The vampire genre is about as old as filmmaking itself. In 1922, Murnau’s “Nosferatu” terrified viewers, accompanied by the endless variations that fell in her shadow. From Universal Studios’ “Dracula” series starting with Tod Browning’s Bram Stoker adaptation in 1931, all the way up to Iranian-American filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour’s independent feminist variant “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”. 

Even though concept has created numerous grotesque classics, too many to list, we have simply summarized our picks that also seeks to represent a fair number of cross-genre films, including the controversial, romantic homage “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” by Francis Ford Coppola in 1992, Tomas Alfredson’s creepy yet delightful “Let The Right One In” and Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s dark comedy “What We Do in the Shadows”.

10 Vampire Movies

Here’s our list of the best Vampire Movies of all time:

1. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

On top of our list of best vampire movies is the Jim Jarmusch’s “Only Lovers Left Alive” is a light, witty sketch of a movie. Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton star as bored, retro-cool outsiders. The film rewards right though the drive to do so has gone with a smart emotional payoff about going on. It is exciting to see that even the vampires have a lust for life and the courage to lament with their soul over it. The film is the latest suggestion that one of America’s great modern auteurs has plenty left to say.

2. Let the Right One In (2008)

Tomas Alfredson’s creation way before the big screen vampire genre film “Twilight” is a creepy yet delightful look at a 12-year-old boy and the vampire girl who befriends him. The movie comes this close to generating an erotic tension between its adolescent leads, but never breaks its eerie poetic spell. The director’s gradual approach hints at menacing forces while leaving just enough up to the imagination of the viewer to fill in the gaps coupled with plenty of frightening anticipatory scenes. 

3. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s darkly hilarious “What We Do in the Shadows” is now a hit series on FX. The crew drops in on four roommates possessed with all manner of magical powers in this mockumentary making this arguably the funniest vampire movie of all time. Though they’re all well over 100 years old, their struggles feel all too relatable to the millennials. It’s a refreshing reminder of how a shopworn genre, when turned upside down, can feel entirely new again.

4. Thirst (2009)

South Korean, genre-juggling master Park Chan-wook has fearlessly tackled lesbian and psychodramatic bits. “Thirst” follows a Roman Catholic priest who becomes possessed by an insatiable lust for blood. Park dials up the appalling factor with each exaggerated slurp of blood and directs his film into a gloriously bloody finish. The film is directed by Korean screen legend Song Kang-ho, who also starred in the academy award winner “Parasite”.

5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

The 1992 film introduced the now-iconic ditzy teenage vampire hunter. The movie was mostly panned by critics, it performed fairly well at the box office. For years there have been rumours about a remake however, nothing can be claimed with full certainty yet. The TV series has been a smash hit since its premiere in 2004. The script was created by Joss Whedon, who also wrote the movie script for the TV series.

6. Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Hotel Transylvania is directed by Genndy Tartakovsky set in the Dracula’s luxurious hotel, where monsters and their kin can enjoy living and no humans are permitted. On one remarkable weekend, Dracula (Adam Sandler) welcomed all his closest pals to commemorate the 118th birthday of his baby girl Mavis (Selena Gomez), but the event actually begins when an average person wanders into the resort and transforms everything! The mind-blowing animation, clever dialogues and a perfect ending makes this a must watch vampire movie, in case you are not in mood for some spooky, nerve wrecking bloodbath.

7. Blade Series

Guillermo Del Toro’s Blade II is remarkable for how fun it is while still packing in plenty of creative oomph. The movie offers remarkably well choreographed action sequences making it a treat to watch. The movie is based on an unusual mutated gene which brings the rise of an unique group of vampires named “the Reapers”, which target humans as well as other vampires. Blade is tasked to wipe out the Reaper population, with the support of an elite vampire army. The sequel to the original classic Blade (1998) is as exciting to watch as its predecessor. Blade series is undoubtedly one of the best Vampire movie series of all time.

8. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Gary Oldman plays each version of the Dracula character with a lurid uninhibitedness. The whole movie has a slashing sense of menace and instead of playing the classic story as boldly terrifying, the filmmaker strives for the psychological insanity, skepticism, and suspense of being a blood-thirsty monster. 

9. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

Bizarre stuff is on the run in Evil Town. The ghost town of Iran, house to prostitutes, druggies, traffickers, and other scandalous souls, in a city that stinks of decay and despair, in which the most distasteful residents are stalked by a solitary vampire. However when a kid encounters a girl, an odd tale of passion starts to bloom.

The breakthrough of Ana Lily Amirpour’s 1st Iranian Vampire Movie, basks in the pure joy of grit. Amplified by a combination of riffs influenced by Iranian punk, techno and Morricone, the airy, anamorphic, black-and-white style and elegantly crafted scenes merge Sergio Leone’s brewing suspense with David Lynch’s absurdism makes this one of the most intense and best vampire movies of all time.

10. Let the Right One In (2008)

Tomas Alfredson’s 2008 Swedish vampire-adolescent picture is the bloody valentine for you. Author John Ajvide Lindqvist adapted his own novel for the screenplay. The trust that is put to the test before the movie’s horrifying yet uncomfortably heart-warming conclusion making it one of the greatest vampire films.  

Now, it’s your turn to pick up any movie and tune into it this weekend to make the most out of quarantine boredom. 

Also Red: 12 Highly Acclaimed Korean Erotic Movies