‘Let the Right One In’

33. “First Kill” (2022)

Created by author Victoria Schwab, Netflix’s “First Kill” is schlocky teen vampire fun. Sarah Catherine Hook plays Juliette, a young vampire pressured by her family to finally feast on her first victim. Imani Lewis plays Cal, a young vampirehunter pressured by her family to finally hunt her first vampire. The two fall in love, and therein lies the tale. “First Kill” is riddled with predictable silliness, but it’s also a worthy supernatural, LGBTQ-inclusive drama that’s fun if you let it be. —AF

32. “Hemlock Grove” (2013-2015)

Eli Roth’s “Hemlock Grove” features a pretty neat cast, including Famke Janssen, Joel de la Fuente, Dougray Scott, and Lily Taylor. What it technically doesn’t feature is vampires. Instead, the immortal creatures who crave blood are called “upirs,” a real term from European folklore. What using that lesser-known term does is let “Hemlock Grove” rewrite the vampire rules to some degree. It was a mess of a show beyond its incredibly gross and bloody effects but did feature some entertaining tweaks to the vampire mythos. —LSM

31. “Dark Shadows” (1991)

The most notable thing about NBC’s attempt to revive the iconic ’60s soap opera “Dark Shadows” in 1991 is the casting of 10-year-old Joseph Gordon-Levitt as ancient Daniel Collins and his descendent David. It’s a bluntly hilarious performance, with Gordon-Levitt coming across utterly unhinged. Barely making it to 12 episodes, the series feels incredibly dated, and Ben Cross fails to make much of an impact as main character Barnabas, but Gordon-Levitt is worth seeing. —LSM

30. “Blade: The Series” (2006)

“Blade” as a franchise is on the surface simple but features some pretty wackadoo qualities For example, “Blade: Trinity” is set in a city that uses Esperanto as a second language. “Blade: The Series” doesn’t quite live up to the films’ over-the-topness. But it’s decent viewing, especially because it made the refreshing choice to create a new protagonist (Jill Wagner as Krista, a former combat medic-turned-vampire) who was pretty compelling. —LSM

29. “Kindred: The Embraced” (1996)

There are a lot of vampire shows on this list, but this is the only one that was (vaguely) based on a role-playing game. “Kindred” didn’t really do anything new with the idea of what it means to be a vampire, but it did find something new to do with the genre by treating the different vampire clans like rival mobs. “‘The Godfather’ with vampires” is a promising pitch, even if the resultant show didn’t quite live up to it. —LSM

28. “Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments” (2016)

There’s charm to this Freeform adaptation of the fan-favorite book series, but it’s lower on this list because there are, like, barely vampires in the show. Sure, one series regular gets turned almost immediately in Season 1, and vampire politics make up a portion of the plot, but it’s just one facet of the supernatural drama. —LSM

27. “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” (2014-2016)

“From Dusk Till Dawn” doesn’t continue the story of the 1996 Robert Rodriguez movie. Instead, it goes for the pure reboot approach with a less interesting cast (you can’t beat George Clooney and Salma Hayek), but an expanded scope. The influence of Mesoamerican culture gives the show a unique twist that helps it stand out in a crowded genre. Too bad Quentin Tarantino wasn’t writing the dialogue. —LSM

26. “Vampire Prosecutor” (2011-2012)

Directed by Kim Byung-soo and Yoo Seon-dong, “Vampire Prosecutor” is exactly what you’d think. Yeon Jung-hoon plays Min Tae-yeon, a vampire prosecutor who drinks the blood of victims to help solve what happened to them. It’s got a traditional procedural feel, akin to the original run of “Dexter” or a significantly slicker “Law & Order.” It wasn’t the first or last of its kind (see the unimaginatively named “Vampire Detective”), but it stands out for fully committing to the concept across two strong seasons. —AF

25. “Moonlight” (2007-2008)

Take a moment to get the Barry Jenkins jokes out of your system. While there were plenty of bright spots in CBS’s 2007-2008 drama — including a stellar performance by “Veronica Mars’s” Jason Dohring — the show couldn’t find its footing in time to ensure a renewal. Shockingly, CBS proved not to be the place for this particular brand of oddball supernatural procedural. Yes, it was originally paired with “Ghost Whisperer,” but it’s hard to figure out what the hell kind of show you’re making when a WGA strike shuts things down. Point is, “Moonlight” was weird. Its for-real tagline: “Only in Los Angeles could a vampire be a hero.” —LSM

24. “Ultraviolet” (1998)

A remarkable cast (Jack Davenport! Susannah Harker! Stephen Moyer! Idris freakin’ Elba!) and some fresh enough ideas about vampirism go a long way here, but unfortunately, the show has too slow a start to prove fully engaging. There’s a lot to say for taking a not-so-black-and-white approach to the vampire cause, positioning the blood-sucking demons instead as victims who were forced out of hiding by climate. That one-of-a-kind premise goes largely unfulfilled, but there are some memorable moments. —LSM

23. “Salem’s Lot” (1979)

Stephen King’s most popular vampire story has been adapted into a miniseries twice, each time with only two parts. Tobe Hooper directed the 1979 version, a dated experience that wins out if only because David Soul is a great Ben Mears and practical effects from the genius behind “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” can’t be beat. But Danish cinematographer Mikael Salmon made a solid effort with the 2004 remake, which is better-paced and stars Rob Lowe. Sadly, its less-than-ethereal scares pale in comparison. (You just can’t beat that window scene!) —AF

22. “Dracula” (2020)

Bram Stoker’s titan of monster iconography has had his legacy adapted and spun off into countless stories across multiple mediums. On TV, “Dracula” (2013-2014) delivered Jonathan Rhys Meyers into a forgettable period drama set in Victorian London. But thankfully, BBC One and Netflix’s 2020 “Dracula” miniseries transported star Claes Bang (and audiences!) to a rich, partially Transylvania-set adaptation of Stoker’s original 1897 novel. It’s infused with modern sensibilities, cheeky humor, and just enough sexy to keep fangs fun. You’d expect nothing less from the team behind “Sherlock.” —AF

21. “The Munsters”/”The Munsters Today” (1964-1966, 1987-1991)

Acknowledged on a near-universal level as an “Addams Family” ripoff in its initial incarnation, “The Munsters” was still pretty charming on a basic sitcom level. (Sure, the premise makes no sense. How do Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula’s daughter give birth to a werewolf?) That’s why it doesn’t rank higher than this. But the original cast was definitely more likable than the ’80s revival replacements. Still, respect “The Munsters Today” for satisfactorily justifying a revival 20 years later. —LSM

20. ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ Season 1 (2012-2013)

What keeps David Production’s spirited, gorgeous, and faithful adaptation of cult favorite manga ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ in the lower half of this list is that it’s only really about vampires in its first season. Hirohiko Araki’s hyper-macho, ultra-flamboyant family saga follows the adventures of several members of the Joestar bloodline, which span hundreds of years, encompass the entire globe, and only involve vampires in the very opening chapters. But what vampiric action we do get in the show’s opening season are entertainingly flamboyant enough to warrant inclusion on this list. Set in the late 1880s, the ‘Phantom Blood’ arc concerns the homoerotic rivalry between adopted brothers wealthy rich boy Jonathan Joestar and his adopted brother Dio, which is already tense and unpleasant before Jonathan uses an ancient stone mask to become a vampire in an attempt to take over the world, putting the two on a path to an inevitable climactic confrontation.  ‘Phantom Blood’ is considered tame by ‘Jojo’ standards, which still means its easily the most flamboyant, ridiculous, and over-the-top show on this entire list. If you want a vampire series where the heroes are named things like Robert E.O. Speedwagon and ‘William Zeppeli,’ ‘JoJo’ is the show for you. —WC

19. “The Gates” (2010)

Vampires are only one of the types of supernatural creatures which live in the secret gated community at the center of this short-lived ABC drama. But from the opening scene, they’re clearly an important part of the action, especially given how the show was invested in exploring the idea of vampires attempting to blend into normal society. Rhona Mitra gives a gripping performance as a woman torn between desires and worlds. —LSM

18. “The Strain” (2014-2017)

This story of a vampire outbreak that brings first New York City, then the world, to the brink of apocalypse plays more like a zombie story than a vampire one. And like “The Walking Dead,” the FX series created by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan is at its most captivating when it focuses on society’s collapse and its effects on the core characters. It also features some truly terrifying vampires… well, vampire-ish, anyway. —LSM

17. “NOS4A2” (2019-2020)

Supernatural horror takes on a strange new texture in this adaptation of Joe Hill’s 2013 novel of the same name. Ashleigh Cummings stars as Vic, a gifted young woman who discovers a portal that lets her hunt child killer Charlie Manx across dimensions. Played by a devilishly delighted with himself Zachary Quinto, Manx isn’t a stand-in for the silent film character the title “NOS4A2” might suggest. But he is a one-of-a-kind soul-sucker who shares an electric cat-and-mouse dynamic with his teenage Van Helsing-type. The book is arguably better, but at just two seasons of 10 episodes each, “NOS4A2” rises to the occasion when you need a binge with bite. —AF

16. “Van Helsing” (2016-2021)

This Syfy drama brought some admirable twists to the vampire mythos, including the notion that there’s a cure for vampirism. But more memorable is Neil LaBute’s character-focused approach to his series, which makes for intimate, quiet storytelling that builds to bigger drama in a horror subgenre, which can quite often become very loud very fast. —LSM

15. “The Originals” (2013-2018)

Do you like your vampire dramas with mythology denser than a dwarf star? Then “The Originals” is definitely for you, launching from the jump into a family drama embedded in the deep history of its characters. Spun off from “The Vampire Diaries” but finding its own flavor, the show made the bold choice to spotlight a collection of characters who technically fall more on the side of evil than good. —LSM

14. “Preacher” (2016-2019)

Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, and Sam Catlin deserve a lot of credit for taking the vampire tropes audiences remember well and giving them a novel feel, making Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) both incredibly charismatic and incredibly violent. Blood practically oozes out of the screen during his initial introduction, in which Cassidy lays waste to an entire private plane of religious fanatics. The show continued to mine his supernatural abilities in captivating and unsettling ways. —LSM

13. “Being Human” UK/US (2008-2013, 2011-2014)

A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost become roommates; wackiness ensues. Well, wackiness and a captivating narrative that embraces the obviously comedic elements of its premise while also centering the drama around character, not plot. There’s good reason for grouping both versions of the series together. The original UK version begins with the stronger ensemble, but by the end of its run had completely changed over to a new cast of supernatural folks, and suffered as a result. Meanwhile, the North American remake stretched out its narrative in different ways, due to episode count, but was relatively consistent in quality for all four seasons. Both versions have their fans; it’s more than likely your favorite version is the one you saw first. But either way, it’s a cool spin on the supernatural genre and one which delves vigorously into what it means to be a vampire. —LSM

12. ‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)

Err…spoiler alert? Yep, the mystery behind enigmatic priest Father Paul Hill (a fantastic Hamish Linklater), who kick-starts the plot of Mike Flanagan’s Netflix horror limited series when he arrives to temporarily lead the tiny church of Crockett Island, is that he’s actually the parish’s old priest, who went to Jerusalem, encountered a blood-sucking creature that attacked him and turned him young, and decided this creature was an angel and brought it home with him. Nobody ever says the word ‘vampire’ in ‘Midnight Mass,’ but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what this ancient evil actually is — especially when its influence causes those turned by it to burn in the sunlight. Still, Flanagan’s restraint and willingness to go at a slow pace, building up to the inevitable tragedy, is part of what makes ‘Midnight Mass’ so effective, creating a thick sense of tension and dread. And while it contains many of Flanagan’s weaknesses, including a love of monologues that often gets more than a bit absurd, the gem of a limited series makes up for it in how it melds its vampiric conceit with thoughtful probing into the nature of faith and the power of community. —WC 

11. “Let the Right One In” (2022)

Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist’s 2004 tale of vampiric friendship has been adapted before: first, in 2008 for a film directed by Tomas Alfredson from a screenplay Lindqvist wrote; then again, in Matt Reeves’ 2010 remake, titled “Let Me In.” 

“Despite its wider focus and a proliferation of characters, ‘Let the Right One In’ is still invested in how circumstances can create various forms of loneliness, and how they’re all overcome through the kindness of others,” writes IndieWire’s Ben Travers in his review, noting both the enduring mood of the source material and the many changes show creator Andrew Hinderaker makes to the specifics of the text. “Showtime’s series isn’t going to convince anyone it’s the best adaptation to date, but there’s enough reason yet again to welcome Ellie into your home.” —AF

10. “American Horror Story: Hotel”/”American Horror Story: Double Feature” (2011-present)

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s infamously off-the-rails horror anthology has dipped its metaphoric toes in the vampire pool more than once. As the Countess in “American Horror Story: Hotel,” Lady Gaga created a larger-than-life Los Angeles predator wielding a razor-sharp dinner glove instead of fangs. In “American Horror Story: Double Feature,” which focuses its first six episodes on vampires and its last four on UFOs, Finn Wittrock appears as a frustrated writer seduced by a blood-drinking cult. Neither story stuck the landing, but both boast striking concepts with just enough highs to justify the lows. When “American Horror Story” does something well, it does it really well. (“You boy has a jawline for daaays.”) —AF

9. “Forever Knight” (1992-1996)

This show gets boos for naming its lead character Nick Knight. But there’s no denying that this is the great-granddaddy of “vampire solves crime” procedurals, and maybe the gold standard. If you dig into the internet for spoilers, you’ll learn that the show featured some pretty incredible twists. If you actually watch it, you’ll discover that the show had sharp energy and great banter, plus palpable chemistry between stars Geraint Wyn Davies and Catherine Disher. Plus, it has a truly badass opening credits sequence. Love those font choices. —LSM

8. “True Blood” (2008-2014)

The first time we saw a vampire die on “True Blood,” we knew that this drama set in the 21st-century South was going to be ridiculous, And that opening sequence, featuring some seriously unsettling time lapses, remains an absolute gem. Later seasons of “True Blood” definitely floundered, especially after creator Alan Ball left the series, but of all the shows on this list, no other dealt more explicitly and directly with the theme of how vampirism as a trope is connected with human sexuality. When “True Blood” was at its batshit best, it was a real treat. —LSM

7. “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-2017)

Showrunners Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec brought a lot of wit and intrigue to what might be considered the heir apparent to “Buffy.” But equally worth celebrating is its talented cast, especially Nina Dobrev, who was asked to do double-or-more-duty as multiple characters and proved fully up to the challenge. With Dobrev’s departure at the end of Season 6, the show’s impact dropped, but it leaves us with a strong legacy of eight seasons of television and an uncharacteristically smart spinoff, giving it a serious leg up on a lot of other shows on this list. —LSM

6. “Interview with the Vampire” (2022-present)

“This ‘Interview with the Vampire’ is not ignorant of the time in which it’s arriving,” writes IndieWire’s Steve Greene in his review of the new AMC show: a serialized take on Anne Rice’s 1976 gothic novel, famously adapted in 1994  for Neil Jordan’s film of the same name.

“It’s conversant with the fears and the realities of an ongoing pandemic. It’s aware of how fraught its observations on power could be, particularly if certain characters want to reduce racial or gender or sexual dynamics into neatly metaphorical boxes. And it’s not flippant about the nature of mortality. It never takes Lestat’s view on the beauty of death at face value, nor does it ignore that the lives of Louis and Lestat (and others to come) are nourished at the expense of others. However much fun the show has with Louis’ awkward transformation into the daily routines of a vampire, that’s paired with a constant acknowledgment of what his new existence costs him.”

5. “Angel” (1999-2004)

Over the course of five seasons, “Angel” took a number of different paths, but at its core, it was a detective drama that just happened to star a vampire (or two). Fierce debates rage over which season is best, but there’s no question that the “Buffy” spinoff featured at least a dozen episodes that were some of the best TV of its era, and even though it theoretically ended before its time thanks to an unceremonious cancelation, it went out on a creative high note. Dark, silly, and complex, it left a major impact on the genre. —LSM

4. “Castlevania” (2017-2021)

Video game adaptations are notoriously thorny territory for TV and film alike. Warren Ellis’ “Castlevania” is the rare exception, with a Dracula-centric anime story as breathtaking as it is heart-wrenching. Admittedly, the series takes some time to find its groove, delivering solid but somewhat underwhelming entries in its significantly shorter Seasons 1 and 2. But the darkly gorgeous “Castlevania” shines in Seasons 3 and 4, with its gothic art style achieving its most marvelous heights and its deep lore supporting an epic tale of destruction with a hell of a finale. —AF

3. “What We Do in the Shadows” (2019-present)

Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi disturbed a crypt of comedic genius when they unleashed“What We Do in the Shadows” as a mockumentary movie in 2014. The indie darling profiled a group of flatmates balancing their blood-thirsty needs with more grounded human conflict, giving audiences endlessly quotable lines including “Werewolves not swearwolves!” and “Vampires don’t do dishes.” Clement ratchets that concept all the way up in his serialization starring Harvey Guillen, Kayvan Novak, Nastasia Demetriou, Matt Berry, and Mark Proksch as vampires living in Long Island.

“What We Do in the Shadows” qualifies as eternally excellent vampire TV because it seamlessly blends very human sitcom humor with ridiculous vampire tropes without letting the undead heart of its story go too far in either direction. Plus, it explores vampire mythos with reckless abandon, giving audiences the best psychic vampire portrayal ever put to screen. —AF

2. “Dark Shadows” (1966-1971)

It’s simply impossible to judge this late ’60s gothic soap opera by modern standards. Not only is it from a totally different time in culture, but it operated under a totally different TV model. Over the course of five years, 1,225 half-hour episodes were produced. Although it’s practically impossible to catch up on, “Dark Shadows” remains a landmark series anchored by an all-time performance by Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins. Many have tried to recapture the character and show’s magic, but none of them have succeeded. The concept of the brooding, lovestruck romantic hero/vampire on-screen was born here and deserves high praise and recognition as a result. —LSM

1. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

For decades, “Buffy” has been changing lives with its undead perfection. One of television’s most wildly creative dramas (with a wicked sense of humor), “Buffy” is both critically beloved and a fan favorite: a rare common combination. “Buffy” did not lack for flaws, including some uneven seasons, questionable narrative choices, and an episode where a penis monster emerged from an old lady’s head. But damn did it take chances with its storytelling, and more importantly, it set the bar for how to make a supernatural show so deeply connect with what it means to be human.

There are so many unforgettable episodes and breathtaking moments from this show, so many characters who still live in our hearts. It’s been off the air for years. But more than any other show on this list, “Buffy” still slays. —LSM