20 Best 1980s Vampire Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

80s Vampire Movies

20. The Keep (1983)

Before Michael Mann would direct such classics as Heat and Collateral, he directed The Keep, a movie that’s about vampires in the loosest sense imaginable. The monster resembles more of a Cavity Creep than Dracula. However, there are hints of the talent behind the camera with some truly arthouse shots. The only issue is the studio intervened and prevented Mann from releasing the cut he wanted. What’s left is a mess but an intriguing one nonetheless.

Transylvania 6-5000 sees two reporters heading off to Transylvania to investigate a Frankenstein’s monster sighting, and they come across vampires. There are a few PG-rated thrills along the way, and it’s fun to see a young Jeff Goldblum chew through the scenery. There’s far worse children’s horror entertainment out there, but it still leads to you wanting something more.

1980s Vampire Movies

18. A Return to Salem’s Lot (1987)

My Best Friend Is a Vampire clearly tries to bank on the success of Teen Wolf, but it just doesn’t have the same charm. It’s one of the few kid-friendly vampire flicks out there, so parents have little to fear. The film sort of touches on hot-button issues, such as teen pregnancy and homosexuality, but it never follows any of these themes through.

The first Fright Night has an intriguing angle reminiscent of Rear Window. Fright Night 2 is a by-the-books vampire horror film without any interesting plot device. Somehow, the effects got worse, which is probably why they are covered up with so much smoke consistent throughout the film.

Mr. Vampire is a comedic Kung-Fu movie that just so happens to have vampires. It never takes itself seriously, and that’s what makes it work so spectacularly. It’s perfect for people trying to get away from the Bela Lugosi version of the vampire as these ones can be warded off by simply holding your breath. The rules don’t make sense, but they don’t have to. It’s just plain fun.

Great 80s Vampire Movies

11. Vamp (1986)

Good 1980s Vampire Movies

9. Lifeforce (1985)

Lifeforce has space vampires who drain people of their life energy rather than suck their blood. It’s an 80s B-movie in every way you want with ample nudity and sickening effects. It’s not for the faint of heart, but for the right crowd, it’s a great late-night watch.

Waxwork has vampires, zombies, and werewolves, making for an entertaining horror/comedy that feels right at home in the 80s. While you might go into this film thinking its a typical 80s B-movie, it actually has a lot more atmosphere than most would give it credit for. Combined with the intertextuality present by referencing other horror films, you end up with a loving homage to the genre that offers plenty of frights.

In To Die For, a Los Angeles real estate agent falls in love with Vlad the Impaler who goes to war with his long-lost brother in the modern era. It’s a film that combines the romance associated with vampires with plenty of bloody action. It’s one of the more underrated vampire gems from the decade, but if you can ever find it (it was a direct-to-TV movie), it’s worth a watch.

The 80s were a time when slashers overtook traditional monsters in the cinema. Fright Night comments on this fact and suggest vampires can still be plenty scary, and it mostly succeeds. Much like The Monster Squad, it’s a product of its time, and that’s readily evidence in the makeup. However, the film has its tongue firmly in its cheek, and all it asks is for you to come along for a fun ride.

With sensuality, masterfully-shot violence, and a first-class cast, The Hunger is an underrated gem in the realm of 80s vampire movies. Even with all of that, the most compelling part of the film is its rumination on the loneliness experienced by immortality. Turning other people into vampires makes sense when all you want is someone by your side forever. The cinematography is stunning, and it continues to influence horror properties to this day.

Attempting to ground vampires in reality is somewhat of a doomed effort. But if any film has come close to succeeding in that endeavor, it’s Near Dark. Director Kathryn Bigelow brings Western elements into a vampire story, doing away with elegance usually reserved for these films and bringing the monsters down into the dirt. 

And yet, the relationship between Caleb and Mae is genuinely sweet. The romance never descends into the overly sentimental, making for a uniquely American vampire story.