There are a lot of vampire movies out there, here are some of the best ones across a few different subgenres of horror for everyone to enjoy!
Over the past few decades, vampire movies have gotten a bit of a bad rap. Among many in the mainstream, they are treated as a monolith of the moody teen romance—which isn’t inherently a bad thing to begin with—and thus, given less weight in the horror world. This, however, is an unfair reputation when there are so many different kinds of vampires for anyone to enjoy. So here are five movies for any kind of vampire lover this October!
“I want my vampires the way they were intended: old and goth”
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
While certainly not a loyal adaptation of the original text, that does not make Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 adaptation of Dracula any less worthy of your time. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a gorgeous film, capturing the dark, romantic nature of the gothic genre while still bringing something fresh to the table (it’s hard to argue with that Academy Award for best costume design).
For those who are fans of works like Crimson Peak, Rebecca, or Sweeney Todd, this is going to be a must-watch.
You can watch it for free now on Pluto TV or rent it on Prime Video.
“I want vampires that are modern, but not dramatic”
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
When you used to say What We Do in the Shadows, this is what people thought of first before the show. Starring the incomparable Taika Watiti and Jemaine Clements, this indie horror comedy has all the humor audiences have come to expect of a Taika Watiti project—dry and witty, with lightning-fast jokes to match—while still bringing something fresh to the vampire genre, as it follows the vampires in a mockumentary style. For many horror comedy fans, this is truly the gold standard.
I highly recommend this one for folks who are fans of Cabin in the Woods, Shaun of the Dead, and Best in Show.
While you cannot currently watch it anywhere with a subscription, you can find it for rent on Prime Video.
“I want Twilight level drama, without too much cheese”
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Based on the Anne Rice novel of the same name, this movie is a dark and erotic film about the deeply toxic dynamic between two vampires, Lestat (Tom Cruise) and Louis (Brad Pitt), and its eventual downfall, as told through an interview being conducted with Louis by a modern biographer, Daniel Molloy (Christian Slater). Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles has long been a staple among diehard vampire fans, filled with all the weird interpersonal dynamics that one could hope for from a story about immortal beings with questionable morals, and this film is certainly no exception to that.
This is an excellent watch for any fans of Feast of All Saints, Byzantium, and Sleepy Hollow.
You can watch it now on Hulu (And if you end up liking this movie? Make sure to check out the AMC series too!).
“I want a vampire movie that’s about fighting vampires”
Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)
This movie, released in 2020, is truly an underrated gem that, sadly, got lost in the shuffle of the pandemic for many. Without spoiling too much, it follows a group of friends who discover a sinister plot as vampires plan to destroy their neighborhood and they must band together before it’s too late. With a talented cast and clever writing, this film can hold its own among the rest and deserves the recognition that it has long deserved. It very much calls to mind the 1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie and you’ll have just as much fun watching it.
This movie is great for fans of Attack The Block, Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse or The Goonies.
You can watch it now, exclusively on Netflix.
“I want vampires that are just straight up scary”
Let The Right One In (2008)
While Swedish in origin, do not let that fact put you off of an incredible experience. When a young boy named Oskar meets his new neighbor, Eli, the two strike up a friendship and he soon realizes that she is involved in something far darker than he was prepared for. This movie spends its runtime building its tense atmosphere with expert precision and brings a fresh take to the vampire genre by putting it all through the perspective of a child. This movie is not afraid to take its time and when the scares happen, they pay off.
This is a great watch for fans of The Witch, Devil’s Backbone, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
You can find it for free on Tubi or watch it on Peacock.
