The early-2010s was an exciting time to be a vampire fan: "True Blood" (2008-2014), "The Vampire Diaries" (2009-2017), and The Twilight Saga (2009-2012) dominated the big and small screens alike. Vampires had us in a chokehold until about 5 years ago when viewership for "The Vampire Diaries" declined and the last massive vampire show was canceled. Like any good trend, though, it just took some patience to see vampires steadily return to the mainstream – and return, they have! In July 2021, Netflix briefly acquired all 5 Twilight films for streaming and thus the “Twilight Renaissance” was born. Gen-Z and Millennials alike got to experience the franchise with new eyes, sharing clips and funny skits on TikTok.
Turns out, people are comforted by nostalgia or things that remind them of a stable/better time. For many, that’s vampires, and with Spooky Season just around the corner, the time is perfect for vampires to make a comeback. Check out the vampire movies available to watch now and those coming soon.
1. "What We Do in the Shadows" (FX)
Based on the 2014 mockumentary of the same name co-directed, written, and starring Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, this series debuted in 2019 and has been going strong ever since, proving that, not only can vampires be funny, but they are fundamentally not so different from us mere mortals -- having to put up with annoying roommates, trying to find love, hanging out with your buddies to watch the Superb Owl tournament, etc. The show has been nominated for 17 Emmys during its run so far, including 7 this year alone. Season 4 is currently airing on Tuesday nights and the show has been renewed for an additional 2 seasons!
In this 2021 Mike Flanagan miniseries, a young man (Zach Gilford) returns to his sleepy island hometown where a young priest (Hamish Linklater) has taken over the local church and mysterious miracles begin to occur. He soon learns that these "miracles" have a very sinister nature. If you dug Flanagan's other Netflix series, "The Haunting of Hill House" and "The Haunting of Bly Manor", this is another must-watch! The cast also features Kate Siegel, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kristin Lehman, and Henry Thomas.
Starring Jorge Lendeborg Jr, Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry, Sydney Sweeney, Megan Fox, and Alfie Allen, Night Teeth follows the adventures of a hapless college student/chauffeur who unwittingly becomes involved in the local L.A. underground vampire scene when he picks up a couple mysterious -- and bloodthirsty -- ladies...
Another offering from Netflix, which seems to be leading the charge in the Vampire Renaissance, this comedy follows Bud (Jamie Foxx), Seth (Dave Franco), and Big John (Snoop Dogg) as they hunt vampires for a profit. Watch the trailer for some laughs!
5. The Invitation (in theatres August 26)
After the death of her mother, Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel) takes a DNA test. When she meets distant relatives, they generously invite her to a wedding in England where she is charmed by the mysterious host (Thomas Doherty). After she arrives, Evie quickly realizes something sinister is afoot...
Julie Plec, creator of "The Vampire Diaries", has been hard at work adapting author Richelle Mead’s beloved books into a TV show! "Vampire Academy" follows the adventures of best friends Rose Hathaway (Sisi Stringer) and Lissa Dragomir (Daniela Nieves) as they navigate school and vampire politics. In May 2021, the Peacock streaming service gave a straight-to-series order for the project.
7. "Interview with the Vampire" (AMC, October 2)
Anne Rice herself is producing the 8-episode series based on her iconic book with help from her son and fellow author, Christopher Rice. The novel-turned-show sees a 200-year-old vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), recount his life to a reporter. He shares the dysfunctional and bloody years spent with the vampire who turned him, Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), and their “daughter”, 10-year-old Claudia (Bailey Bass). Rice was famously critical of the 1994 movie adaptation, so with her hands on the wheel of this TV series, expect something more closely aligned with her original vision this time around.