Vampires have long been a fixture of folklore and popular culture, and these television shows perfectly capture thehorrorand intrigue of the supernatural bloodsuckers. From Carmilla to Dracula to Nosferatu, something about vampires captures our collective imaginations, and they have maintained a steady presence in literature, art, film, and television throughout history.
From F.W. Murnau’s 1922 version ofNosferatuto Robert Eggers' 2024 adaptation of the same name,great vampire movieshave been a fixture throughout the entire history of the medium.Vampires have popped up throughout television historyas well, in horror, romance, and even comedy. These ten television series represent the best of the best when it comes to vampires, offering plenty of blood and intrigue.
Created by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan,The Strainportrays vampirism as a diseaseand focuses on the efforts of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll) to save humanity.Del Toro and Hogan initially wroteThe Strainas a trilogy of books,before adapting the story into a four-season television series.
With a fresh take on vampires and plenty of gore,The Strainis a thrill ride from start to finish, although some viewers felt the quality declined as the series progressed. Still,The Straindelivers shocking scares and twists,depicting vampires as truly monstrous rather than alluring romantic leads.
Based onThe Southern Vampire Mysteriesseries by Charlaine Harris,True Bloodcenters on Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin)and her life in a rural Louisiana town. After the invention of synthetic blood two years before, the existence of vampires became public knowledge, an element that setsTrue Bloodapart from other vampire stories.
True Bloodfollows Sookie as she falls in love withvampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer)and learns more about herself and the supernatural creatures that surround her.Alexander Skarsgård’s former Viking turned vampire, Eric Northman, regularly steals the show,andTrue Bloodultimately delivers a fun and incredibly entertaining take on vampires.
The Vampire Diariesmay seem like a teen drama about a vampire love triangle, but it actuallydevelops a complex mythology full of supernatural creaturesand ancient magic. The series centers on Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and her relationships with two vampire brothers, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) Salvatore.
With plenty of shocking twists and turns,The Vampire Diariescombines romance, horror, and dramato create an incredibly fun series that’s nothing if not entertaining. With the show’s relentless pacing and vampire gore,The Vampire Diarieshas a lot to lovefor vampire enthusiasts.
Based on the Japanese video game series of the same name,Castlevaniafollows monster hunter Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage) as he battles Dracula’s army of demons. With a stellar voice cast and a compelling take on vampire lore,Castlevaniadelivers an entertaining gothic rompthat’s dripping in blood.
Netflix’sCastlevania wasthe first video game adaptation to receive a “Fresh” rating in Rotten Tomatoes' history.
After an incredibly short first season of only four 25-minute episodes,Castlevaniaexpands its scope and its cast in its later seasonsto dive deeper into the video game’s lore. Combining a dark atmosphere with a compelling plot and hints of humor,Castlevaniareceived mostly positive reviews from criticsand currently has a 94% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. The show also has a sequel,Castlevania: Nocturne.
A spin-off ofThe Vampire Diaries, The Originalscenters on the first-ever vampires, the Mikaelson family, focusing primarily on Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Elijah (Daniel Gillies), and Rebekah (Claire Holt). With its New Orleans setting,The Originalsfeels suitably different fromThe Vampire Diaries,although it continues stories that began on that show.
The Originalsdetails the power struggle of the vampires, werewolves, and witchesin and around New Orleans, with the werewolf Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) and her child with Klaus at its center.The Originalshas all the drama, romance, and blood ofThe Vampire Diaries,but it feels more mature and even surpasses the first series in some ways.
LikeThe Originals,Angelhas a more mature tone than its predecessor,Buffy the Vampire Slayer.TheBuffyspin-off centers on Angel (David Boreanaz), the vampire with a soul who romanced Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). After his relationship with Buffy comes to an end, Angel moves to Los Angeles and begins working as a supernatural private detective.
With compelling new characters like Lorne (Andy Hallett) andfamiliar faces like Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter),Angelquickly steps out ofBuffy’sshadow,developing into a fantastic series in its own right. Angel and his friends spend their time fighting to"help the helpless,“facing off against demonic forces as well as their own personal demons.
Created by Jemaine Clement and based on the 2014 film of the same name,What We Do in the Shadowsdelivers a hilarious take on vampiresin a mockumentary style comedy series. Following four vampire roommates in Staten Island, the show depicts their often absurd conflicts with the real world and other supernatural beings.
While the show’s sense of humor may not be for everyone, the excellent cast, led byKayvan Novak’s Nandor and Matt Berry’s Laszlo, embraces the absurdity, delivering their lines with a straight face.What We Do in the Shadowsreceived near-universal acclaimthroughout its six seasons, landing a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Based on the iconicVampire Chroniclesbook series by Anne Rice,Interview with the Vampirechronicles the story of vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac(Jacob Anderson), as told to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Much of Louis’s story revolves around his relationship with the vampire who created him, Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid).
Interview With The Vampireembraces the romance between the two vampires, andboth actors deliver incredible performancesthroughout the series. Deliciously gothic and beautifully written,Interview with the Vampirehas already made a name for itselfas one of the best horror series on television today.
AfterMike Flanagan’s horror masterpiece,The Haunting of Hill House,took Netflix by storm, the writer/director continued making miniseries based on established horror stories. ButwithMidnight Mass,Flanagan told a completely original storythat he has described as being incredibly personal to him.
No one inMidnight Massever utters the word “vampire,” which was a deliberate choice by Flanagan to keep the series from being bogged down by centuries of vampire lore.
When mysterious new priest, Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), arrives in the small town on Crockett Island, things quickly get weird. With devastating twists and stunning monologues,Midnight Masstells a different kind of vampire storythat serves as a powerful reflection on grief and faith.
It’s impossible to talk about vampires on television without bringing upBuffy the Vampire Slayer,one of the most beloved and influential shows of its time.The series centers on Buffy Summers as she balances her normal life as a teenage girl with her duties as the Slayer and protector of Sunnydale.
With its relatable cast of characters, witty dialogue, and combination of genres,Buffytruly has something for everyone. Many (if not all) of the otherhorrorshows on this list would never have existed withoutBuffy,and the show remains just as delightfully entertaining today as it was when it first aired.
