30 Best Vampire Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers

Byzantium is a unique vampire story about a mother and daughter seeking refuge in a small Irish town. It’s one of the more stylish vampire films for sure. It’s only a shame the script doesn’t do the visuals justice. Still, if you don’t mind a few listless sequences, it’s bloody beautiful to look at. 

The Hunger truly understands that vampires are sexy and leans into that 1,000%. It’s an arthouse film through and through, and while it’s more slow-paced than some horror fans would love, it helped bring a modern flair to bloodsuckers. 

Daybreakers takes place in a world where vampires rule, and one scientist has the mission to find a cure to transform humanity back to normal. It’s a cool premise. The only problem is that the film is tonally inconsistent. It ponders on philosophy one second while moving onto guts and gore the next without adequately gelling the two sensibilities together cohesively. Still, as one of the few sci-fi vampire movies out there, it’s intriguing to say nothing else. 

Nearly 50 years later, there’s still no vampire film quite like Ganja & Hess. The film tackles everything from addiction to dealing with the painful history of African Americans in the United States. The film still has themes relevant to this day, and for fans of Blacula, Ganja & Hess makes for a fascinating companion piece. 

Near Dark helped revitalize the vampire genre in the 80s. After years of being relegated to sexploitation films, vampires came back as (still sexy) outsiders who live fast and die young. Director Kathryn Bigelow portrays the vampires as tragic figures, constantly on the run from daylight and the police. If there’s one way in which this film succeeds it’s in how you root for the vampires to make it out alive. 

Vampire’s Kiss is a combination of a vampire film and Wall Street. It masterfully takes on the overzealous financial mentality of the 1980s, but that’s not why anyone remembers it. It features arguably the most Nicolas Cage-y performance of all time, and it’s worth watching solely to see Cage giving his all. 

The 70s brought about the grindhouse film with many movies embracing a more sexual quality. It proved to be a perfect fit for vampire films, and that leads us to Daughters of Darkness. The movie isn’t purely carnal as there are enough artistic flairs to prevent it from descending into straight-up smut. In fact, the film almost casts a spell over you, enthralling you every moment it plays. 

Thirst is subversive in the best way. The film follows a priest who receives vampire blood after a transfusion and begins a physical relationship with a woman. It’s a psychological horror film where we see a supposedly good man continues to descend into his basest instincts. Meanwhile, the blood and violence never overshadows the fact that this is a brilliant satire of gender roles, making for one of the more thoughtful vampire films in recent years. 

George Romero practically invented the modern zombie genre. And in 1977, he made his first vampire film with Martin. Just like with his zombie movies, Romero uses Martin to critique modern society, more specifically how men will give into their basest urges. The question of whether Martin is actually a vampire drives the plot, but ultimately, it doesn’t matter. Whether he’s a vampire or a psychopath, you better watch out for Martin. 

Interview With the Vampire is one of the most atmospheric vampire movies ever made with director Neil Jordan enfusing every shot with mood. The gothic touches elevate the film, and while it’s more known today for its romance, it’s still effectively scary when it wants to be. 

Shadow of the Vampire is one of the most original vampire films ever made. The plot follows the filming of the classic horror film Nosferatu with the exception that the actor who played the titular monster was an actual vampire. It manages to be funny and haunting at the same time, and for filmmakers, it’s a brilliant metaphor for Hollywood. 

Francis Ford Coppola brought Bram Stoker’s original vision to the big screen in superb fashion. Coppola’s commitment to not relying on CGI is impressive, and it makes for unique shots you can’t help but marvel at to this day. Even when the film falls short, it’s still riveting to watch. 

The Addiction is one of those films you watch and then wonder why there aren’t more movies like it. After a philosophy student gets bitten, the film turns into a discussion of drug use, religion, and the AIDS epidemic. There is a lot of philosophy at play, but it never feels like a university lecture. It remains accessible, and you may just learn a thing or two. 

It isn’t easy remaking a classic, but Werner Herzog largely succeeded with his remake of Nosferatu in 1979. The film consists of a series of vignettes that don’t necessarily form a coherent plot. Instead, the objective is to imprint on the viewer a sense of horror and an understanding of how lonely eternity must feel. As a result, the film stands on its own with shots so hauntingly beautiful, they can still make audiences squirm to this day. 

Let the Right One In is the full package of vampire films. It’s a touching story of young love while still providing plenty of horror and gore for genre enthusiasts. In lesser hands, the film would’ve felt tonally inconsistent, and yet, it all comes together beautifully. It will warm your heart one second and terrify you the next. And above all else, it’s the rare vampire film anyone can connect to. 

It’s easy to dismiss horror films of the past as corny or cliche, but Nosferatu transcends those labels. Nearly a century later, it’s just as frightening as it was when it was first released. Count Orlok is the embodiment of pure, unadulterated horror. Nosferatu isn’t just an important vampire film. It was critical for getting general audiences to view films as genuine art and not just some pretty pictures. The medium would look vastly different if Nosferatu never happened, and today, it’s a great representation of what can be accomplished through film.