There is no shortage of supernatural creatures for filmmakers and TV show creators to feature in their projects. One of the most common of these creatures is vampires. They have been staples in supernatural entertainment whether it be horror, romance, action, comedy, or some combination of them all. It's Interesting to see how creatives will approach their vampires. Will they take on human form? Or will they look more demonic? Will their weaknesses be garlic and sunlight? Will the lack of a reflection be a tell-tale sign? Will they even have fangs?
From black-and-white classic dramas to soapy teen romances, the interest in vampires has sustained itself over the years. And while some are nameless, faceless entities looming in the background, others have become loved and iconic characters, even if they are the villain. Grab some pure silver and come along as we recount the 25 all-time best vampires in movie and TV history, ranked.
25 Dimitri Denatos — Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire
Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire is a perfect Halloween watch. This Disney Channel Original Movie is about two siblings who are grounded on the most inopportune weekend when they have plans and convince their mom to leave the house. They didn’t anticipate their mother meeting Dimitri, a handsome man who also happens to be a vampire. Dimitri is seen through the eyes of the children and honestly doesn’t get too much character development. But that doesn’t detract from how fun he is, walking on walls and hypnotizing people. It’s a cheesy movie, but sometimes lighthearted and simple is the way to go.
24 Count Dracula — Nosferatu the Vampyre
For some, Nosferatu is just that odd reference at the end of that one Spongebob Squarepants episode. For others, “Nosferatu” is a term attached to some of the most iconic vampires. Count Dracula in the 1979 German horror Nosferatu the Vampyre deserves a place on this list.
The story follows a real estate agent looking to secure a deal with a wealthy man in Transylvania. It’s only when he arrives at Count Dracula’s home that the agent realizes the prospective client has more in mind than discussing land acreage and signing papers. Count Dracula is a relentless and sinister figure, becoming obsessed with the agent’s wife. Klaus Kinski’s portrayal of this character will leave you itchy with discomfort in the best possible way.
23 The Girl — A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is an independent Persian-language film released in 2014. It follows a vampire called The Girl who seeks to punish the sinful people in Bad City. Some of those whom she kills are truly bad people, though the sense of wrongness permeates the screen.
It’s clear that The Girl is lonely and harboring lots of anger, so when she meets a guy named Arash and restrains herself from killing him, it shows she also senses something missing from her life. The film is shot in black-and-white, emphasizing the horror elements and the loneliness of the two main characters.
22 Rosalie Hale — Twilight
Twilight revitalized interest in vampires and supernatural beings during the late-2000s. When Bella Swan falls in love with a vampire, she also becomes involved in his entire family. Among his family members is Rosalie. Though she isn’t given much screen time, the peek inside her traumatic past and subsequent transformation into a vampire shows how many layers there are to her.
Rosalie was human in the early-1900s and engaged to a man. But after he and his friends assault her and leave her for dead, she is transformed into a vampire. Rosalie gets her revenge on her attackers, including her former fiancé while cloaked in her wedding dress. It can be easy to write her off as another mean blonde, but there’s so much more to her and she deserves her own movie.
21 Lily Munster — The Munsters
The Munsters is a comedy following the lives of a family of monsters. It flew under the radar due to some things that don’t quite make sense even when talking about fictional beings, such as a vampire mom and Frankenstein dad making a werewolf son). Additionally, it never matched the hype of The Addams Family, which some believed this show was ripping off.
However, those who ignored this show may have missed out on Lily Munster, said vampiric wife and one of the best characters. Since the show was a satire, Lily’s character often showed the absurdity of expectations put on women of the time. She embraced aspects of “traditional femininity” and rejected others and was as fascinating as she was hilarious.
20 Damon Salvatore — The Vampire Diaries
Damon Salvatore is one half of the iconic vampire brother duo in The Vampire Diaries. Fans got to know his brother, Stefan, first, but once Damon entered the town of Mystic Falls, it was hard not to root for this charming and condescending vampire. Damon speaks sarcasm as his mother tongue and readily gives in to his desires for human blood, unlike his good guy brother.
Yet even with his brutality, it’s hard to despise him. From the first season, Damon’s plan of destruction and wreaking chaos shifts, and he starts to give in to his more human emotions. There’s never a dull moment when Damon’s on-screen.
19 Kurt Barlow — Salem's Lot (1979)
Kurt Barlow’s vampiric appearance is much different from the conventionally attractive, sparkly, and prim versions modern audiences have come to know. Salem’s Lot (1979) is a miniseries based on Stephen King’s novel of the same title. The story centers on a man who goes back to his hometown and notices that there’s a sinister feeling surrounding the town.
Kurt Barlow is a vampire who is responsible for the deaths and disappearances of many of the residents. He is downright terrifying to look at and doesn’t have to say a word to inspire fear in viewers. There’s clearly a lot going on inside his head, as he repeatedly outsmarts his victims and is a formidable antagonist to defeat.
18 Barnabas Collins — Dark Shadows (1966)
When you think of soap operas, it’s unlikely that vampires are what comes to mind. But that’s what made Dark Shadows so addicting. The show had certain hallmarks of soap operas: plenty of melodrama, unrealistic (but fun) plot twists, and a huge net of characters. Yet it positioned itself apart from the rest by including supernatural creatures, like the vampire Barnabas Collins.
Much of what we picture when we think of vampires comes from Barnabas’ iconic look, such as his wolf’s head cane. But it was his distinguished speech and manner from his human days in the 1700s to his loyalty to the current-day Collins family that helped revive interest in this show.
17 Jerry Dandridge — Fright Night (1985)
Jerry Dandridge from Fright Night is that one peculiar neighbor people gossip about, and in this case many of the rumors are true. Charley is a horror-obsessed teen who becomes convinced that Jerry is a vampire after hearing and seeing strange things at his house, and the fact that people have gone missing.
Jerry is the perfect villain in this supernatural film. On one hand, he’s extremely charming, drawing in the attention of Charley’s girlfriend and making his demise all the more important to Charley. On the other hand, he can be completely unhinged, stalking and lurking through Charley’s house and attacking him with unnerving poise.
16 Selene — Underworld
Underworld is an action-packed franchise set in a world of vampires and werewolves who are trying to gain control. Selene is a vampire who is a Death Dealer (an assassin). Her motivation for killing werewolves goes beyond securing her species at the top of the food chain. Wolves killed her family, and nothing tastes sweeter to her than revenge.
But a human she has a pull towards is bitten by a wolf, thus starting Selene’s inner battle about where her loyalties lie. Selene’s ruthlessness and strength make her an engaging character to lead this series.
15 Mavis Dracula — Hotel Transylvania
Hotel Transylvania is an animated movie franchise following monsters and the titular hotel. Mavis is the daughter of the hotel’s owner, Dracula. In this world, monsters are desperate for a place sans humans to relax and be their true selves, which is where Hotel Transylvania comes in. But when a human finds the hotel, Count Dracula will do all he can to uphold the sanctity of his hotel.
Mavis has been led to fear humans and their world forever, but falls for the human at the hotel. She has an intense curiosity for the world and craves independence, making her a heroine many children can root for. Whether it be her walking on the walls to prepare standing up for her father or seeing her transition into adulthood in later movies, she’s a wholesome character.
14 Eli — Let the Right One In
This Swedish horror film deserves more hype, and, in turn, so does Eli. Let the Right One In follows a boy, Oskar, who is ostracized and bullied, but hopes things might turn around when Eli moves in nearby. No one could’ve known that Eli was more than just a peculiar new kid. Eli is a vampire. Eli is so clearly tormented, fighting a need for connection and friendship with a thirst for blood and other vampiric urges. As this is a horror film, Eli pulls Oskar down a dark path and invites viewers to accompany them on this disturbing ride.
13 Eric Brooks — Blade
Blade is a superhero film and also the nickname for Eric Brooks when he shifts into vampire-hunting mode. Eric himself is half-vampire, granting him some of the abilities of these creatures like heightened strength, speed, and agility. Despite these powers, it’s understandable why he dedicates his life to getting rid of vampires.
When his mom was pregnant with him, she was attacked by a vampire. Though he was saved, his mother died, igniting his hatred. This emotional backstory connects viewers to his journey. Though the bad CGI in the film dates it, Blade’s presence and high-octane fight sequences will pull you back in.
12 Santanico Pandemonium — From Dusk till Dawn
Salma Hayek’s snake-accompanied dance as Santanico Pandemonium in From Dusk till Dawn may be how most remember this character, but Santanico is much more than that. She is a dancer and performer, yes, but possibly much cooler is the fact that she’s a vampire queen and is who sets off the ensuing madness inside the club as they give some passing criminals much more than they bargained for. Though Santanico isn’t in much of the film, she made the most of her screen time and is one of the most memorable people from the film.
11 Dr. Hess Green — Ganja & Hess
Dr. Hess Green is an anthropologist turned vampire in the classic horror film Ganja & Hess. The film did a lot to diversify the horror genre as a whole, but also the niche of vampires which are often portrayed as those with pale skin.
Dr. Green is a distinguished man who tries to help others, which in this case led to his transformation. After becoming a vampire, Dr. Green feels isolated but after meeting a woman and turning her into a vampire falls deep into this new lifestyle. However, he soon questions his actions and the film uses his arc to explore themes of immortality, good and evil, and many others.
10 Nadja — What We Do in the Shadows
What We Do in the Shadows is a comedy horror show that follows three vampires living in New York. It’s hard to choose just one of this trio, but Nadja is too hilarious to pass over. Filmed in a mockumentary style, Nadja airs her grievances with her life and her annoyances of those in her life straight to the viewer.
Despite being around for hundreds of years since she grew up in Greece, Nadja doesn’t shy away from bemoaning what humans are like and making her displeasure known. But don’t take her sharp tongue as an indicator that she’s heartless. Nadja is a hopeless romantic, whether it be with her housemates, her human familiar, or a reincarnated knight who can’t seem to catch a break.
9 Rudolph Sackville-Bagg — The Little Vampire
The entire cast of characters in the sweet children’s vampire movie The Little Vampire is endearing. However, it may be Rudolph that pulls on viewers’ hearts the most. Rudolph and his entire family are vampires, and he feels quite lonely since they have to hide in the shadows. So, when he meets Tony, who he believes is a vampire, he’s ecstatic.
Even after he realizes Tony is merely a human, their bond cannot be broken. Rudolph has to balance his father’s disdain for humans, determined vampire hunters, and his new friendship. Rudolph is a sweet character just looking for connection, and his loyalty to Tony is one to be admired.
8 Mina Harker — Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful is a unique horror show that mashes up characters from various works of literature into one show. One of those characters is Mina Harker, whose character was originally seen in Dracula. Mina is what brings the different characters together as they try to rescue her after she is kidnapped. She was turned into a vampire, which complicated her relationship with her father (understandably).
Mina adds a lot of emotional weight to the show, from her friendship with Vanessa to her mixed feelings toward Dracula. Her character is expanded upon from the novels and is someone whose core struggles are universal.
7 Miriam Blaylock — The Hunger (1983)
The Hunger takes a unique spin on a love triangle. One point on this triangle is Miriam, a vampire who is frustratingly cool, calm, and collected. This alluring nature is what leads many of her victims to her. Her history of roping in unsuspecting victims dates back to Ancient Egypt and 18th-Century France, where she met her lover John.
The introduction of Dr. Sarah Roberts into her life complicates things. Miriam had no qualms using and tossing aside people in her past, but this new dynamic with John and Sarah makes her question how she’s lived her long life. And as Sarah deals with her own transformation into a vampire, Miriam herself may need to learn to relocate parts of her humanity.
6 Count Dracula — Dracula (1931)
There have been many interpretations of the iconic vampire Count Dracula, but Bela Lugosi’s portrayal in the 1931 Dracula film is among the best. This is the first departure from silent film adaptations of Dracula, though filmmakers use silence effectively to add to the gothic atmosphere.
It’s also a black-and-white film, but Count Dracula gives enough color with his boisterous performance for the viewing experience to feel lively. He is dramatic in all the right ways, balancing between comedic and creepy. While you might not necessarily root for Count Dracula to succeed in his hunt for human blood, you’ll love every moment he’s on screen.
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