From ‘Sinners’ To ‘The Lost Boys’–These Are The 5 Best Vampire Movies Of All Time
I’m somewhat of a self-proclaimed vampire movie connoisseur, if I do say so myself.
Many argue that vampire movies aren’t horror because they aren’t the typical scare you get from a masked murderer. Vampires are often sexy, sleek, and incredibly charming, which seems to discredit them from being involved in the horror world, but I am a vampire stan and I back their horror involvement without borders. There are a ton of different ways to do a vampire movie, both good and bad, and up to this point I think I can pinpoint the 5 vampire movies that I think are the best I’ve seen. If you’re looking to revisit a favorite, find a new film, or more than likely get mad at me for one of my opinions, look no further! For purpose of adding some depth, I will not be adding in the 1922 Nosferatu or the 1958 Dracula, because, let’s face it, they get a lot of love. So, let’s take a look at my 5 favorite vampire movies of all time.
Sinners (2025)
Now, I know this is a bold choice because it quite literally just came out in theaters but I think Sinners is one of my favorite, if not the #1, movie of the last five years. The movie is about twin brothers, both played by Michael B. Jordan, as they return to their Mississippi hometown in 1932. With visions of grandeur, the brothers want to open up a Juke Joint that is theirs and where they can invite their friends and family to connect together through music in a place where they’re not typically welcome. However, there’s evil afoot in the form of an Irish vampire and he is determined to take their souls. The movie is beautifully shot throughout the course of one day and has a phenomenal soundtrack. I really love the roots of this movie and the vampires in it are unique compared to some others I’ve seen. Sinners is truly a 10/10.
The Lost Boys (1987)
I don’t think any vampire list is complete without The Lost Boys. The Lost Boys is as much of a horror film as it is a comedy, as it is a teen coming-of-age story. This movie is about a mom and her teenage boys moving to Santa Carla, California, a small town with a really weird group of inhabitants. The teen brothers, played by Jason Patric and Corey Haim, try to fit into the scene but it’s kind of dead. No, really, the teens in Santa Carla are mostly ran by vampires and Corey’s character decides he must save everyone in the town from the crew of vampires with the help of his friend played by Corey Feldman. The Lost Boys is a 10 out of 10 just from the saxophone guy in the movie and “they’re only noodles, Michael”.
Blade (1998)
Okay, hear me out, Blade is really, really good. I know there are haters out there but if you are an 80s or 90s baby and specifically a goth or alternative baby, Blade hits all the nostalgic parts. Blade is about a half-mortal, half-immortal man who is looking to avenge his mother’s death by eradicating the world of vampires, one stake to the heart at a time. The vampires he’s hunting have all these special tools and gadgets with the one major goal of stealing Blade’s blood and creating a new human race of halfsies like Blade is. We were potentially going to get a Blade reboot, but Sinners caused that idea to be shelved. This may be a good thing because capturing the essence that is Blade would be really tough.
Let The Right One In (2008)
Let The RIght One In is perfect for anyone who loves dark, noir films. This movie makes everything feel dark and bleak, but shines a light on friendship as a core theme. Let The Right One In is about a bullied 12-year-old who meets his new neighbor in Sweden. His neighbor is moody and reserved, but they connect after some time has passed. He eventually learns that his new friend is a vampire and she may be responsible for some of the murders in the neighborhood. This movie is strange but in all the absolutely right ways and relies heavily on context over dialogue to get its point across. It’s definitely a must-see for a vampire lover.
Near Dark (1987)
It’s a classic tale. Boy meets girl in a bar, boy picks up girl, boy realizes girl is a vampire, girl bites him and turns him into a vampire and they go on a bloody escapade. Near Dark is about exactly that and it follows the aforementioned couple as they galivant with her vampire crew across the country. Eventually, a choice between his family and the vampires comes into play and he must wrestle with being immortal and fueled by hate or have mortality and experience love. It’s a beautifully shot film with a ton of romantic undertones that typically get lost in blood lust. Near Dark needs to be on your next watch list.
