatu strived to be a more modern adaptation of F.W. Murnau’s classic mockbuster, 1992’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula gave fans fresh blood when telling this time-worn classic. Gary Oldman plays the Francis Ford Coppola-directed spin on this character as both a tragic romantic and a vicious adversary.

Dark Shadows (1991)

Reinventing the classic ABC soap opera as a darker, moodier affair, the short-lived NBC revival of Dark Shadows tried to make a name for itself in 1991. As Ben Cross stepped into the iconic role of Barnabas Collins, it’s miles away from the 2012 Tim Burton adaptation, which turned the more gothically inclined story into a silly comedy. It probably didn't help that this dramatic reimagining was staked after a short first season.

Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

Decades before Willem Dafoe would play for the human team in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, the Academy Award nominee actually dipped his fangs into the legendary off-brand remake of Dracula through Shadow of the Vampire. A dark comedy that shows us the “real story” behind F.W. Murnau (John Malkovich) and his horror milestone, the plot alleges that Dafoe’s Max Schreck was an actual vampire/movie-making diva.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 - 2003)

Joss Whedon’s horror/comedy cult classic found a second life as a seven-season TV series, with Sarah Michelle Gellar embodying a more grounded incarnation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The tone wasn’t the only improvement, as some of the best Buffy episodes experimented with form, and gave us impressive guest stars like John Ritter and a pre-fame Pedro Pascal. It was also one of the most effective heartbreakers, thanks to some deaths and romances that didn’t always involve the undead.

Nosferatu (2024)

Robert Eggers is a modern horror master that understands the classics. His 2024 adaptation of Nosferatu proved that fact yet again, thanks to a new spin on director F. W. Murneau’s bootleg classic. Despite Bill Skarsgard’s gross-out latex stories and Count Orlock looking quite imposing, his would-be romance with Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) is as haunting as it is intriguing.

The Strain (2014 - 2017) is a television series that blends elements of horror and drama, focusing on a viral outbreak that transforms humans into vampire-like creatures. The show, based on the novel trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, follows a team of CDC officials and other survivors as they battle to save humanity from this terrifying epidemic. Over its four-season run, the series explores themes of survival, power, and the nature of evil.

Co-creators Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan created a horror literary hit with their trilogy of books telling the story of The Strain. So when it came time to adapt the series to TV, FX gave it a four-season epic that covered this apocalypse from its very beginning. Dishing out vampire lore, while giving us intriguing characters on both sides of the conflict, the tale even gave us one of Stephen King’s favorite TV monster hunters!

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) is a cult classic film that blends elements of crime, horror, and dark comedy. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino, the story follows two brothers on the run who seek refuge in a remote bar, only to discover that it is a haven for vampires. The film features a unique mix of action and supernatural elements, culminating in a thrilling and bloody showdown as the protagonists fight for survival against the undead.

It sucks that the big twist of Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn kind of needs to be spoiled in instances like this. What begins as a crime thriller that sees the Gecko Brothers (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) kidnapping a family as cover for their escape to Mexico turns into something much more deadly. I’m not going to say it’s vampires, but if you know this list, or even know this movie, you know what’s up.

Midnight Mass (2021)

Creator Mike Flanagan delivered an opus of horror and humanity in the Netflix limited series Midnight Mass. “Transformation” is the one word this story could be boiled down to, as the mysterious Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater) arrives on Crockett Island just as some interesting occurrences start to take shape. You can expect to be frightened, but don’t be surprised if you end up crying here and there.

Let the Right One In (2008)

A methodically haunting film, Let The Right One In is a vampire movie on it