Vampire movies seem to have eternal life. The subgenre has been around for well over a century (although drawing on much older folklore) and has turned up on-screen every decade. Vampire films have changed a lot over time, from gory to camp to romantic to comedic to terrifying. And while it’s not quite as popular as it once was, the subgenre continues to deliver several movies every year. Most of them are disposable, buta few are worth a second look.
With this in mind,this list looks at the best vampire films of the 2020s so far. They represent a diverse range of approaches to vampire elements, from indie dramedies and straightforward horror to political satire and action flicks. There’s bound to be something for everyone among these picks. They go to show that the richness of vampire lore seems to be infinitely malleable, updating itself for each new generation of audiences.
10’Night Teeth' (2021)
Directed by Adam Randall
“You ever wonder what happens after dark in this city?” InNight Teeth, college student Benny (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) takes on a chauffeur job to earn extra cash. His assignment involves driving two enigmatic women, Blaire (Debby Ryan) and Zoe (Lucy Fry), to various LA parties. As the night unfolds, Benny discovers that his passengers are vampires embroiled in a clandestine war, and poor Ben is caught in the crossfire.
This is by no means a groundbreaking vampire flick, but it’s stilldecent and, for the right viewer, enjoyable. It benefits significantly from the filmmakers' playful approach, imitating and paying tribute to classic tropes of the subgenre. There are no sparkly vampires to be found here. The movie is also nicely breezy, never asking much from the viewer. It may be low on substance, butNight Teethis stylish, and there are solid performances from the likes ofAlfie AllenandSydney Sweeney.
Night Teeth
9’Blood Red Sky' (2021)
Directed by Peter Thorwarth
“Sometimes, you have to lose a part of yourself to save the thing you love.“Blood Red Skyfollows Nadja (Peri Baumeister), a woman afflicted with a mysterious illness, traveling with her son Elias on a transatlantic flight. When terrorists hijack the plane, Nadja’s dark secret is revealed: she is a vampire. To protect her son, she unleashes her vampiric instincts, turning the hijackers' plan into a bloody struggle for survival. The result isNear DarkmeetsJodi Foster’sFlight Plan.
Blood Red Skuis a strong action-horror, making the most out of its claustrophobic setting. The movie works becauseit plays itself straight, opting to be serious and grim rather than camp or ironic. The script asks a lot of star Baumeister, and she delivers, capturing both the human and monstrous sides to her character, whether it’s snapping and snarling like a snake or embodying a mother’s intense grief.
Blood Red Sky
8’Day Shift' (2022)
Directed by J.J. Perry
“I’m just trying to make a living, man. Hunting vampires just happens to be a profitable gig.” On the other end of the spectrum isDay Shift,a more comedic riff on vampire action.Jamie Foxxleads the cast as Bud Jablonski, apparently a regular pool cleaner in Los Angeles whose real occupation is hunting and killing vampires to collect bounties. The crux of the plot is Foxx’s mission to take down a powerful vampire queen and keep his family together.
The finished product is decidedly goofybut that’s what’ll make it appeal to a certain audience. It’s a nostalgic throwback to the wisecracking action blockbusters of an earlier era, reveling in inspirations likeDie Hard,Lethal Weapon, andBlade. Again,Day Shiftis no masterpiece, but it’s elevated considerably by Foxx’s effortless cool andDave Franco’s wackiness. As star vehicles go, one could do a lot worse.
7’The Last Voyage of the Demeter' (2023)
Directed by André Øvredal
“The devil is real. I’ve seen his face.” Based on a chapter fromBram Stoker’sDracula,The Last Voyage of the Demeterchronicles the ill-fated journey of a merchant ship transporting mysterious cargo from Carpathia to London. Unbeknownst to the crew, one of the crates contains Count Dracula. As the voyage progresses, the crew members experience strange occurrences and are hunted by a sinister presence.
Making a new Dracula film is a daunting task given the caliber of some of the movies that have gone before, but the filmmakers do a decent job here, craftinga lean, mean horror outing. Some of the execution stumbles, and the film perhaps falls a little short of its potential, but it deserves props for its refined aesthetic and frenzied conclusion.Demeter’s fans included horror luminariesGuillermo Del ToroandStephen King, the latter of whomcalledit “a throat-ripping good time” that “reminded [him] of the best of the Hammer movies from the ’60s and ’70s.”
The Last Voyage of The Demeter
6’The Vourdalak' (2023)
Directed by Santiago Fernández Calvete
“They say the vourdalak is neither alive nor dead but always hungry for the blood of those it loves most.” This French film takes a different approach to the vampire film,telling more of a gothic horror/drama story. Set in a remote 19th-century Eastern European village,The Vourdalakfocuses on the Marquis d’Urfé (Kacey Mottet Klein), a messenger from the king who gets lost in a forest and takes shelter with a strange family harboring macabre secrets.
The Vourdalakis a much subtler take on bloodsucker tropes;atmospheric dread and sumptuous visualsare at a premium here. The movie is also animated by a dark sense of humor, and it’s just as fascinated with turbulent family dynamics as with monsters. It all builds up to a memorable feast scene, combining camp and eeriness. It makes forone of the smartest and most unique vampire movies in recent years. While too slow-paced for some, many will appreciate its deft storytelling and fleshed-out themes.
The Vourdalak
5’Renfield' (2023)
Directed by Chris McKay
“I need to get out of a toxic relationship.” A bizarro riff onDracula,Renfieldputs the spotlight on the Count’s (Nicolas Cage) long-suffering servant (Nicholas Hoult). After centuries of servitude, Renfield seeks to break free from his master’s control and live a normal life. His journey toward independence leads him to confront his codependency while navigating the challenges of modern-day New Orleans and the supernatural threats that come with it.
The humor is a mix of batty humor and gonzo acting, particularly from Cage, who seems physically incapable of turning down roles like this. Hoult adds a boyish charm to the proceedings, whileAwkwafinais also entertaining as an aggressive cop. The special effects are also good, serving up great makeup and delectably gruesome carnage, reflectingRenfield’s hefty$65 million budget. Still, the movie was a massive box office bomb, bringing in just$26.9 milliondespite decent reviews.
4’El Conde' (2023)
Directed by Pablo Larraín
“I have lived for over two centuries, and the thirst for power has never left me.“El Condeis a bold reimagining of historythat blends satire, horror, and political commentary. It portraysChilean dictatorAugusto Pinochet(Jaime Vadell) as a centuries-old vampire who has survived through political manipulation and ruthless tactics. Disillusioned with his existence and the tarnished legacy he has left behind, Pinochet seeks solace in the idea of finally ending his immortality.
This is one of the more intriguing vampire allegories of the last decade, using genre elements to comment on corruption and human rights abuses. It’s rare that a vampire movie is actually less horrific than the real events it draws on. The premise might not be quite enough to sustain the entire runtime, but the movie’s historical perspective and bleak humor are commendable. The final ingredient is the immersive cinematography byEdward Lachman, who worked on projects likeThe Virgin SuicidesandCarol.
Watch on Netflix
3’Abigail' (2024)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet
“Blood isn’t just life—it’s legacy.” In this loose update of 1936’sDracula’s Daughter, a group of criminals kidnap the young ballerina Abigail (Alisha Weir), the daughter of a legendary crime lord, and hold her for a massive ransom. The baddies hunker down in an isolated mansion, only to realize that Abigail is a vampire and a far more formidable force than any of them.
Abigailis like a vampiricHome Alone, with touches of the “ronny/lilly” episode ofBarry. The film isa gleeful grab bag of genres—slasher film, haunted house, locked door mystery, crime film, vampire tale—starting in the guise of a run-of-the-mill crime flick but slowly morphing into something much moreinteresting and often riotously funny. It’s fun to watch the characters being picked off one by one, and they have enough depth and personality that each death is unique, and the group dynamics shift with each disappearance.
2’Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person' (2024)
Directed by Ariane Louis-Seize
“Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is take something for ourselves.” This whimsical yet haunting film revolves around Sasha (Sara Montpetit), a socially awkward vampire who struggles with the moral dilemma of feeding on humans. When she meets Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard), a deeply depressed young man contemplating suicide, an unusual friendship blossoms. Paul consents to become her next meal, but their connection leads both characters to reevaluate life, death, and the value of human experience.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Personis essentiallya teen love story fused with vampire tropesand a welcome dose of dark comedy. The idea of an anxious vampire who finds it hard to feed feels very apt for Gen Z, but directorAriane Louis-Seizeplays this premise as much for introspection as for humor. Thanks to the committed performances, this oddball concept becomes a cute, horror-infused dramedy and one of the most interesting offerings in the vampire genre in 2024, if not one of the scariest.
WATCH ON MUBI
1’Nosferatu' (2024)
Directed by Robert Eggers
“The shadows never truly vanish—they wait.” Claiming the top spot on this list is, unsurprisingly,Robert Eggers’s remaining of theF.W. Murnauclassic. It’s a slick, sumptuous horror of obsession, focusing on a young woman and the vampire who seeks to claim her.Bill Skarsgårdstars as Count Orlok, joined by Nicholas Hoult,Lily-Rose Depp,Aaron Taylor-Johnson,Willem Dafoe, andEmma Corrin.
Eggers has long established himself as a modern horror maestro, meaning that there was massive hype for Nosferatu.The movie more than lived up to expectations, from the exquisite costumes, set design, and cinematography to the intelligent writing and Oscar-worthy performances across the board, especially from Hoult and Depp. It’s a fantastic blend of straightforward horror with a symbolic period drama, both frightening and thoughtful. Not for nothing,Nosferatuearned rave reviews (including from filmmakers as diverse asSean BakerandDavid Fincher) and became the director’s highest-grossing project. It’s a new vampire classic.
