The 10 Most Thrilling Vampire Movies, Ranked (2024)

Vampire-themed movies are a popular horror subgenre, but not many of them are action-packed. Some of the most famous examples of the genre, from Bram Stoker's Dracula to Interview With the Vampire, deal with the fascination with vampires more than putting them in action sequences. But there's no shortage of vampire action movies, with some being so iconic that they had the potential to become cult classics upon release.

Some viewers love the mix of vampires and action, but movies don't always have to be action-packed to be thrilling. Some are just exciting for their premise, and others have intense dialogue and a plot that sucks the viewers in from the start. An honorable mention goes to 1922's Nosferatu as the ultimate vampire movie because of the iconic, frightening imagery that shaped the landscape of horror. Including action and exciting moments, fans can prepare for a blood-sucking week by watching the most thrilling (and some underrated) vampire movies.

10 'Dracula Untold' (2014)

Directed by Gary Shore

Filled with cinematic action sequences and starring Luke Evans in a bold interpretation of Count Dracula, Dracula Untold focuses on the (mostly) untold version of the world's most famous vampire. While he's often shown as dark, foreboding, and moody, legends claim Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracula, was an experienced and brutal warlord. His skills ranged from highly skilled warfare, horse riding, and weapons handling to exceptional military leadership. This is, of course, too mild of an explanation of who Vlad Dracula really was.

Dracula Untold follows Vlad Dracula as a military commander and son of the great Vlad the Dragon; though his reputation as The Impaler follows him, in the movie, Vlad seems to regret his previous actions. While scouting parts of his kingdom, Vlad and his men see signs of Ottoman soldiers, concluding they're preparing to attack. He finds a cave at the end of his journey, where he meets the master vampire and gets turned into one to fight off the Ottomans. In this fairly lenient depiction of a cruel warlord, Dracula Untold takes some parts of history, intertwining them with heavily entertaining and thrilling action.

Dracula Untold

PG-13

Action

Drama

Fantasy

Horror

In 15th-century Transylvania, Vlad III (Luke Evans), prince of Wallachia, is known as a just ruler. With his beloved wife, Mirena (Sarah Gadon), Vlad has brokered a prolonged period of peace and ensured that his people are protected, especially from the Ottoman Empire. However, when Sultan Mehmed II(Dominic Cooper) demands 1,000 of the country's boys, including Vlad's son, for his army, Vlad makes a deal with a monster that will enable him to defeat the Turks -- but cost him his humanity.

Release Date

October 10, 2014

Director

Gary Shore

Cast

Luke Evans , Sarah Gadon , Dominic Cooper , Art Parkinson , Charles Dance , Diarmaid Murtagh

Runtime

92 minutes

Watch on Netflix

9 'Daybreakers' (2009)

Directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig

An underrated vampire flick, Daybreakers is a slick, high-tech futuristic action movie that screams 2000s. The directing style, the cast, the special effects, the editing, and just the overall feel of the movie gives Daybreakers a kind of nostalgic quality to it when watched today. It stars Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, and Sam Neill, and it's set in a dystopian 2019, when all of humanity has become vampires now. The vampires have overtaken the world through the blood of an infected bat (an interesting parallel with coronavirus, for sure).

Hawke plays a hematologist, Edward, whose main goal is to come up with a human blood substitute; he works for the corporation run by Charles Bromley (Neill), which is the main supplier of human blood for vampires. When Edward meets a man nicknamed Elvis (Dafoe) who claims he's been cured of vampirism, the two work together on developing a cure. Ethan Hawke shows his prowess in action sequences and stylish fight scenes, while Sam Neill fully embodies the corporate villain in this thrilling vampire movie.

Daybreakers

pg-13

Horror

Sci-Fi

Release Date

January 8, 2010

Director

Michael Spierig

Cast

Ethan Hawke , Willem Dafoe , Sam Neill

Runtime

98 minutes

See Also

The 100 best Netflix movies to stream in NovemberTop 50 Movies on Netflix: May 2020The best movies on Netflix right nowThe Best 2018 Movies on Netflix Right Now

Watch on Prime Video

8 'Van Helsing' (2004)

Directed by Stephen Sommers

Van Helsing is one of those movies that are good, and so bad they're good. With some cringeworthy plots and mechanics, it doesn't deserve the title of the best movie ever; however, Van Helsing is entertaining and a fabulous homage to steampunk and the Universal Monsters Universe. It's also one of the most thrilling vampire movies, which also features werewolves, vampire brides, Dr. Jekyll, and Victor Frankenstein. And most of them wear velvet, leather, corsets, and thigh-high boots as life itself depends on it (in this universe, it seemingly does).

In the movie, Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) is the notorious, leather-clad, beefy creature hunter Van Helsing. After meeting one of the heirs to the Romanian king, Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), the two join forces to stop Dracula from killing her and taking over the throne. There's a lot of lore in the movie itself; there are various Easter Eggs hidden, and Van Helsing himself is more than just a vampire hunter. Whether it's considered cringe-worthy or genuinely good, no one can deny Van Helsing is loads of fun and fit for a weekend watch.

Van Helsing

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

The famed monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula, who is using Dr. Frankenstein's research and a werewolf for nefarious purposes.

Release Date

May 7, 2004

Director

Stephen Sommers

Cast

Hugh Jackman , Kate Beckinsale , Richard Roxburgh , Shuler Hensley , Elena Anaya

Runtime

131 minutes

Watch on Netflix

7 'Fright Night' (1985)

Directed by Tom Holland

2011's Fright Night is arguably scarier, but no remake can ever beat an original (it's very rare, anyway). In 1985, Fright Night became one of the first movies to introduce an elaborate vampire killing kit, which was a movie-only concept that led viewers to believe it's real and something people just buy and have at home. Fright Night was also one of the movies from the 1980s with awesome special and visual effects, which seem to have traumatized most of the cast during their gruesome transformations behind the scenes.

Fright Night follows 17-year-old Charley (William Ragsdale) as he watches his new neighbor Jerry's (Chris Sarandon) every step. He gradually becomes convinced Jerry is a vampire, but when he tries to tell people, nobody takes him seriously. This becomes a cat and mouse game between Charley and Jerry, who tries to get under Charley's skin with various tactics. Fright Night is deliriously entertaining, blending dark humor with action and scares; it can also boast of representing different groups of people, with the director confirming queer themes in the movie.

Fright Night

R

Comedy

Horror

Thriller

Release Date

August 2, 1985

Director

Tom Holland

Cast

Chris Sarandon , William Ragsdale , Amanda Bearse , Roddy McDowall , Stephen Geoffreys , Jonathan Stark

Runtime

102

Watch on Max

6 '30 Days of Night' (2007)

Directed by David Slade

The comic book miniseries 30 Days of Night is one of the most prolific comics in the vampire genre. When the movie adaptation came out, fans were excited to see their favorite story now on the silver screens. Though the consensus was "not great, not terrible," the movie grew on people and became much more appreciated over time. It's now a sort of cult classic for fans of the vampire horror genre and one of the most brutal and bloody representations of vampiric strength and thirst.

30 Days of Night is set in a remote Alaskan town called Barrow. Its residents, including sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett), are preparing for the upcoming month-long nighttime period, which is a common phenomenon in northern countries and areas. At the same time, the final flights and boats arrive at and leave Barrow, with a stranger coming on a ship with a large shipment. As night descends, the stranger cuts off all communications and transport, unleashing a horde of vampires to feast on the residents. Set mostly in the dark, 30 Days of Night sets the tone for what a real vampire thriller should look like: bloody, gory, exciting, and puts the vampires as the actual antagonists of the story.

30 Days of Night

R

Horror

Thriller

Action

See Also

The 20 most inspiring movies on Netflix when you need a pick-me-up

A small Alaskan town is enveloped in darkness for an entire month, setting the stage for a terrifying invasion by a group of vampires. With no escape and communication cut off, the townspeople are thrust into a desperate fight for survival. The local sheriff, alongside a handful of determined survivors, must navigate the frigid, dark landscape while fending off the relentless vampire onslaught. As supplies dwindle and hope wanes, the group must use their wits and resilience to endure the harrowing ordeal.

Release Date

October 19, 2007

Director

David Slade

Cast

Josh Hartnett , Melissa George , Danny Huston , Ben Foster , Mark Boone Junior , Mark Rendall

Runtime

113 minutes

Watch on Apple TV

5 'Underworld' (2003)

Directed by Len Wiseman

The Underworld franchise is one of the most iconic action horror movie series, spanning across five movies. It gained a lot of attention when the first movie, Underworld, came out, starring Kate Beckinsale as the latex-wearing, lycan-fighting vampire assassin Selene. Selene is part of an elite vampiric assassin club called Death Dealers, and their greatest enemies are lycans (werewolves). When she notices both vampires and lycans fighting to reach one human, Michael (Scott Speedman), she saves him, triggering another conflict between lycans and vampires after years of silence.

Selene is one of the coolest action heroes of the 2000s; her slick looks and vampy beauty combined with her impressive fighting skills make her a beloved movie hero deserving of a franchise. It's no wonder that Underworld left a lasting impression on viewers despite each of those movies being critically panned. The first movie, Underworld, is, however, the best in the entire franchise; it's full of innovative action and fight scenes, and Kate Beckinsale effortlessly portrays a vampire badass.

Underworld

R

Action

Fantasy

Thriller

Selene, a vampire warrior, is entrenched in a conflict between vampires and werewolves, while falling in love with Michael, a human who is sought by werewolves for unknown reasons.

Release Date

September 19, 2003

Director

Len Wiseman

Cast

Kate Beckinsale , Scott Speedman , Michael Sheen , Shane Brolly , Bill Nighy , Erwin Leder

Runtime

121

Watch on Amazon Prime

4 'Near Dark' (1987)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Bigelow is quite an underrated director. Her directing successes are mostly shown through Oscar-winning movies like The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. But Bigelow has a much longer and more versatile career than those two (thematically close) features. One of the movies on her list of achievements is the underrated vampire flick, Near Dark. This gritty action movie follows Caleb (Adrian Pasdar), who meets a girl called Mae one night.

Mae turns Caleb into a vampire, and Mae and her group, including the uncontrollable, bloodthirsty Severen (Bill Paxton), kidnap him and force him to live with them. Caleb doesn't want to drink human blood, but the vampire group wreaks havoc wherever they go, trying to force him to do it. Their thirst leads them to many places where they're simply too strong to be stopped, until Caleb's family becomes involved. Near Dark is probably a movie not many people have heard of, but it's classified as a neo-Western horror and has all the qualities of a great cult classic.

Near Dark

R

Horror

A small-town farmer's son reluctantly joins a traveling group of vampires after he is bitten by a beautiful drifter.

Release Date

October 2, 1987

Director

Kathryn Bigelow

Cast

Adrian Pasdar , Jenny Wright , Lance Henriksen , Bill Paxton

Runtime

94 minutes

Watch on Amazon Prime

3 'From Dusk till Dawn' (1996)

Directed by Robert Rodriguez

From Dusk till Dawn doesn't really feature likable protagonists, but its two main characters, Seth and Richie Gecko (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino), are antiheroes in the true definition of the word; well, Clooney's Seth is. Richie is just a questionable character all around. Seth and Richie are bandit fugitives on the run, and when they encounter pastor Jacob (Harvey Keitel) traveling in an RV with his teenage kids Scott and Kate, they take them hostage and ask to be transported across the Mexican border.

When the plan works, the group stops by at a strip club near the border where the Gecko brothers are supposed to meet a contact that will bail them out. However, the club they're in is a lair of unusual, supernatural activity, and the group must fight to survive. The vampires in From Dusk till Dawn are menacing, fast, and extremely bloodthirsty. Robert Rodriguez's affinity for making a bloodbath out of most of his films probably started with this one, which is, besides being bloody, very over-the-top and fun. It also features Salma Hayek's world-famous, mesmerizing, and completely improvised snake dance.

From Dusk Till Dawn

R

Action

Crime

Horror

Thriller

Release Date

January 19, 1996

Director

Robert Rodriguez

Cast

Harvey Keitel , George Clooney , Quentin Tarantino , Juliette Lewis , Ernest Liu , Salma Hayek Pinault

Runtime

108

Watch on The Roku Channel

2 'The Lost Boys' (1987)

Directed by Joel Schumacher

Many argue that The Lost Boys is Joel Schumacher's best movie. Whether someone agrees or disagrees, it's a great legacy for Schumacher and its main stars, Jason Patric, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, and Kiefer Sutherland. It's a sort of cult classic that reminds people of their youth and shows how fun movies used to be to younger folks. The Lost Boys is the story of two brothers who move to a small town with their mother. Bored and unfamiliar with the environment, the boys start to discover the town, only to realize something sinister happens at night.

The older boy, Michael (Patric), becomes fascinated with a girl named Star, but she's dating the tough and violent biker David (Sutherland). To get Star and impress David, Michael joins the gang and goes through initiations. The Lost Boys is an allusion to Peter Pan's Lost Boys, who, like vampires, never grow old. Schumacher also mentioned how he wanted the movie to portray boys in transitional life periods (aka teens) and all the things that follow such a transition; this may be another idea the movie title focuses on. In so many ways, this exciting vampire movie is also a comedy and a coming-of-age story.

The Lost Boys

R

Comedy

Horror

After moving to a new town, two brothers discover that the area is a haven for vampires.

Release Date

July 31, 1987

Director

Joel Schumacher

Cast

Jason Patric , Corey Haim , Dianne Wiest , Barnard Hughes , Edward Herrmann , Kiefer Sutherland

Runtime

97

Watch on Philo

1 'Blade' (1998)

Directed by Stephen Norrington

If we're going for thrilling, thrilling is what we're going to get. And it doesn't get more thrilling than Blade, a movie so iconic and memorable that it, with all its flaws, still stays in the number one spot for the greatest vampire movie. Blade is a Marvel hero, and Wesley Snipes stepped into his shoes for the silver screen adaptation. Snipes is now so synonymous with Blade that other popular media treats him as a vampire. The story shows a pregnant woman being attacked by a vampire; as she's rushed to the hospital, she gives birth to the human-vampire baby later known as Blade.

Blade, despite being half-vampire, fights against them; he has all the perks of being human and just one disadvantage of being a vampire—he has a thirst for blood. But Blade and his longtime partner Abraham (Kris Kristofferson) work on curbing Blade's thirst and go after the most powerful and corrupt members of the underworld; one of them is the ruthless Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff), another well-known face from the comic. The first movie in a trilogy, 1998's Blade, is high-stakes, slick, and fast-paced; it also has one of the greatest movie openings ever.

Blade

R

Action

Horror

Sci-Fi

Blade, a half-human, half-vampire "daywalker," dedicates his life to hunting vampires. Discovering a plot by the ambitious vampire Deacon Frost to awaken the blood god La Magra, Blade must confront his past and face Frost in a deadly battle. With the help of Dr. Karen Jenson, he battles to prevent Frost from unleashing chaos.

Release Date

August 21, 1998

Director

Stephen Norrington

Cast

Wesley Snipes , Stephen Dorff , Kris Kristoffersen , N'Bushe Wright , Donal Logue , Udo Kier , Arly Jover , Traci Lords

Runtime

120 Minutes

Watch on Apple TV

KEEP READING: The 10 Best and Most Underrated Vampire Movies, Ranked

✕ Remove Ads