Over the last century, there have been many ‘monster films’ but the Zombies and Vampires sub genres have ruled them all. While there have been increasingly more Zombie movies over the last 20 years, Vampire films have endured throughout the ages as the ever alluring dark side to human vanity and mortality.
Vampire films have taken on many facets – from the literal translation of Bram Stoker’s novel with Dracula (1931), Nosferatu (1979), Dracula (1979) and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) to the unique incarnations of vampirism with Blade (1998), Underworld (2003) and Ultraviolet (2006).
Our full list of Horror Films About Vampires contains over 150 films so it was rather hard to narrow this list down to only 10 films given there are many great obscure Vampire films out there. Honorable vampiric mentions include The Keep (1983), Vamp (1986), The Wisdom of Crocodiles (1998) and Freaks of Nature (2015). Freaks of Nature was hardest to keep off the list given its amazing plot – “Humans, Zombies and Vampires live peacefully together and join forces to defeat Alien invaders”. Now that sounds like a good time – and it is!
As for the Top 10 List, we had to settle on a mix of some overlooked films from the 80’s to a few films that focus on variations of vampirism rather than the king of vampires, Dracula. We also have embedded a compilation video of our Top Films About Vampires You Haven’t Seen and more details on these films can be found in the list below. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
#10
Lifeforce
Plot: Astronauts investigating Haley’s Comet discover creatures that are brought back to earth – with disastrous results.
KBZ’s Take: The best film ever made about “Space Vampires”, this Tobe Hooper film will, for better or worse, always be remembered for Mathilda May’s vampire who walks around in her birthday suit. Though the film hasn’t aged well and is rather hokey in parts, it’s definitely worth seeing for the third act when vampirism accelerates throughout the masses on the streets of London.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3UnZprg
#9
The Hunger
Plot: A turned vampire realizes his immortality is wearing off when his vampire lover isn’t that into him anymore…
KBZ’s Take: If you can make it past the music video stylization of the film (RIP Tony Scott), there’s actually a pretty good story buried underneath. David Bowie’s take on a vampire realizing his end is near helps make the film interesting before the plot devolves into confusion with a muddled back and forth between Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon’s characters. But at least this film was first to show what happens to a vampire when it’s ghosted…before ghosting became a thing.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3gOQDVx
Plot: The last man immune to vampirism hunts vampires and the undead from the comfort of his home.
KBZ’s Take: Often cited as the most literal translation of Richard Matheson’s novel, I Am Legend, Vincent Price gives one of his best performances as a man fighting not only vampires but his own sanity. Tame by today’s standards, this film is worth watching if you want to watch the initial film in the trifecta of I Am Legend adaptions. Other adaptions include The Omega Man (1971) starring 70’s sci-fi action star and “man who never passes up an opportunity to show off his hairy chest” Charlton Heston and the more modernized I Am Legend (2007) adaption starring Will Smith that’s a must watch film even with the subpar CGI vampires.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XQfMQk
#7
Stake Land
Plot: Man and boy navigate a world decimated by a vampiric epidemic.
KBZ’s Take: Essentially a road trip film where our heroes encounter effects of the vampire epidemic, Stake Land is actually a well-done film in its own right (and has spawned an inferior sequel). Like most post-apocalyptic films, the film explores who is actually worse – the vampires themselves or humans after a breakdown in society.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3unZro9
#6
Near Dark
Plot: Naïve farm boy falls for girl who runs with a pack of nomadic vampires.
KBZ’s Take: One of the better films about vampires out there, Near Dark explores the more gritty aspects of vampire life – primarily how they survive day to day. The film features some rather brutal killings and is worth seeing for Bill Paxton’s vampire alone.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3ixxasD
Plot: Mockumentary about 3 vampires living together.
KBZ’s Take: Probably the funniest movie ever made about Vampires, this hilarious film has spawned an even funnier television series. Taking daily roommate squabbles and applying them to vampires leads to often side-splitting humor. Be warned though, this horror comedy also features typical gore you would expect from hungry vampires.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3iw5Cns
Plot: A vampire trapped in the body of a female 12-year old befriends a 12-year old boy who is bullied.
KBZ’s Take: Remade as Let Me In (2010) by Hollywood, the original is the superior version to watch as it has better chemistry between the two leads, better pacing and has a much more creepy vibe to it. That’s not to say the remake is bad, it’s actually very good. But, it’s worth watching the original, subtitled version even if you hate reading text on screen.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Fkft99
Plot: A tabloid magazine reporter tracks a serial killer who he suspects is a vampire and unfortunately finds out he’s correct.
KBZ’s Take: Based on the Stephen King short story from Nightmares & Dreamscapes, The Night Flier is one of the best vampire films you’ll ever see. Bypassing the normal vampiric tropes of eternal youth and a high-end lifestyle, this film shows a vampire that’s down and dirty and travels coach class (in his own small private jet of course). Worth seeing if only for the last 15 minutes of pure chaos and gore.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XS5eQH
Plot: Terrorist hijack a plane with a woman who uses drugs to suppress her vampiric thirst…and she’s all out of drugs.
KBZ’s Take: Now this is how you do a “Vampire loose on a plane” film. Though the flashbacks scenes bog the film down and one of the terrorists overacts a bit (you’ll know who), action and suspense abound in this latest Vampire tale. Very original and very pro-vampire.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://www.netflix.com/title/80198645
#1
Daybreakers
Plot: Vampires and humans live side-by-side and the vampires are running out of food…
KBZ’s Take: This film is where I Am Legend (2007) might have ended up with a previous screenwriter (hint: vampires harvest humans like cattle for food.) Somehow this film has flown under the radar for a lot of top Vampire lists which is understandable given it’s more Sci-fi than Horror. But it’s original and inventive nonetheless with great worldbuilding and realistic societal situations (in a world where vampires actually exist and are at the top of the food chain.)
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3ujMCeA
