Vampires have always excited us. I use the word ‘excited’ because Vampires don’t necessarily scare us. In fact, most modern-day movies portray Vampires as romantic creatures rather than the ones that seek blood all the time. Also, this was the case in the novel that started it all, Dracula. Bram Stoker’s Dracula was always a romantic person. Even in the universally hated movie series Twilight, one of the main characters, a vampire, is portrayed as a charming and handsome guy. So vampires have inspired many people, and in many countries, they have become a part of their folklore. With vampires being so popular, it makes sense that Hollywood and other film industries will try to make money out of this folklore. And sometimes, Hollywood has been successful in producing some best vampire movies.
Also, check out Top 10 Best Marvel Movies Every Marvel Fan Should See
Best Vampire Movies
So this list will talk about some of the Best Vampire Movies to ever hit the screens. So take your holy cross, stake, and garlic, and let’s do some vampire hunting.
Thirst (2009)
IMDb: 7.1/10
This movie is from the South Korean master of the macabre, Park Chan Wook. Thirst can be considered among the fabulous works of the maestro.
The Plot
This movie’s lead character is a priest who volunteers himself in a dangerous experiment to find a new cure for the disease that was taking place in Africa. In the midst of the experiment, he got an Eve Virus and was revived as a vampire. Later, he gets involved with his childhood friend’s wife and established a relationship with her. He asked her to run away with him, to which she suggested murdering her impotent husband instead.
Why should you check it out?
As told earlier, Thirst is a remarkable piece by Park Chan Wook, and expected from his films, this one too wonders in various other genres without limiting to the horror. Every character is incredibly portrayed and in realistic scene settings. Gore, violence, humor, horror, and suspense will make a print on you forever. And so this horror love saga makes up to the list of best vampire movies.
Underworld (2003)
IMDb: 7/10
The action-horror film series Underworld is very popular among its audience and has a strong fan base. It was so popular that they even had a short film and a video game made after it.
The Plot
The story revolves around Selene, a vampire who works as a Death Dealer, killing the Lycans (werewolf) who allegedly slaughtered her family. Selene works with an elite group of vampire assassins known as ‘Death Dealer.’ She longs to take her revenge by killing the ones who murdered her parents when she was a child. The story follows, and she gets her chance to fulfill her vengeance. Other films of the series extend the plots and revolve around Selene and her crew.
Why should you check it out?
One can find out how good this movie is by seeing its previews alone. The series has some great acting and a solid plot that does not overthrow the various vampire legends. It is entertaining, and therefore we can consider it as one of the best vampire movies.
What We Do In Shadows (2014)
IMDb: 7.7/10
“What We Do In The Shadows” is a comedy directed by Jemaine Clement and the director of “Thor Ragnarok,” Taika Waititi. The movie was released on the 13th of February in 2015 in the US.
The Plot
The story is about the lives of four vampires. It is a mockumentary about the day to day lives of these vampires. The 4 vampires live in a flat in New Zealand. The vampires are Viago, a 16th-century vampire, who is like the mother of the house; Vladislav, a gothic vampire, is the most violent vampire of the lot; Deacon, a vampire from the World War II era, is the youngest of the four; Petyr, an eight thousand-year-old vampire, is the oldest of them all. The movie follows the mundane problems that they face every day, like paying the rent, trying to enter clubs, and solving the problems they face within themselves.
Why should you check it out?
The movie was critically acclaimed and is widely considered one of the best vampire comedies of all time. It is even considered to be the best vampire movie of this generation. This movie will eventually provide Taika Waititi the opportunity to direct the third Thor movie, Thor Ragnarok. This was also a commercial and critical hit.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
IMDb: 7.5/10
Dracula is a 1992 movie based on the Bram Stoker novel of the same name. Francis Ford Coppola, the genius behind the Godfather Trilogy, directed this one. This is a chilling and easily the most daring adaptation of the source material. During the initial release, it received mediocre reviews from critics due to the disturbing imagery. But this adaption turned out to be the one that’ll be cherished forever by the fans of the source material.
The Plot
A young lawyer (Jonathan Harker) is sent to a shadowy village situated in Eastern Europe. Dracula, the most legendary vampire in the world, arrests and detains him. After looking at a picture of the lawyer’s fiance, Dracula decides to go to London to betroth her. Her name is Mina Murray. Also, in Britain, he starts his reign of temptation/seduction and terror. In doing so, he ends up sucking the life out of Mina’s best friend, Lucy Westenra. In their defense, Lucy’s friends decide to finish Dracula once and for all.
Why should you check it out?
This was a triumph in many ways. Dracula has always been a fascinating character, and many people have tried their own spin on the tale. But satisfying the fans is an arduous task. Because almost all adaptations deviated from the original. When people realized that Francis Ford Coppola is to direct a Dracula movie, it got them excited. He delivered what was expected of him. The source material deserved what it needed. In short, the grittiness and honesty with which this movie is made make it one of the classics of this genre.
Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
IMDb: 6.9/10
Shadow of the Vampire is a 2000 movie that is loosely based on true incidents. In other words, this movie deals with the difficulties faced during the shooting of Nosferatu. E. Elias Merhige directed this movie. He also directed the Din of Celestial Birds.
The Plot:
This movie deals with the making of the German cult classic, Nosferatu. Nosferatu released in 1922. Also, Nosferatu-Eine Symphonie des Grauens (Nosferatu-a Symphony of Horror) is the movie’s true name that came out in 1922. The cast and crew went through a lot of hardships during the production of this movie. Some of the crew members just vanished, and some of them were even found to be dead. This film explores the disturbing relationship between the director of the movie and the lead actor.
Why should you check it out?
This is one of the most underrated Best Vampire Movies out there. Because some of the scenes in the movie are truly chilling. The performances are top-notch. Willem Defoe gives one of his best performances. But it is said that it never received the attention that performance deserved.
Interview With the Vampire (1994)
IMDb: 7.6/10
Interview with the Vampire is a 1994 movie. Also, Neil Jordan is the director. This movie is based on the novel of the same name. In fact, Anne Rice, who wrote the novel, also wrote the screenplay for the film. The movie stars Brad Pitt as Louis, Tom Cruise as Lestat, and Antonio Banderas as Armand, to name a few. This movie received excellent reviews, and also, many people praised the lead cast’s performance.
The Plot
Louis is a plantation owner. He lost his wife due to childbirth, and it hasn’t even been a year since that happened. In other words, it haunts him even now. He has given up on life as both his wife and child are no more. He feels a void in his life that nothing can fill. Lestat, a vampire, begins to like Louis and offers him to become a creature of the night: A Vampire. After that, Louis agrees, and Lestat drinks the blood from Louis’s body. Also, he then fills Louis’s body with his very own blood. Therefore, this turns Louis into a Vampire. Now, Louis must begin to learn how to live as a Vampire from his mentor, Lestat.
Why should you check it out?
This is an amazing movie because it begins as a melodrama, but it changes gears after a point. It turns into a fish out of water story, and this provides the necessary comedic moments. The performance of the lead actors is phenomenal. Tom Cruise IS Lestat, for instance. It is tough to tell if he is acting or just being himself. Also, Brad Pitt is stunning as Louis and gives a moving performance.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
IMDb: 7.0/10
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is a 2014 director, and Ana Lily Amirpour directed it. Also, Ana Lily Amirpour wrote this. The movie stars Sheila Vand as “The Girl,” Arash Marandi, and Marshall Manesh as Hossein’s’ The Junkie,’ to name a few.
The Plot
The story takes place in an isolated Iranian town called Bad City. The place smells of death and isolation. Also, the people of this ghost town are oblivious to the fact that they are being crept up on a lonely Vampire.
Why should you check it out?
This is a refreshing take on the vampire genre. The movie is more like a thriller than horror because, after a point, it becomes a heinous task for the people to find who the vampire is. Above all, the movie has brilliant art and set design, which gives this town an eerie vibe. In addition to this, the performances are top-notch.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)
IMDb: 7.7/10
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a 2000 anime movie. Yoshiaki Kawajiri directed it, and in addition to that, he also wrote the screenplay. The movie is based on the novel of the same name and is written by Hideyuki Kikuchi. The voice actors involved in this film are Andrew Philpot as our protagonist D, John Rafter Lee as Meier Link, and Pamela Adlon as Leila, to name a few.
The Plot
It is thousands of years in the future. Vampires are used to controlling the night. They ruled it. But bounty hunters reduced these numbers so much with their fearlessness and rage. D is one such hunter. In fact, he is a halfbreed male child of a mother who’s a human and a father who’s a vampire. A man from a sophisticated family hires D and the Marcus brothers (the opponent group of hunters) when Meier Link, a Vampire, kidnaps his daughter. As the hunters battle their way through Meier’s chartered force, they begin to doubt that the daughter might’ve gone willingly with Meier Link.
Why should you check it out?
Many people consider this exceptional movie to be a masterpiece. In fact, critics of anime place it at the top when it comes to the vampire genre. Since our protagonist, D, is a vampire, he is constantly questioned about society’s role. This creates conflict between him and the people surrounding him. Also, the action in the movie insanely good. In fact, it is one of the bloodiest anime. But it is also a slow burn. Therefore, the movie can be slow at some parts. But it is slow because it has to set up a few things for a huge payoff in the end. This is an instant classic and earns a place in our Best Vampire Movies list.
Let The Right One In (2008)
IMDb: 7.9/10
Let The Right One In is a 2008 Swedish romantic horror film. Tomas Alfredson, who wrote the book, also worked on the screenplay for the movie. The movie stars Kåre Hedebrant as Oskar, Lina Leandersson as Eli, and Per Ragnar as Håkan, to name a few. “Låt den rätte komma” is the movie’s original name.
The Plot
The story was set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982. Oskar is a twelve-year-old boy. His only goal in life at that point is to get revenge. He begins to fall in love with Eli, a mysterious girl. She can’t stand under the sun or eat garlic. In addition to all this, she needs to be called in for her to enter the room. Eli provides Oskar with enough power to fight back his enemies. But Oskar comes to know that Eli is a vampire. In other words, she needs to drink blood to survive in this world. Now Oskar is in a dilemma. Should he stay with Eli or leave her and face his problems on his own?
Why should you check it out?
This one is not for the faint-hearted. Some sequences in this movie are bone-chilling and make you shiver. This is also a very clever movie. That is, it respects the viewer’s IQ. The scares are so organic, and the jump scares are very minimal. It feels more like an art film for commercial viewers. Movies like this come once in a lifetime, and people need to embrace them with open arms. And this special movie earns a spot in our Best Vampire Movies list.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
IMDb: 7.2/10
From Dusk Till Dawn is a 1996 Action-Crime-Horror movie, and Robert Rodriguez directed it. Robert Kurtzman wrote the story, and Quentin Tarantino was roped in to write the screenplay. The movie stars George Clooney as Seth Gecko, Quentin Tarantino as Richard Gecko, Harvey Keitel as Jacob Fuller, and Juliette Lewis as Kate Fuller, to name a few.
The Plot
Brothers Seth Gecko, a bank robber, and Richard Gecko, a psychopath, and rapist continue to commit crimes after a heist in Abilene with many victims. They decide to go to Mexico to escape from the police. On their way, they stop at a motel to take a rest, but one thing leads to another, and Richie ends up killing their hostage.
When things become hard for the Geckos, the Fuller Family comes into the picture. Seth takes them as prisoners, and the Geckos and Fullers cross the border triumphantly. They stop at a salon called “The Titty Twister,” where the Geckos are supposed to encounter their senior in the morning. But all is not as smooth as it seems. When the moon shows up in the sky, everyone in the salon, from the stripper to the workers, turns into vampires. So the Geckos and Fullers have to find a way to survive the night without getting themselves killed.
Why should you check it out?
This movie is so great because of how fun it is. The story is just insane, and the screenplay by Tarantino only makes it a thousand times better. The dialogues, the banter between the Geckos and Fuller, and the brothers themselves are so well done. In addition to all of this, the acting by George Clooney and Tarantino is scintillating.
The Hunger (1983)
IMDb: 6.7/10
Hunger is a 2008 horror movie, and Tony Scott directed it. Ivan Davis and Michael Thomas wrote the screenplay for this beautiful movie. The movie stars Catherine Deneuve as Miriam Blaylock, David Bowie as John Blaylock, and Susan Sarandon as Sarah Roberts, to name a few. This is a very intense film and has a fan following that started very recently. Over the years, people’s liking for the movie has grown.
The Plot
Lady Miriam, an Egyptian vampire, survives by drinking the blood of her lovers. The girls or boys, who give their blood to Lady Miriam, get to live without aging until Lady Miriam wants them to. Sadly for John, his time has come. Also, he gets to live only for 24 hours. He goes to Dr. Sarah Roberts, desperately asking for help. Obviously, she doesn’t understand a single word that comes from his mouth. But what it does is it makes her curious enough to contact Miriam. And sadly, she too falls for her spell.
Why should you check it out?
This movie has attained cult status very recently. It’s a very interesting take on a vampire story. Usually, people tend to use Dracula, a male vampire, as the antagonist. But here, the gender swap brings very subtle changes to the story that amazing.
30 Days of Night (2007)
IMDb: 6.6/10
30 Days Of Night is a 2007 action-horror film. David Slade directed it. Also, Steve Niles, along with Stuart Beattie, wrote the screenplay. The cast consists of Josh Harnett as Eben Oleson, Melissa George as Stella Oleson, and Danny Huston as Marlow.
The Plot
This is the story of a remote Alaskan town. The town, for a month every year, is drowned in darkness. As the sun goes down, the town is ravaged by savage vampires with only one aim: Continuous debauchery of destruction. The hopeless town’s sheriff couple is the only ones standing in between the creatures of the night and the living humans and a certain disaster.
Why should you check this out?
The stakes are so high in this movie. And that makes it an engaging act. The action gives us an adrenaline rush and makes us want to root for the characters under conflict. Even the acting can be a little uneven, and you can set that aside and still watch it as it is a fun little vampire carnage movie.
Stake Land (2010)
IMDb: 6.5/10
Stake Land is a 2010 horror-drama movie directed by Jim Mickie. Also, Jim Mickie and Nick Damici are the writers of the film. The cast consists of Connor Paolo as Martin, Gregory Jones as Martin’s dad, and Traci Hovel as Martin’s mom.
The Plot
Martin is your usual teenage boy, that is before the entire country crumbled in a void/ pit of economic and political disaster. A Vampire outbreak has spread across what is left of the country’s deserted towns and cities. Mister, a ruthless, rowdy vampire hunter, is given the task to escort Martin safely to the north of Canada. This is the country’s new Eden.
Why should you check this out?
This movie has a straightforward plot. But the drama between the characters is convincing enough to root for them. This makes the movie an engaging watch.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
IMDb: 7.3/10
Only Lovers Left Alive is a 2013 comedy-drama involving two vampires. Jim Jarmusch directed it. Also, he, along with Marion Bessay, are the writers of the film. The movie stars some excellent actors like Tilda Swinton as Eve, Tom Hiddleston as Adam, and Anton Yelchin as Ian.
The Plot:
Adam, a subterranean musician, joins again with the love of his life, Eve. The decision and path chosen by humans have made him sad and feel disturbed. Ava, Eva’s untamed and unruly sister, cuts in between the affection that Eve and Adam have for each other.
Why should you check this out?
Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton give some of their best performances. They humanize the characters so much, and we root for them. This is a big deal because it is tough to make us root for something that is not human. The story is also not so philosophical, and the director makes the best decision by dealing with it using comedy. Some solid moments have you in splits. Watch it for the outstanding performances and brilliant execution of the story.
Byzantium (2012)
IMDb: 6.5/10
Byzantium is a 2012 fantasy drama, and Neil Jordan directed it. This is the second Neil Jordan movie on our list. Moira Buffini wrote the screenplay for this movie. In fact, she wrote the script for the original play. The movie stars Saorise Ronan as Eleanor, the beautiful Gemma Arterton as Clara, and Sam Riley as Darvell, to name a few.
The Plot:
Two peculiar women seek shelter in a degenerate coastal resort. Clara meets the friendless Noel, who gives her shelter in his empty guesthouse, Byzantium. Eleanor, a schoolgoing girl, becomes friends with Frank and reveals their deadliest secret. That is, both Clara and Eleanor are blood-sucking vampires and are two hundred years old. Their past begins to haunt them as this secret begins to spreads, and it has some lethal consequences.
Why should you check this out?
Byzantium is just a fun vampire movie. It is one of those mindless entertainers that you watch with your friends because it is so entertaining. With two beautiful women as vampires, what more do we need as viewers? The performances are serviceable at best, but that’s not the point of the film. It’s just meant to entertain the hell out of you and does it with flying colors.
The Lost Boys (1987)
IMDb: 7.3/10
The Lost Boys is a 1987 comedy-horror movie and was directed by Joel Schumacher. Both Janice Fischer and James Jeremias wrote the story for this movie. The movie stars Jason Patric as Michael, Corey Haim as Sam, and Dianne West as Lucy, to name a few.
The Plot:
A mother, along with her sons, moves to a small coastal region in California. The town is troubled by bikers and some peculiar deaths. The youngest of the two boys befriends two boys who declare themselves as vampire hunters. The oldest of the two sons is allured by a girl and attracted to a group of bikers. Soon the elder brother begins to rest during the day and starts to get out during the night. And the other brother is getting into problems due to his friends’ obsession.
Why should you check this out?
Before the two disastrous Batman movies, Joel Schumacher actually made entertaining movies. This movie is a testament to how well he can stage the scenes and create conflicts organically. Yes, the dialogues are corny, and the acting is far from perfect, but the way the movie flows is something to behold because it’s puzzling as to how he went from this to bat nips. (nuttyscientists.com)
Blade (1998)
IMDb: 7.1/10
The blade is a 1998 comic book movie, and Stephen Norrington directed it. David S. Goyer (Better known now for his involvement in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman) is the writer. The cast consists of Wesley Snipes as is protagonist Blade, Stephen Dorff as Deacon Frost, and Kris Kristofferson as Whistler, to name a few. This was the first comic book movie to be rated ‘R.’
The Plot
The blade has only one ambition in a world where Vampires roam around among us: To kill them. Blade confronts a vampire who goes on and bites Dr. Karen Jenson. He takes Karen to his hideout to help recover her after fighting the vampire that bit her. The vampire that bit Karen, Quinn, attends to his master and tells him about Blade’s fight. Also, Deacon Frost, the master of Quinn, has some ruthless plans for humanity.
Why should you check this out?
The blade is the first comic book movie to be rated ‘R.’ This means that we get some sweet, sweet ass-kicking and blood and gore. The movie is so entertaining. In fact, many people say that movies like this pave the way for the recent ‘R’ rated movies like Deadpool and Logan. This is one of the best comic book movies during it’s release time as Marvel had only made cringy movies back then before the MCU we know and love now. This movie still holds up, and for this reason, this takes place in our Best Vampire Movies list.
Blade II (2002)
IMDb: 6.7/10
Blade II is a 2002 comic book movie, and it is a direct sequel to the 1998 movie Blade. This time, the movie is directed by Guillermo del Toro (Man behind the Hellboy movies and Shape of Water). Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan are the writers of the movie. The cast of this movie mostly consists of people from the first Blade movie.
The Plot
Within the vampire circle, a new and rare mutation has occurred. The Reapers are vampires that hunt down vampires and humans due to their insatiable thirst for blood. The unfortunate victims who end up surviving become one of these nightmarish creatures. Due to the increase in the number of Reapers, the vampires’ population has decreased immensely due to the Reapers’ carnage. Also, at this rate, there won’t be humans to satiate their blood lust.
Blade, Whistler, and Scud (The arsenal specialist) are called upon by the Shadow Council in a mysterious turn of events. They unwillingly accept that they are in the end game now. In fact, they need the help of Blade to defeat these nightmarish creatures. Blade questionably accepts the deal with The Bloodpack. The Bloodpack is the best team of vampires trained in all types of fighting styles to obliterate the Reapers once and for all. Now Blade and the Bloodpack are the only ones standing in between the lives of countless humans and vampires.
Why should you check this out?
This Blade is similar to the first one in terms of characterization. However, the treatment of the movie is completely different. Gullermo del Toro movies have some amazing creature designs, and this movie is no exception. The Reapers look terrifying, and the fight scenes are so brilliant and star. It is also a stunning movie (I mean the cinematography and art design). This movie might not be as good as its predecessor, but it sure as hell is good to follow up to the original. For this very reason, it takes place in our Best Vampire Movies list.
With this, we have reached the end of the Best Vampire Movies list. Check out our Netflix Anime 2019 and Netflix Anime 2020 lists to find more anime you can enjoy now and in the coming future. Sayonara!