The 20 Best Horror Vampire Movies Since 1980

Vampires have sunk their fangs into cinema since the beginning, with silent film “Nosferatu”, and have not let up since.

These immortal bloodsuckers offer a tantalizing blend of terror and seduction that make them irresistible.

I adore “Byzantium” for its eerie elegance and “30 Days of Night” for its no holds barred tension and gore.

In this list we have chosen 20 horror vampire movies since 1980 that are true standouts and have become horror fan favorites.

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Here are The 20 Best Horror Vampire Movies Since 1980 in No Particular Order

1. 30 Days of Night (2007)

Director: David Slade
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: R
’30 Days of Night’ on IMDb

This is set in the isolated town of Barrow, Alaska, where the sun doesn’t rise for a whole month during winter. As darkness begins, a horde of bloodthirsty vampires descends upon the town, slaughtering its residents with ruthless efficiency. The survivors, led by Sheriff Eben Oleson and his estranged wife Stella, must band together and fight for their lives against the relentless onslaught of the undead.

2. Blade (1998)

Director: Stephen Norrington
Cast: Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson
Genre: Action, Horror
Rating: R
‘Blade’ on IMDb

Blade, the ultimate vampire hunter, is half-man, half-vampire, and all badass. With his cool gadgets, martial arts skills, and snarky sidekicks, he’s ready to take on the forces of darkness and save the world from a vampiric virus.

3. Let the Right One In (2008)

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Cast: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar
Genre: Drama, Horror, Romance
Rating: R
‘Let the Right One In’ on IMDb

A chilling tale of a lonely boy and a mysterious girl. She’s pale, she’s cold, and she’s a vampire. He’s bullied, he’s bored, and he’s smitten. Together, they find solace in each other, but need to choose if their romance can survive the harsh realities of life and death.

4. The Lost Boys (1987)

Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Rating: R
‘The Lost Boys’ on IMDb

Teenage brothers Michael and Sam move to a new town and discover that it’s crawling with vampires. They join forces with a group of vampire hunters called the Frog Brothers to stop the bloodsuckers from taking over the town and turning Michael into one of them.

5. John Carpenters Vampires (1998)

Director: John Carpenter
Cast: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee
Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
Rating: R
‘John Carpenter’s Vampires’ on IMDb

Jack Crow is a professional vampire slayer who works for the Vatican. He and his team are on a mission to find and destroy the master vampire Valek, who is searching for a relic that can give him the power to walk in daylight.

6. From Dusk Til Dawn (1996)

Director: Robert Rodriguez
Cast: George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Salma Hayek
Genre: Action, Crime, Horror
Rating: R
‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ on IMDb

Two criminal brothers, Seth and Richie, kidnap a family and take them to a strip club in Mexico. Little do they know that the club is run by vampires who want to feast on them. They must team up with the family and some other patrons to fight their way out of the hellish night.

7. Fright Night (1985)

Director: Tom Holland
Cast: Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: R
‘Fright Night’ on IMDb

Charlie Brewster is a horror fan who suspects that his new neighbor Jerry is a vampire. He enlists the help of a TV show host and vampire expert named Peter Vincent to expose and kill Jerry. But Jerry is not going down without a fight, and he has his eyes on Charlie’s girlfriend Amy.

8. I Am Legend (2007)

Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13
‘I Am Legend’ on IMDb

Robert Neville is the last man alive in a post-apocalyptic New York City. He spends his days hunting for food, searching for a cure, and avoiding the infected creatures that roam the night. He is not alone, however, as he has his loyal dog Sam and a radio broadcast that he hopes will reach other survivors.

9. Underworld (2003)

Director: Len Wiseman
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Thriller
Rating: R
‘Underworld’ on IMDb

Selene is a vampire warrior who belongs to a secret society that is at war with the werewolves, or Lycans. She falls in love with a human named Michael, who is bitten by a Lycan and becomes a hybrid. Together, they uncover a dark conspiracy that threatens both races.

10. Near Dark (1987)

Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Cast: Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Rating: R
‘Near Dark’ on IMDb

A young cowboy falls in love with a mysterious girl who turns out to be a vampire. He joins her nomadic family of bloodsuckers and struggles to adapt to their dark lifestyle.

11. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves
Genre: Horror, Romance
Rating: R
‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ on IMDb

Count Dracula travels from Transylvania to London to pursue his love, Mina Harker, who he believes is the reincarnation of his lost love. As Dracula unleashes his dark powers upon the city, a group of brave souls, including Mina’s fiancé Jonathan Harker and the vampire hunter Van Helsing, must band together to stop him. Filled with Gothic romance, Gothic horror, and breathtaking visuals, this film is a captivating and chilling take on the iconic vampire story.

12. Thirst (2009)

Director: Park Chan-wook
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Ok-bin, Kim Hae-sook
Genre: Drama, Horror, Romance
Rating: R
‘Thirst’ on IMDb

A devout priest volunteers for a medical experiment that turns him into a vampire. He struggles with his new urges and falls in love with his friend’s wife, who is unhappy with her life. Together, they embark on a twisted affair that leads to murder and madness. A dark and erotic thriller from the director of Oldboy.

13. Cronos (1992)

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman, Claudio Brook
Genre: Drama, Horror
Rating: R
‘Cronos’ on IMDb

An antique dealer named Jesus Gris discovers a mysterious, insect like device hidden within an ancient statue. This device grants him immortality but at the terrifying cost of being turned into a vampire. Jesus becomes entangled in a dangerous game with an aging, wealthy man obsessed with the device’s powers.

14. Queen of the Damned (2002)

Director: Michael Rymer
Cast: Aaliyah, Stuart Townsend, Marguerite Moreau
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Rating: R
‘Queen of the Damned’ on IMDb

The vampire Lestat becomes a rock star to reveal his existence to the world. But his music awakens the ancient vampire queen, Akasha, who’s been asleep for centuries. As she rises to power, Lestat finds himself in a battle for survival against this powerful and seductive force. It’s a dark and sexy vampire tale with a killer soundtrack and plenty of supernatural twists.

15. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Director: Neil Jordan
Cast: Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Antonio Banderas
Genre: Drama, Horror
Rating: R
‘Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles’ on IMDb

Louis, a depressed plantation owner, tells his life story as a vampire to a curious reporter. He was turned by the charming but cruel Lestat, who taught him the ways of the night. Together, they made a little girl, Claudia, into a vampire, and lived as a twisted family for decades. But Louis was never happy with killing humans, and Claudia wanted to grow up. What will happen when they meet other vampires in Paris?

16. Let Me In (2010)

Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Rating: R
‘Let Me In’ on IMDb

Owen is a lonely and bullied boy who befriends Abby, a mysterious girl who moves in next door. She’s not like other girls, she’s a vampire, and she needs blood to survive. She helps Owen stand up to his bullies, and he falls in love with her. But their relationship is not easy, as Abby has a secret guardian who kills for her, and a detective who is on their trail.

17. The Hunger (1983)

Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, Susan Sarandon
Genre: Horror
Rating: R
‘The Hunger’ on IMDb

A vampire couple, Miriam and John, are desperate to halt their aging process. When John begins to rapidly age, Miriam seeks a new lover, drawing in a young doctor named Sarah. As Sarah discovers the truth about Miriam’s immortality, she finds herself trapped in a seductive and dangerous world.

18. Stake Land (2010)

Director: Jim Mickle
Cast: Connor Paolo, Nick Damici, Kelly McGillis
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Rating: R
‘Stake Land’ on IMDb

It follows a young man named Martin and a badass vampire hunter named Mister as they trek through a post-apocalyptic America ravaged by bloodsuckers. Along the way, they encounter various dangers, including cults and other survivors, while seeking sanctuary in “New Eden.” It’s a dark and thrilling ride with plenty of action and heart-pounding moments.

19. Daybreakers (2010)

Directors: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill
Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
Rating: R
‘Daybreakers’ on IMDb

In a world where most people are vampires, blood is a scarce and precious commodity. Ethan Hawke plays a vampire scientist who is trying to find a substitute for human blood, while Willem Dafoe plays a former vampire who has a cure for the condition. Together, they must fight against a corrupt system that wants to keep the status quo.

20. Byzantium (2013)

Director: Neil Jordan
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Arterton, Sam Riley
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Rating: R
‘Byzantium’ on IMDb

Two female vampires, a mother and a daughter, have been on the run for centuries, hiding their secret from the world. When they arrive in a seaside town, they find new opportunities and dangers. The mother, played by Gemma Arterton, becomes a brothel owner, while the daughter, played by Saoirse Ronan, falls in love with a dying boy. But their past soon catches up with them, as a group of ancient vampires hunts them down.