Whether scary, swoony or deliciously camp, vampire films have an undeniable allure. From animated immortals and rebellious rock stars to flat sharers in New Zealand, these deceased but lively icons come in every shade of morality: good, evil or somewhere intriguingly in between. Rich in symbolism, vampires embody sex, temptation and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. They’ve also been casting their shadow over cinema for more than a century since the release of the legendary 1922 silent-film classic, Nosferatu.
Choosing favourites is no easy task, but after revisiting a mix of timeless classics and fresh hits, we have narrowed it down to a few must-watch picks. Admittedly, some beloved titles did not make the cut: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, and the Twilight saga are all absent from this list, please do not judge… so that said, here are our top choices. (Oh and remember, we’ve done a round-up of movies inspired by their dearly departed Zombie brethren too).
Sinners (2025)
The film that sparked this list? 2025’s excellent-with-a-capital-E Sinners. Produced, written and directed by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), it’s a masterclass in storytelling and proof that the vampire genre can still surprise. Set in 1932 Mississippi, it stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack. This pair of World War I veterans return home and, with money stolen from gangsters, buy a sawmill and open a juke joint for the local black community. Their cousin Sammie, an aspiring guitarist, soon joins them.
On opening night, they face evil that is both supernatural and human. The film blends period drama, action, music and social commentary, tackling race while weaving in a mystical thread. Two musical sequences – one exploring the transcendental nature of music – stopped us in our tracks and had us rewinding in awe.
The cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell and Wunmi Mosaku. The soundtrack is superb, especially Last Time (I Seen the Sun) by Alice Smith and Miles Canton, which is hauntingly beautiful, and moving enough to bring a tear.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
No vamp film roundup could be complete without this 1992 gem. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves and Anthony Hopkins, it’s based on the classic 1897 novel. The story follows Count Dracula, who falls for Mina, the fiancée of his solicitor. When Dracula threatens Mina’s circle, vampire expert Professor Van Helsing steps in to stop him.
The film is a visual feast, boasting jaw-dropping costume design that rightfully won an Oscar and include Dracula’s blood-red, sinewy armour and Oldman’s effortlessly cool vampire sunglasses. It’s packed with passion, shadows and suppressed desires. The only weak spot is Keanu’s painfully bad British accent.
Interview with the Vampire (1994) and Queen of the Damned (2002)
In the 1990s, long before Twilight writer Stephenie Meyer’s rise, Anne Rice was the undisputed queen of vampire fiction. Two melodramatic adaptations of her work made it to the big screen. First up: 1994’s Interview with the Vampire. Born an 18th-century lord, Louis recounts his life story to an eager biographer. Brad Pitt plays the beautiful and pouty Louis, wrapped in sulky velvet and ruffles, while Tom Cruise stars as a very blonde Lestat. The film dives deeply into what it truly means to live as a vampire. Though a bit dated now, it remains a must-watch.
Even more outlandish is Rice’s Queen of the Damned (2002), starring Stuart Townsend alongside Aaliyah in her final role (she was killed in a plane crash shortly after filming wrapped). It follows Lestat again, who has reinvented himself as a leather-clad rock star. His music awakens Akasha, queen of all vampires, who wants to make Lestat her king. The premise alone is gloriously absurd. Queen of the Damned was a box office disappointment but has earned a cult following as a guilty pleasure thanks to its campy charm, cool soundtrack, and Stuart Townsend’s very alluring turn as Lestat.
Blade (1998)
This 1998 hit, based on the Marvel Comics character, is a vampire film with a difference. It stars Wesley Snipes in the titular role, alongside Stephen Dorff. Half-mortal, half-immortal, Blade is on a mission to avenge his mother’s death and rid the world of vampires.
A crazily built Wesley Snipes owns the role, decked out in shades, leather and swords. For 90s teens, nothing screamed cool like rocking a long black leather coat, and The Matrix and Blade sparked a seriously unnecessary epidemic of this dubious sartorial choice. The film was a commercial hit, grossing $131 million worldwide on a $45 million budget. The best scene? The iconic opening rave in a vampire club, with blood everywhere, which is not for anyone with even a mild case of haemophobia.
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
In what may be the best premise ever, a documentary crew follows four vampire flatmates – Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, and Petyr (an 8,000-year-old Nosferatu-style gent) – living in a small suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. This is a cult favourite for very good reasons and arguably our top pick on this list. The Emmy-nominated TV spin-off set in Staten Island is great too, but the movie is real gold that you’ll want to rewatch countless times.
Written, directed by, and starring Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) and Taika Waititi (Thor, Jojo Rabbit) the film explores the daily grind of communal flatting – dirty dishes, chores and the everyday chaos of being a vampire. Rhys Darby shines as the local werewolf leader with the unforgettable line, “We are werewolves, not swear wolves.” Quirky, clever and pure genius.
The Lost Boys (1987)
Aah, what a classic! The Lost Boys tells the story of recently divorced Lucy, who moves with her two sons, Michael and Sam, to Santa Clara, California (also known as the murder capital of the world). Soon, the boys are drawn into the mysterious and dangerous world of biker gangs, vampires, and vampire hunters.
This was the first film to star the iconic 80s duo, the two Coreys (Feldman and Haim). Jason Patric is as bland as white rice, while Kiefer Sutherland and Dianne Wiest deliver strong performances.
With a catchy soundtrack, the film puts young, sexy vampires front and centre – think biker gangs, mullets, make-up, dangled earrings and cool jackets. It’s funny and scary, and man, do we love an 80s flick in which kids save the day. A standout moment is the party scene with the oiled-up muscle man playing the saxophone.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
In this 2012 animated hit, Count Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) is a protective widower who runs a hotel where monsters can hide from humans. He invites his monster friends to celebrate his daughter Mavis’s 118th birthday, but when a clueless human backpacker, Jonathan (Andy Samberg) crashes the “human-free” party, Drac scrambles to keep his guests from finding out.
Cute and clever, the film works for kids, adults and horror fans alike, featuring legends like the Invisible Man, the Mummy and Frankenstein. The star-studded voice cast also includes Steve Buscemi, Fran Drescher, CeeLo Green and David Spade.
Renfield (2023)
To end on a surprise note, give this gory yet funny 2023 film a chance. An action-comedy horror inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, it stars Nicholas Hoult as the title character. The film opens with Renfield, familiar to all vamp fans from Dracula, attending a self-help group for co-dependent relationships. He has a real vent about sourcing victims for his toxic boss, Dracula. Hoult’s comic timing shines. He must have a thing for vampires, as he also stars in 2024’s Nosferatu (PSA: that film didn’t bowl us over, despite Bill Skarsgård’s amazing performance).
In Renfield, Awkwafina is fantastic as the unique, ass-kicking female lead, and Nicolas Cage is at his wacky best as Dracula. It is very funny and very violent, and we can’t stress that last bit enough. It’s gory! Oh, and a memorable scene has Renfield unleashing his supernatural fury on bad guys to Yungblud’s angry but very good track Superdeadfriends.
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