It needs to be known that here at Screenrant everyday is National Vampire day. Considering the fact that vampire movies rule, it comes as no surprise that these creatures have a rabid fan base . But, how big are these fans, really? Have they seen every single vampire movie or decided which ones are the best? There’s a ton of films out there so it can be tough narrowing them all down. Scroll through the list to see the ten best vampire movies of all time!
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Bram Stoker’s Dracula quite possibly has the most ’90s cast ever assembled. The movie stars Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Carl Elwes, Keanu Reeves, and Gary Oldman as the titular character. Francis Ford Coppola’s take on the classic vampire story tries to be a faithful adaptation for adults. The plot centers around Dracula attempting to seduce a young girl, Mina, due to the fact that she looks so much like the count’s long deceased lover. What’s terrific about this version of the story is that it’s unabashedly operatic. All of the actors deliciously chew up their scenes and the production quality is top notch. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that it took home the Oscar for best costume design.
Fright Night (1985)
If anyone’s ever wanted to see a vampire boogie down in a night club, Fright Night is their movie. This undisputed ’80s horror classic centers around a teenager named Charly Brewster (William Ragsdale) as he becomes increasingly suspicious that his neighbor is a vampire. Ultimately, Charly enlists the help of a has-been horror television star played by the legendary Roddy McDowall.
Although the film offers legitimate scares, it’s also really funny in its self-awareness. The very inclusion of Roddy McDowall was sort of a meta-commentary on his career at that time. Another fun aspect of the movie is its Goonies-esque approach to the vampire genre. These characters are high school kids hilariously reacting to the horrors of fighting vampires. If anyone needs another reason to watch it, there’s also a kid in the movie named Evil Ed. So that’s hilarious.
The Entire Twilight Saga
Everyone knows the plot of Twilight unless they’ve been hiding under a rock for the past eleven years. However, for the uninitiated, the series is about Bella (Kristen Stewart), a girl who can’t stop eating her own hair, falling in love with a vegetarian vampire - deer meat only - named Edward (Robert Pattinson). Don’t worry, there’s also a werewolf played by a beefy Taylor Lautner. Basically, Edward gets to drive Bella around in a new Volvo every movie and make all the wet blankets in Forks, Washington feel like jealous lame-o’s. Vampires and werewolves rip each other’s heads off at some point. Its all for Bella too, which is kind of cool if you’re Bella.
On a more serious note, The Twilight Saga is pretty irresistible. There’s no denying the cultural impact these films had on the world. A lot of folks will cynically say the movies raked in cash because the whole thing was a trend, but there’s something more special at the heart of Twilight. The series has an incredibly earnest and soapy love story at the center that gives the entire narrative a surprising amount of momentum. These characters are broadly sketched, but they nonetheless contain just enough backstories to make them definable. The Twilight Saga single-handedly revitalized the interest in vampires for years to come. What other films can say that they helped a dying genre once again glow as brightly as Edward’s skin?
Dracula (1931)
Undeniably the most iconic vampire movie out there, this version of the story follows the basic beats found in Bram Stroker’s Dracula. Although the film’s staging is admittedly static by today’s standards, it forever solidified how vampires should be depicted in pop culture. Also, Bela Lugosi’s performance makes for one of the most timeless movie monsters of all time.
Perhaps the greatest aspect of the film is that it reminds people that vampires are meant to be scary. From the hauntingly quiet sound design (it has no music as a by-product of its time) to it’s black and white photography, the movie aims to frighten the audience. Throughout time vampires have been ripe for reinterpretation, but Dracula reminds everyone that these creatures are here to suck your blood.
What We Do In The Shadows
There’ve been a lot of monster movie parodies over the years, but few are as inventive as What We Do In The Shadows. The mockumentary reunites the acting/directing duo of Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi. What’s clever about the plot is that it centers around three vampire friends dealing with everyday life. They go on dates, clean dishes, and pay rent. All of the classic vampire tropes are parodied through these mundane activities. One of the best lines in the film is, “I think we drink virgin blood because… it sounds cool.”
There’s a lot of other great moments in the movie as well. Rhys Darby making a brief appearance as a werewolf is a particular highlight. The film is a comedy, but what’s also admirable is that all the vampire stuff looks legitimately cool. Like all great satire, What We Do In The Shadows honors the material it’s parodying.
Thirst
There’s a few vampire movies on this list where fans probably also read the books they films are based on. The amazing thing about Thirst is that you get to read it while you’re watching it because it has subtitles! What could have easily been a wacky elevator pitch (imagine there’s a priest, but he’s also a vampire!), ends up being a fantastically complex movie in the hands of director Chan-Wook Park. Telling a vampire story through the perspective of a priest allows for all types of thematic possibilities. Faith, temptation, and the issues of savior complexes (yup, an actual theme in the film) to name a few.
Park also uses his camera in consistently inventive ways to create a beautifully dark film. On a more base level, the vampire action is bizarre and awesome. Moreover, the film has an ending that’ll force people to never look at shoes the same way again. Perhaps the best that could be said about Thirst is that it proves Korean cinema is in a great place and continues to contain some of the most artistically daring movies of the 21st century.
Nosferatu
Witness the incredible true story of the vampire behind the Spongebob meme. Maybe it’s not true, but it’s definitely incredible. Yes, it’s another Dracula adaptation, but it’s debatably the most famous and influential movie to come out of the silent expressionistic film movement. What’s so interesting about Nosferatu is that it seems like everybody has seen its iconography at least once in their lives.
The pointy ears, the broad shoulders, the Bugs Bunny teeth. We can totally see how the filmmakers thought Count Orlak would seduce all the ladies. Although the movie was made in 1922, Max Schrek’s (no relation to the green ogre) performance and the incredible set design holds up to this very day. Sure, the camera remains still, but the subtlest of movements from Count Orlak makes every frame feel like a black and white fever dream. Nosferatu is mandatory viewing for pretty much every single film 101 college course. It should be mandatory viewing for anyone who considers themselves a vampire fan.
Interview With The Vampire
A vampire named Louis (Brad Pitt), who happens to look a lot like Fabio, recites his centuries-long life story to a reporter (Christian Slater). The majority of these memories revolve around his friendship with the charismatic vampire lord, Lestat (Tom Cruise). Easily the best Anne Rice adaptation ever, the story works so well due to the fact that it’s framed in a series of vignettes. This also allows for Lestat and Louis to grow as characters while witnessing how the world constantly changes throughout time. Interview With The Vampire is an adult horror movie that aims to take vampires seriously.
Half of the reason that it succeeds in doing so is because of the exceptional performances. A lot of fans rightfully gravitate towards Kirsten Dunst’s work in the movie, but this is completely Tom Cruise’s moment to shine. Cruise showcases a ton of range and he’s allowed to run wild with the character. Also, somehow the entire movie culminates into a dope ’90s rock song.
The Lost Boys
Let’s all sing it together. “Cryyyyyyyy, little sister!” The film focuses on rebellious teenager Michael (Jason Patric) moving into Santa Clara (A fictionalized version of Santa Cruz, California) as he struggles to fit in with everyone. He soon meets the gnarliest gang on the boardwalk. Their antics range from hanging off the side of train tracks to riding dirt bikes on the sand. Those things aren’t called sand bikes, you hooligans! Oh yeah, these group of cool dudes also happen to be vampires. Will Michael stand with or against the Lost Boys?
The film is more adventurous than it is scary. But The Lost Boys made vampires endlessly cool. The entire modern vampire aesthetic of swanky outfits and sunglasses comes from this film. Moreover, it completely taps into what makes vampires such a fun concept. Living forever and flying above the city doesn’t seem too bad, right? If we were Michael, we’d join The Lost Boys.
Let The Right One In
Let The Right One In is about twelve year old Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) going through some hardcore bullying issues at school. A mysterious girl named Eli (Lina Leanderson) moves in next door to Oskar. Wouldn’t you know it, Eli is a vampire. Ultimately, Oskar and Eli find solace in one another.
There’s so much that can be said about Let The Right One In, but more than anything else the film’s greatness lies within its simplicity. Its simple plot allows the characters to have enough room for endless amounts of complexity. The movie thoroughly captures the loneliness that comes with growing up. In return, it reveals the inherent sadness that makes vampires so tragic. If a person had the ability to live forever, there wouldn’t be a limited time frame forcing them to grow up.
This is what makes vampires a collection of lost souls destined to wander through the night until they finally decide to step out into the sun. Despite this particular notion, Let The Right One In is brimming with childlike wonder that can only be understood by adults on the outside looking in. Children may not fully comprehend the world, but their resilient trust in friends is something no adult will ever understand. Although Let The Right One In takes place in a neighborhood covered in ice, it has the warmest of hearts pulsating underneath its surface.
