For as long as stories have been told, vampires have lurked in the shadows – sometimes terrifying, sometimes strangely alluring. Cinema has turned this myth into everything from gothic nightmares to stylish action blockbusters. To help you sink your teeth into the best of the genre, we’ve gathered 30 vampire movies, grouped by mood and style.
Gothic & Classic: 80s Vampire Movies
1. The Hunger (1983)
- Runtime: 97 min
- Genre: Horror, Gothic, Romance
Miriam, an immortal vampire, struggles to maintain her relationship with John, a man she loves, who begins aging while she stays young. When a doctor becomes entangled with them, jealousy and desire escalate, leading to deadly consequences.
2. Fright Night (1985)
- Runtime: 106 min
- Genre: Horror, Comedy
Charley Brewster suspects his new neighbor, Jerry, is a vampire. When women start disappearing, Charley’s fears prove true. With no one believing him, he enlists a late-night TV host to confront Jerry and stop the deadly threat.
3. Vamp (1986)
- Runtime: 93 min
- Genre: Horror, Comedy, Cult
Two college students hire a stripper to entertain them at a party, only to discover she is a vampire. As they explore the nightclub, they encounter dangerous supernatural forces and fight to survive the night.
4. Near Dark (1987)
- Runtime: 94 min
- Genre: Horror, Thriller, Western
Kathryn Bigelow fuses the vampire mythos with a modern Western. Following a young drifter lured into a bloodthirsty clan, the film blends violence and romance with gritty Americana. Often hailed as one of the best vampire movies of all time.
5. Def by Temptation (1990)
- Runtime: 94 min
- Genre: Horror, Black Vampire Movie
One of the rare black vampire movies of the decade, directed by James Bond III. Set in New York, the film explores temptation and moral decay through a vampire femme fatale. It’s a landmark piece for Black horror cinema, blending urban culture with gothic dread.
Seductive & Romantic Vampire Movies
6. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
- Runtime: 128 min
- Genre: Gothic Horror, Romance
Francis Ford Coppola’s lavish retelling paints Dracula not only as a monster but as a tragic lover searching for his lost bride. Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder bring intense chemistry, while the ornate sets and costumes elevate it into a visual seduction.
7. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
- Runtime: 122 min
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Gothic Horror
Based on Anne Rice’s novel, this film explores the centuries-long relationship between Louis and Lestat. It’s less about blood and more about intimacy, desire, and eternal companionship.
8. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
- Runtime: 123 min
- Genre: Romance, Drama, Indie
Jim Jarmusch crafts an artful, moody portrait of two ancient vampire lovers, played by Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston. It’s more about languid conversations, music, and eternal devotion than violence.
9. Let the Right One In (2008)
- Runtime: 114 min
- Genre: Romance, Horror, Coming-of-Age
A Swedish masterpiece that intertwines first love with vampiric hunger. The relationship between Oskar, a lonely boy, and Eli, a vampire child, is both tender and unsettling.
10. Twilight (2008)
- Runtime: 122 min
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Perhaps the most recognizable romantic vampire movie of the 21st century. Edward Cullen, a mysterious vampire hiding in plain sight as a high school student, falls for Bella Swan, the new girl in town. Their relationship grows against the backdrop of small-town life, complicated by Edward’s struggle to resist his thirst for her blood and the danger posed by rival vampire clans.
Vampire Horror Essentials
11. Salem’s Lot (1979)
- Runtime: 183 min
- Genre: Horror / Supernatural / TV Miniseries
Stephen King’s vampire tale brought horror into small-town America. This miniseries follows a writer returning to his hometown only to find residents falling prey to a sinister vampire master. Its pacing builds dread slowly, and when the monsters strike, the effect is unforgettable.
12. Thirst (2009)
- Runtime: 134 min
- Genre: Horror / Thriller / Korean Cinema
Directed by Park Chan-wook, this South Korean film reimagines vampirism through the lens of faith, guilt, and desire. A Catholic priest becomes a vampire after a failed medical experiment, leading to a crisis of morality and insatiable hunger.
13. Black Sunday (1960)
- Runtime: 87 min
- Genre: Horror / Gothic / Italian Cinema
A witch-vampire, Asa Vajda, is executed but returns centuries later to seek vengeance on her descendants. As she haunts a remote castle, her resurrection brings terror, murder, and dark supernatural forces into the lives of the living.
14. Vampyr (1932)
- Runtime: 73 min
- Genre: Horror / Surrealist / Early Sound Film
Allan Gray arrives in a village haunted by mysterious deaths. He discovers a vampire preying on the townspeople and must navigate eerie events and strange characters to stop the curse.
15. The Addiction (1995)
- Runtime: 82 min
- Genre: Horror / Psychological / Indie
Lili Taylor stars as Kathleen, a philosophy graduate student in New York City, who is bitten by a mysterious woman and becomes a vampire. As her thirst grows, she struggles to control her impulses, preying on friends and strangers alike.
Cult & Indie Vampire Films
16. Ganja & Hess (1973)
- Runtime: 113 min
- Genre: Indie, Black Vampire Movie, Drama
Bill Gunn’s avant-garde classic reimagines vampirism as addiction, art, and spirituality. Unlike mainstream horror, it unfolds with dreamlike pacing and poetic imagery. A cornerstone of Black cinema and one of the most intellectually daring vampire films ever made.
17. Martin (1977)
- Runtime: 95 min
- Genre: Cult Horror, Psychological
George A. Romero, best known for zombies, delivered this chilling, low-budget vampire tale. Martin, a young man who may or may not be a vampire, uses razor blades instead of fangs.
18. The Lost Boys (1987)
- Runtime: 97 min
- Genre: Cult Horror, Comedy
This 80s pop-culture phenomenon blends teen rebellion, punk style, and gothic flair. Set in a California beach town plagued by stylish vampires, it’s equal parts scary and cool.
19. Nadja (1994)
- Runtime: 93 min
- Genre: Indie, Experimental Horror
Shot in black and white, this indie film offers a surreal retelling of the Dracula myth. With appearances by Peter Fonda as Van Helsing, it straddles the line between art cinema and horror satire. A hypnotic piece that embodies the indie vampire spirit.
20. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
- Runtime: 101 min
- Genre: Indie, Horror, Western
An Iranian vampire Western shot in stunning black and white. This arthouse favorite follows a skateboarding vampire who roams a desolate city. When she crosses paths with a lonely boy struggling with his father’s debts, an unlikely connection sparks amid the city’s shadows.
Vampire Comedies & Modern Twists
21. Love at First Bite (1979)
- Runtime: 96 min
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
A cult comedy that spoofs Dracula’s move from Transylvania to New York City. George Hamilton’s charismatic performance makes the Count oddly charming, while the fish-out-of-water premise delivers laughs. It gently mocks gothic vampire movies while celebrating them.
22. Once Bitten (1985)
- Runtime: 94 min
- Genre: Comedy, Teen, Fantasy
Before Jim Carrey was a household name, he starred in this quirky teen vampire romp. A centuries-old vampiress seeks virgin blood to stay young, and high school awkwardness ensues.
23. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
- Runtime: 86 min
- Genre: Comedy, Mockumentary
Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement reinvented vampire cinema with this deadpan mockumentary. Following flatmates who happen to be immortal, it hilariously contrasts ancient habits with mundane modern life.
24. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- Runtime: 92 min
- Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Adam Sandler voices Count Dracula in this kid-friendly take on vampire stories. Set in a monster hotel, the film turns gothic horror into slapstick fun. Its colorful animation and heartwarming father-daughter story show how vampires can thrive even in family comedies.
25. Day Shift (2022)
- Runtime: 114 min
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Modern Vampire Movie
Jamie Foxx stars as a vampire hunter working a blue-collar job in Los Angeles. Combining high-octane action with irreverent comedy, it flips the vampire genre into something fast, funny, and distinctly modern.
Vampire Action & Thrillers
26. Blade (1998)
- Runtime: 120 min
- Genre: Action / Horror / Superhero
Wesley Snipes redefined the vampire hunter archetype with Blade, a stylish mix of martial arts, guns, and gothic horror. As a half-vampire, half-human “Daywalker,” Blade wages war against a secret vampire underworld.
27. Blade II (2002)
- Runtime: 117 min
- Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Horror
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the sequel pushes vampire action into grotesque new territory. Blade teams up with his enemies to fight the “Reapers,” a mutated vampire breed deadlier than the originals.
28. Underworld (2003)
- Runtime: 121 min
- Genre: Action / Horror / Fantasy
Kate Beckinsale’s Selene brought elegance and ferocity to vampire action. Underworld immerses viewers in a dark war between vampires and Lycans, blending gun battles, martial arts, and gothic mythology.
29. Day Watch (2006)
- Runtime: 132 min
- Genre: Action / Fantasy / Russian Cinema
The Russian sequel to “Night Watch” expands a supernatural war between forces of light and darkness. With high-concept visuals, breakneck pacing, and inventive action sequences, Day Watch feels like a vampire-infused thriller with global flavor.
30. Priest (2011)
- Runtime: 87 min
- Genre: Action / Dystopian / Thriller
Priest envisions a futuristic theocracy where humanity fights back against hordes of vampires. Starring Paul Bettany as a warrior priest who defies his order, it mixes dystopian settings with post-apocalyptic Western aesthetics.
The Newest: Vampire Movies 2025
2025 has already delivered a fresh wave of vampire stories, many of them experimenting with genre blending and unexpected themes. Here are some of the most talked-about titles:
Sinners
- Runtime: 137 min
- Genre: Supernatural / Horror / Southern Gothic
Set in 1932 Mississippi, Sinners follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return home intending to open a juke joint.
What starts as a dream to build community through music becomes a night of horror when a charismatic vampire, Remmick, and his clan descend – drawn by the power of blues and blood.
Abraham’s Boys
- Runtime: 89 min
- Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller
Eighteen years after Dracula’s fall, Abraham’s Boys follows Van Helsing and his family as they try to leave the vampire past behind by relocating to a quiet part of California. His sons (Max and Rudy) grow up under increasing tension: their mother Mina’s behavior becomes stranger…
Dracula: A Love Tale
- Runtime: 129 min
- Genre: Fantasy / Horror / Romance
This is a Love Tale that reframes the classic vampire myth as a centuries-spanning tragic romance. After his beloved wife dies in the 15th century, Prince Vladimir (Caleb Landry Jones) curses God, becomes Dracula, and is condemned to eternal life.
Centuries later, in Victorian London, he meets a woman who bears the face of his late wife and becomes obsessed.
Where to Watch Vampire Movies
If you’re wondering where to watch vampire movies, the good news is that most classics and modern releases are easily accessible across major platforms.
- Netflix: A strong library of both original vampire movies and free horror movies. Titles like “Day Shift” or “Dracula Untold” often appear here.
- HBO Max / Max: Home to darker, more atmospheric films, including cult classics and big-budget action-horror entries.
- Amazon Prime Video: Offers a mix of rental/purchase options and Prime-included streaming, making it a reliable place to watch both recent and vintage vampire movies.
- Hulu: Known for its horror collections, Hulu frequently rotates vampire titles like “Let the Right One In” and “Fright Night”. Related reading: 11 Best Horror Movies on Hulu [Ranked].
- Shudder: A horror-focused streaming service that’s perfect if you’re looking to dive deep into vampire horror essentials, indie gems, and cult favorites.
- Disney+ (Star / Hulu bundle in some regions): Occasionally features vampire action like “Blade” or lighter, modern takes depending on licensing.
For brand-new releases, theaters remain the first stop, especially for 2025 vampire movies like “Dracula: A Love Tale” or “Sinners”. After theatrical runs, most migrate to digital rentals or streaming within months.
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