Best Vampire Movies

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For centuries, people have been fascinated by vampires, and their stories appear in everything from old legends to books and movies. Whether you’re looking for a Halloween scare or just enjoy vampire films, we’ve compiled a list of the best ones.

What are the best Vampire movies as of 2025?

The story of vampires is very old, but the image we have today is mostly thanks to Bram Stoker’s novel, *Dracula*, which came out in 1897. Stoker actually got his idea from a church crypt in Dublin – St. Michan’s – where he grew up. The bodies there didn’t decay normally, and people would visit to see them. While we now know this was due to the limestone in the crypt, it was enough to spark the beginning of vampire stories in books. And ever since then, vampires have remained incredibly popular.

This list offers just a taste of the many great vampire movies available. We’ve kept it relatively short, but here are a few of our top picks to get you started. We also want to give a shout-out to some other excellent films, including *Interview With the Vampire* (1994), *A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night* (2014), *Thirst* (2009), *The Lost Boys* (1987), and *The Addiction* (1995).

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)

We’re calling this a two-for-one because both the original *Nosferatu* and the new adaptation are worth watching. The original is often considered the greatest vampire movie ever made, and Robert Eggers’ recent take is also excellent. Though audiences had mixed reactions, the new film is visually stunning, with beautiful camera work, costumes, and movement, plus a fantastic cast including Alexander Skarsgård, Lily Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. While it didn’t completely wow fans like the original, Eggers’ version is a wonderful homage to the classic.

Let’s talk about the original! F.W. Murnau’s silent film, *Nosferatu*, is widely considered the first true vampire movie. Both this film and its remake share the same basic story: a young real estate agent named Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania to meet Count Orlok, a strange aristocrat who wants to buy a property in Hutter’s town. Of course, Orlok is a vampire, and he soon unleashes fear and sickness upon the local villagers. While the image of Murnau’s Orlok has become iconic and often parodied, *Nosferatu* remains a landmark horror film that has inspired countless filmmakers over the years.

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Let The Right One In (2008)

This Swedish horror film, directed by Tomas Alfredson and based on a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, follows Oskar, a solitary 12-year-old boy in the 1980s who is constantly bullied and dreams of getting back at his tormentors. Everything changes when he befriends Eli, a strange and quiet girl, and their relationship leads to increasingly unsettling and frightening events.

This movie is a vampire story, but it’s also a surprisingly sweet and smart film about growing up, with a unique and unsettling atmosphere. Beyond its cool, 80s vibe, it has real emotional depth. Ultimately, it’s a love story about people who feel like they don’t belong. Don’t expect a typical scary horror movie – it’s more about character than gore, though there is some violence. Simply put, it’s a beautiful film, and if you haven’t seen it, you really should.

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What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s *What We Do in the Shadows* is a funny and surprisingly spooky mockumentary. The film, set in New Zealand, follows four vampire roommates who have lived for centuries as they try to navigate everyday life. It’s hilarious to watch them deal with typical problems like rent and chores – even vampires have to share responsibilities!

What makes the film so good is its clever use of contrasts. It takes these frightening, ageless beings and puts them in relatable, everyday situations – dealing with things like paying bills, navigating social norms at clubs, and even figuring out how to use a fridge. A TV show inspired by the film premiered in 2019 and continued for six seasons.

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Sinners (2025)

The 2025 summer hit, *Sinners*, was a pleasant surprise. I went in knowing very little about it, but it quickly became a thrilling vampire story. The film begins as a realistic drama set in 1930s Mississippi, focusing on twin brothers (played by Michael B. Jordan) and their community. However, it soon takes a supernatural turn when they face a vampiric threat that endangers both their lives and their cultural heritage.

Though it appears to be a typical vampire movie, *Sinners* actually uses vampires to represent whiteness and white supremacy. Beyond the clear depiction of Klansmen, the film presents a more appealing type of vampire – one that lures people with promises of success and family in exchange for their culture and identity. The film is rich with complex themes, making it a rewarding watch, but it’s also simply entertaining – and that’s why it’s a standout.

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Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

It was a close call between this film and Neil Jordan’s *Interview with the Vampire*, and they’re very similar in quality. Ultimately, we ranked Francis Ford Coppola’s film just a bit higher. Our main critique is Keanu Reeves’ accent, but that’s a small issue considering the film’s incredible lavishness and spectacle. This adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel is wonderfully over-the-top, but executed with real skill. We especially want to highlight the fantastic production design by Thomas Sanders, the cinematography by Michael Ballhouse, and the costumes by Eiko Ishioka.

This movie, much like the original novel, tells the story of the legendary Count Dracula (played memorably by Gary Oldman) as he journeys from Transylvania to 19th-century London. He’s determined to unleash his curse and get revenge on those who harmed him in the past. The story centers around a heartbreaking love story: Dracula becomes captivated by Mina Harker (Winona Ryder), convinced she is the rebirth of his beloved Elisabeta. Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) and a team of vampire hunters, led by Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins), join forces to stop him.

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How we picked the best Vampire movies

Because we had to keep the list concise, we focused on vampire movies that blend different genres and have truly resonated with audiences. We chose a recent film that offers a fresh perspective on the traditional vampire story, a funny take on the genre, a unique coming-of-age story with a dark twist, a visually stunning pick, and the classic film that began it all. We could easily have included many more, but these are the ones we consistently recommend and revisit.

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2025-10-06 22:48