Vampires are some of the best monsters in movies and TV shows and the most popular. While they're terrifying and bloodthirsty in most media, the past several decades have delved into the magnetic and seductive qualities of the creatures that much of the original writings about vampires are in conversation with. There are many ways to interpret the popularity of vampires in media, as they're typically used as a metaphor for a taboo subject or hidden desires. This forbidden nature has made vampires the perfect romantic leads for many contemporary series and films.

However, the best vampire TV shows aren't just about romance or horror. They go deeper and attempt to comment on the larger nature of the world and what it means to be human. The most powerful vampires in movies and TV are so fearsome and iconic because the stories they inhabit are so vivid and lend themselves to imaginative world-building. Whether they're the hero, the villain, or inhabit the murky gray area in between, vampires capture the hearts and minds of the audience and let viewers escape into the mystical world of the blood-sucking creatures.

10 Midnight Mass (2021)

Religion and vampirism clash in this horror miniseries

Mike Flanagan, the mind behind many of the most popular horror TV shows of the past several years, is the creator of Midnight Mass, a vampire story that's as much about religion as it is about the supernatural. Strang occurrences begin in a small town when a priest, Father Paul (Hamish Linklater), arrives and changes the resident's feelings toward their faith. Slowly, the mystery is unraveled, and vampires, angels, and similar otherworldly entities are revealed to be behind the unsettling events.

Midnight Mass stands apart as both a compelling thriller and an expansion of how audiences grapple with the violence and legacy of vampires onscreen.

Salem's Lot, the novel by Stephen King that has received several screen adaptations. However, Midnight Mass stands apart as both a compelling thriller and an expansion of how audiences grapple with the violence and legacy of vampires onscreen. Midnight Mass explores how easy it is to mistake a vampire for an angel and that the intense desire for a miracle can sometimes push people to do things they never thought themselves capable of. The intensity and tragedy of Midnight Mass fall in line with the vampire stories of the past.

9 The Strain (2014–2017)

Vampirism is treated like a disease in this dystopian TV show

The Strain treats vampirism more as a post-apocalyptic or contagion narrative rather than a supernatural story, but this doesn't make the series any less interesting. Featuring contributions from acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, The Strain is a well-crafted horror story that translates the age-old fears surrounding vampires to the anxieties of the modern day. Using the vampire disease as both a supposed cure for weakness and a terrifying new ailment, The Strain weaves a complex story.

It's clear throughout the seasons that The Strain enjoys paying homage to both classical vampire stories and modern science-oriented shows. Blending science with the supernatural can be a tricky balance to strike, but The Strain manages to make both sides of the vampire storyline believable. Additionally, vampires aren't the only threat the heroes face, as conspiracies and corruption make it difficult to move forward in the fight against the spreading illness.

8 A Discovery Of Witches (2018–2022)

Love, time travel, and the fate of magic come into play in this vampire-witch romance

Vampires and witches might be sworn enemies in the universe of A Discovery of Witches, but that doesn't stop Matthew (Matthew Goode) and Diana (Teresa Palmer) from falling in love in the series. Deborah Harkness's All Souls trilogy serves as the inspiration for A Discovery of Witches, which shows a very different side of vampires than audiences might be used to. Matthew, in particular, as the show's main vampire, is a cool and collected individual, betraying little of the bloodlust and ion that usually defines vampires.

However, Matthew still manages to bring out the suppressed magic and intensity within Diana, a witch who embarks on a journey to preserve both magic and the creatures of the world. The chemistry between Goode and Palmer makes A Discovery of Witches as good an addition to the romance genre as it is to the vampire, but they're only one piece of the narrative's larger tapestry. With intricate lore and time-bending plot lines, A Discovery of Witches moves quickly and gives its vampires plenty of opportunities to show their humanity.

7 Castlevania (2017–2021)

Bloody and violent, this animated show adds a lot to the vampire canon

Castlevania has some of the best action sequences of any vampire TV show, animated or not, and this is part of the reason the show has such a positive legacy. Based on the video game series, Castlevania goes above and beyond in its storytelling and visuals, bringing new life to the familiar story of the famous vampire Dracula. In the wake of his grief, Dracula curses humanity to a terrifying existence and is, in turn, hunted by his own son.

While Dracula is an enduring part of Castlevania, the series also expands beyond this storyline and explores different heroes and villains within its fictional world. The voice acting was consistently highlighted as a standout aspect of the show, as Castlevania doesn't just rely on violence and spectacle to keep the viewer entertained. The reason the action sequences and bloody vampiric battles are so compelling is because they add emotional weight to the stakes of the fights, tying the characters' development to the fate of the universe.

6 The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)

Vampires make for excellent teen heartthrobs in this iconic series

Of all the supernatural teen dramas on television, The Vampire Diaries has the most fun with its sometimes melodramatic but always entertaining storylines. Following the love triangle between the human Elena (Nina Dobrev) and the vampire brothers Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), The Vampire Diaries takes many twists and turns throughout the seasons. Each installment introduces many new creatures and magics for the characters to battle. While the mystical elements are what draw viewers in, the interpersonal dynamics keep audiences coming back.

While movies like Twilight might have brought the teen vampire heartthrob to the mainstream, The Vampire Diaries perfected this archetype.

The Vampire Diaries is one of the best romance TV shows based on books, with the love stories in the plot often taking center stage. While movies like Twilight might have brought the teen vampire heartthrob to the mainstream, The Vampire Diaries perfected this archetype. The series made the vampiric love interests as dangerous as they were desirable. Though The Vampire Diaries received two spinoffs, The Originals and Legacies, the original show remains the best installment of the franchise.

5 What We Do In The Shadows (2019–2024)

A comedic show that makes vampires more hilarious than terrifying

Serious and dark works of horror and social commentary usually populate the vampire genre. However, the comedic mockumentary style of What We Do in the Shadows is a refreshing change of pace. The show is based on the 2014 film of the same name, and the comedy series has been hailed as a classic work of satirical television and has maintained positive critical and audience ratings through its final season. The chemistry and dynamic between the vampires who live together in the house is a large part of what has sustained the story.

What We Do in the Shadows incorporates some horror elements within the series, but these are mostly played for laughs and to show how different vampires really are from people's perception of them. The show's conceit is that vampires behave just as inanely and frustratingly as humans and aren't the distant mythical beings that most media makes them out to be. In trying out different aspects of human life, the vampires find themselves in hilarious and unexpected situations.

4 True Blood (2008–2014)

Humans and vampires struggle to live in harmony in a direct metaphor for contemporary social movements

Though the final season of True Blood was disappointing, this doesn't take away from how influential and important the series' legacy has been to television. True Blood was a paragon of subversive storytelling and wasn't afraid to take on plot lines even more taboo than vampirism. Since it tackled frank discussions of sexual liberation, sexuality, racism, and violence, there was little that True Blood didn't touch upon throughout its seven seasons. Set in Louisiana, True Blood successfully modernized and embodied the Southern Gothic genre.

Much of True Blood focuses on the dichotomy between the vampires and humans, and the vampires struggle to be treated equally in society.

Much of True Blood focuses on the dichotomy between the vampires and humans, and the vampires struggle to be treated equally in society. This draws clear comparisons to any of the social movements in the U.S. throughout history but is most frequently compared to LGBTQ+ activism. Anna Paquin's portrayal of the protagonist, Sookie Stackhouse, is frequently highlighted as one of the best parts of the series. She serves as a compelling hero the story can always return to as it touches upon large and important topics.

3 Interview With The Vampire (2022–Present)

The series goes further with the source material than the movie

Based on Anne Rice's 1976 novel of the same name, the recent adaptation of Interview with the Vampire for television has proved more than worthy of taking on the iconic gothic tale. Following the story of Louis (Jacob Anderson), a man whose life is transformed when he's made into a vampire by the manipulative Lestat (Sam Reid), Interview with the Vampire is told in flashback as Louis recounts his life to a journalist in the present as a cautionary tale.

Interview with the Vampire explores the intertwined history of LGBTQ+ identities and vampirism, as the feelings of isolation and the need to suppress urges make vampire tales an easy allegory for the queer experience. However, Interview with the Vampire doesn't stop there, as the series also tackles Louis' experiences as a Black man throughout American history and the power dynamic between him and Lestat. Interview with the Vampire never wastes an opportunity to go deeper in its storytelling and thematic purpose.

2 Angel (1999–2004)

This series proves that a spinoff can be just as good as the original

When David Boreanaz left Buffy The Vampire Slayer, it was a devastating moment for Angel, as he left behind his true love. However, the inception of Angel as a spinoff was a stroke of genius, as the show had the opportunity to center a vampire as a protagonist and delve even further into the magic of the series. Set in Los Angeles, Angel sees the titular character and his new team of monster hunters as they attempt to rid the city of demons and the forces of darkness, taking on a more mature edge than Buffy's early seasons.

Angel had its ups and downs, but season 5 of the series is considered one of the best pieces of television of the era.

Angel is a spinoff TV show darker than the original content it's based on since Buffy goes deep, but Angel isn't afraid to go without silver linings. Angel had its ups and downs, but season 5 of the series is considered one of the best pieces of television of the era. Though plenty of shows have centered a vampire as a protagonist or central character, Angel is treated as a fully-fledged character who undergoes intense development throughout the series and can demonstrate the many facets of vampirism in media.

1 Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

Not just a great vampire series, but a landmark TV show in general

Buffy The Vampire Slayer will likely never be unseated as the best vampire TV show of all time. The supernatural teen drama series might have begun as a darker twist on the classic high school show, but it was always much deeper and richer than that. For seven seasons, Buffy The Vampire Slayer pushed the boundaries of network television and balanced its comedic tone with intense subject matter and amazing character development. Sarah Michelle Gellar's performance as Buffy anchors the story, but each character in the show is memorable and compelling.

Every vampire show uses vampires and magic as metaphors for larger real-life issues, but few do this as well as Buffy. Throughout the narrative, Buffy grapples with her coming-of-age and desire to have a normal life while bearing the burden of being the chosen one. Despite its warm and comedic moments, Buffy deals with high philosophical questions about the nature of good and evil and takes itself seriously while making every episode enjoyable. The lore and magic system that Buffy The Vampire Slayer uses has become synonymous with the vampire canon to this day.