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The new millennium brought a shift in attitude across many aspects of culture. One of the prime examples of this can be found in film; horror movies specifically — and, on an even more granular level, in vampire movies. Vampire flicks of the past mostly focused on the savage nature of immortal monsters and their insatiable lust for human blood. Vampy pictures of the 2000s and beyond have explored many other aspects of vampire “life,” such as love, art and music, and even self-betterment.
Ergo, the last 26 years have produced some of the best vampire movies in cinema history. With visually stunning remakes of classics, like the Gothic masterpiece Nosferatu, and pensive takes on coming-of-age(less) tales, such as Let the Right One In, the vampire films of the 21st century are as devilishly diverse as they are eternally enthralling.
'Underworld' (2003)
Underworld is the perfect example of a film that critics panned, but fans consumed with reckless abandon and guilty-pleasure glee. This movie feels like it was adapted from a graphic novel (it’s just that stylized), but it was birthed from a completely original idea. It’s not Shakespeare…although the filmmakers do credit Romeo and Juliet as a source of inspiration… It was written by Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman, and, believe it or not, Mr. Gemstone himself, Danny McBride, and has the epic feel of a modern classic (heck, it spawned four other films, making it one of the most expansive vampire franchises in history). Directed by Wiseman, this is one of the sleekest action-horror movies ever created, with an icy blue/ethereal emerald color palette, stunning fight choreography, and really cool beastly transformations (even with the use of, in retrospect, very inchoate CGI).
The tale (as old as time) is of two star-crossed lovers. Michael (Scott Speedman, coming in hot off Felicity fame) is a regular shmoe (well, he’s a doctor, but still, just a human), and Selene (British temptress Kate Beckinsale), well, her backstory is a bit more complex. She’s a vampire, and a part of an elite squad of blood-imbibers who hunt Lycans (a sub-sect of werewolves that have been battling vampires since ancient times). Selene has always had an axe to grind with the Lycans because they kind of killed her whole family. So, Selene and Michael inadvertently link up, as she notices that the Lycans have been stalking him for some reason (what a meet-cute). In any event, one of the head Lycans, Lucian (the always cheeky Michael Sheen), ends up taking a chomp out of Michael, which turns him into a lycanthrope himself. Oops. Now the blossoming romance between Michael and Selene becomes even more complicated (plus, y’know, Michael’s life in general). The whole story is super complex, with backstory to spare, but the main takeaway from this film is a highly visual, tantalizingly tasty vampire horror-action hybrid film, only rivaled by Blade.
'30 Days of Night' (2007)
Most modern vampire films showcase the undead in at least a semi-romantic manner; lost souls cursed to wander the night for eternity. 30 Days of Night is not one of those kinds of films. The vamps here are the very definition of brutal. They are savage, bloodthirsty, and absolutely terrifying. Director David Slade creates a chilling overall atmosphere here, where the protagonists are never, ever really safe.
The concept is a really brilliant one, and almost shocking that no one came up with it before (or at least produced a film of this nature). In a remote part of Alaska, there is about a month-long period where the sun never rises, deemed “polar night.” This is when most inhabitants catch a flight to Orlando. However, some remain, and a virulent pack of vamps descend on the town of Barrow, ready to dine on whatever interior human liquid they can get their fangs on. They are led by a nasty dude named Marlow (Danny Huston), who first delegates a plan to cut off all forms of communication from the outside world. Then, when everyone is basically helpless, they launch their assault. Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) and his ex, Stella Oleson (Melissa George), become the de facto leaders of the tiny crew of survivors, and must use their wits to try their best to hide from Marlow & Friends. Overall, the barbarity of the vamps is a thing to behold, as they kill with wanton abandonment. Slade drains the film of color, rendering it in nearly a black-and-white palette. This adds to the hopelessness and scariness of the whole month-long endeavor. Aside from some groovy action-packed sequences and really visceral kills, this movie lands on this list because it has a really cool ending twist as well. This film is not for the squeamish…but then, why are you watching a vampire movie in the first place?
'Byzantium' (2012)
Sometimes, the best films carry a very strong message…that sneaks in under a spectacular spectacle of unbridled entertainment. Director Neil Jordan’s Byzantium is the key example of this type of flick. It’s a feminist tale of power and resistance that also happens to be a truly enthralling vampire tale as well. Everything about this movie is engaging, from the highly stylized period flashbacks to the charmingly squalid conditions the lead characters find themselves in during the present action. It’s a story about the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter, and how, even when it’s ultimately time to move on and find one’s own way, that bond still exists, and is still as powerful.
In the vampire world, things are quite sexist. There is a Shriners-like group named “The Brethren” that want to eradicate all female vampires (simply for committing the crime of existing). These dudes are so subconsciously self-hating that they want all female vamps dead because they don’t want them to pass on the “curse” of vampirism. Hmm, sounds suspect. These men have caught wind of a mother-daughter duo who have been surviving (in their own, very different ways) on their own terms for centuries. There is Clara (Gemma Arterton), the free-spirit, and her lass, Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan), the sensitive introvert. The pair escape the vile clutches of the Brethren and take refuge in a run-down coastal town, at an old residence called the Byzantium Hotel. Clara, true to her calling, turns the place into a bustling bordello, and the good times (and eventually, heads) roll. After a tumultuous time there, eventually having to fend off their foes, Clara and Eleanor come to a touching, parting agreement. This is a very poignant, poetic film…despite the buckets of blood spilled.
'Let the Right One In' (2008)
A film’s setting can greatly impact the overall mood, tone, and even story. When Swedish director Tomas Alfredson took on the task of bringing the book of the same name to the silver screen (with the help of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s self-adapted screenplay, of course), he elected to have the film play out during the cold, dark winter of a small Swedish town. This was a decidedly wise choice, as the bitterness and icy extremities of the tale are not only seen onscreen, but felt bone-deep. Let the Right One In is not your typical vampire story, but that is precisely what makes it so good. Running with the concept of immortality, and that of aging mentally in a body that never does so physically, these stellar themes bloom even more when juxtaposed with a child protagonist who is at the cusp of undergoing major (natural) changes.
The story is centered on Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), a small, quiet boy. Oskar’s home life isn’t so great (he’s visibly neglected), and school life is not so hot either (he’s mercilessly bullied). When a new “family” moves in next door, and Oskar befriends the “young daughter,” Eli (Lina Leandersson), his perspective on life begins to, let’s say, thaw. Eli resides in the ostensible care of Håkan (Per Ragnar), who eventually is revealed to be a familiar of sorts, with ambiguous intentions, as he secures viable blood for Eli to consume — without a lot of fanfare, so as not to alert the authorities that people are being killed. Oh, Eli is a centuries-old vampire, by the way. Yet, the bond that Oskar and Eli develop is somehow pure, devoid of the acridity that often comes with elders admonishing and callously disciplining adolescence. Eli tells Oskar that he needs to take charge of his life and stand up for himself, a lesson he takes to heart (even though Eli is the one who savagely murders all of Oskar’s transgressors…). Overall, this is a very nuanced, well-thought-out film, with rousing performances by the Lilliputian leads. It prompts one to question who really should be let in, and, regardless of their inherently brutal nature, if they actually have your best interests at (non-beating) heart.
'Nosferatu' (2024)
How does one reinvent a classic? Do you tastefully pay homage to the films of the past that tackled the same source material? Or, do you attempt to do something entirely unique and fully your own? Well, horror director of the moment Robert Eggers believes the answer is “Yes”…to both queries. With his highly acclaimed masterwork Nosferatu, Eggers did the near-impossible: he took an iconic film and made it even more iconic.
The story (for those who never saw Nosferatu (1922), Dracula, Bram Stoker's Dracula, or even Dracula: Dead and Loving It) is about a lovely young maiden named Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp), who is head-over-heels for her new hubby Thomas (Nicholas Hoult). But, wouldn’t you know it? Thomas is called away to the creepy-as-all-hell Carpathian Mountains in Romania, where he has to do some business dealings with an “eccentric” old count, named Orlok (Bill Skarsgård, killin’ it yet again as a scary ghoul…except, no shiny red balloons here). Orlok, who is in dire need of a mani, catches a glimpse of Ellen in a keepsake photo that Thomas has with him. Big mistake, Tom. Orlok then becomes so fully enamored with Ellen that he takes an epically disastrous boat ride to England to try to “charm” her into becoming his bride. Naturally, he does this with vampire voodoo, and not good looks and suave, poetic words (a la Gary Oldman in Francis Ford Coppola’s film). Anyway, Orlok’s Lucifer-like lure is hard to resist for poor Ellen, whose very soul hangs in the balance. At the end of the day (or night…), this movie is a stunning stand-alone film in its own right, where Eggers uses shadows and expressionist lighting as well as in the original version. This may be an old story, but it’s bloody fresh here.
'Sinners' (2025)
Very few true horror movies have ever done well at the Oscars. There really are only a handful of nominations that have been awarded over the decades, with even fewer wins. The rare exception was The Silence of the Lambs, which swept all major categories…although it could be argued that that classic film is really a psychological thriller. Nevertheless, horrors have generally been shut out… That is, until last year. 2025 saw a massive upheaval of this trend with Sinners. It became the most nominated film in Oscars' history (and even Weapons got some runoff love). There was definitely no denying Ryan Coogler’s stunning period piece from taking home several awards, too. Michael B. Jordan won the trophy for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Coogler won Best Original Screenplay — and the movie received the most Academy votes in two other categories, too. So, while considering Academy accolades or not, it’s a no-brainer to say that Sinners is truly one of the best horror movies ever made.
If you somehow missed this gem…the story focused on a small Mississippi Delta town, where twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Jordan, as both) return after a lengthy hiatus fighting in WWI and then running game in Chi-town. They open a juke joint, and with the help of townsfolk, eager to make a buck (or enjoy a cold brew, as is the case with Delta Slim, played with hilarious panache by Delroy Lindo). So, the twin gangsters are set to have one profitable, rollicking night. Or so they thought… The central figure of the story actually is Sammie Moore (Miles Caton), the young cousin of Smoke and Stack. He is a preternaturally gifted blues musician, with high aspirations of making it big in the music industry. Anyway, the night is grooving along nicely…and then a three-pack of vampires descend, destined to cause havoc and steal souls. The rest of the film plays out in an epic clash between good and evil…and everything in between. Every aspect of this movie is virtually perfect, from the set design, to costumes, to performances, to the music — which will move even the stiffest of stiffs. It’s a phenomenal film all around, that has achieved unbelievable success — and just happens to also be a vampire movie.
