42 Best Vampire TV Series
We are entering a golden age of television where better production and acting are making for some really interesting serial dramas and supernatural shows have a niche now. Soon there should be even more great vampire shows on the horizon. That being said, here are the best of the genre so far. I have to acknowledge that I am not really a fan of episodic television, preferring serial dramas that have continuing plot lines and story arcs, so some shows rate more highly than others because of this.
Also note, some shows have vampires in them, although vampires may not be central to the overall story of the show (Supernatural is a good example of this). However, they have enough episodes including the vampire trope (or a main character that is a vampire) to have been included on the list, although ranked lower for this than on the quality of the show alone.
Also, please note that this list is not exhaustive. There are a few shows that I know of that could have been included - Vampire Detective and Scholar Who Walks the Night for example - but as they were unavailable for review at the time of this posting, they have not yet been included.
I assure you that not a single show has made it onto this list without me watching it and reviewing it personally, and while I know this is not a completely exhaustive list, it IS a pretty thorough one.*
*Because the original Dark Shadows was over a 1200 episode long serial soap opera, I admit I have not seen it in its entirety, but have in this case included it based on the few episodes that I have seen. This is perhaps unfair to its ordering on this list, so keep that in mind and take its placement here as conditional because of this.
Shows reviewed that did not make the cut:
Dracula (2013)
Immortals
The Scholar Who Walks the Night
Preacher
Shadowhunters
Blood
V Wars
My Babysitter's a Vampire
Young Dracula
Count Duckula
Dracula: The Series
Demons
Vampire High
Valemont
Carmilla
Trinity Blood
Dance in the Vampire Bund
Black Blood Brothers
Devils Line
Orange Marmalade
Salem's Lot (while both versions are worthy, they were too short to be considered a series).
Updated: 10/1/22
Also note, some shows have vampires in them, although vampires may not be central to the overall story of the show (Supernatural is a good example of this). However, they have enough episodes including the vampire trope (or a main character that is a vampire) to have been included on the list, although ranked lower for this than on the quality of the show alone.
Also, please note that this list is not exhaustive. There are a few shows that I know of that could have been included - Vampire Detective and Scholar Who Walks the Night for example - but as they were unavailable for review at the time of this posting, they have not yet been included.
I assure you that not a single show has made it onto this list without me watching it and reviewing it personally, and while I know this is not a completely exhaustive list, it IS a pretty thorough one.*
*Because the original Dark Shadows was over a 1200 episode long serial soap opera, I admit I have not seen it in its entirety, but have in this case included it based on the few episodes that I have seen. This is perhaps unfair to its ordering on this list, so keep that in mind and take its placement here as conditional because of this.
Shows reviewed that did not make the cut:
Dracula (2013)
Immortals
The Scholar Who Walks the Night
Preacher
Shadowhunters
Blood
V Wars
My Babysitter's a Vampire
Young Dracula
Count Duckula
Dracula: The Series
Demons
Vampire High
Valemont
Carmilla
Trinity Blood
Dance in the Vampire Bund
Black Blood Brothers
Devils Line
Orange Marmalade
Salem's Lot (while both versions are worthy, they were too short to be considered a series).
Updated: 10/1/22
List activity
856K views
• 607 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
- 42 titles
- CreatorJohn LoganStarsJosh HartnettTimothy DaltonEva GreenExplorer Sir Malcolm Murray, American gunslinger Ethan Chandler, scientist Victor Frankenstein and medium Vanessa Ives unite to combat supernatural threats in Victorian London.Easily one of the darkest shows on the list, Penny Dreadful gets top marks for atmosphere, effects, acting, and writing. It goes to some very dark places, and these places have absolutely no humor or levity to lighten things. This is another mashup series. It gets its name from the 19th century series of pulp fiction stories, often horror in content, that were once sold for a penny and very popular. It is set in Victorian era London and pieces together elements from several classic monster stories, as well as taking a few new directions of its own. My one and only complaint is that I wish the writers would have made the characters slightly more obscure. Too many of them are easily recognizable in their own stories, and that era is ripe with terrific material to draw from. It is fun that despite our familiarity with their stories, however, they are interconnecting in some very unexpected ways. The first three seasons come together to create one of the most outstanding narratives on this list with a full sense of development of the characters and always treating the material with gravity and respect. The third season ended too abruptly. We never got the full treatment we were hoping for and it felt rushed, likely this was because the show was cancelled too soon, but overall, no other shows come close to the quality treatment of the genre as this one does.
- StarsKayvan NovakMatt BerryNatasia DemetriouA look into the nightly lives of four vampires who have lived together on Staten Island for over a century.Based on the premise of the equally funny 2014 film by the same name, the series is a mockumentary comedy in the style of the Office about a house full of vampires that are roommates together in New York. This show had me laughing harder than I have in a very long time. The characters have quickly endeared themselves because of how absurdly funny their actions are. This first season ended on an interesting high note, and I am hopeful this very funny show will be around a while longer.
- CreatorJulie PlecStarsJoseph MorganDaniel GilliesClaire HoltA family of power-hungry thousand-year-old vampires look to take back the city that they built and dominate all those who have done them wrong.I love an anti-hero (a villain) that you still want to root for, and this has one of the best of them in the character of Klaus. A spin-off series of The Vampire Diaries focusing on the original vampire family and a rivalry in New Orleans, it has an intriguing back story for the characters, not to mention two rivals in a power struggle for dominance of a city. The original family were a terrific element in the Vampire Diaries and now they are really given a chance to shine here. The writers have really created a very dynamic cityscape of characters and stories, and have shown so much of it through the almost Shakespearean unfolding drama of the Original family and their constant power struggles, bickering, and damaged souls. There is a real wealth of material for the characters to work with here and the show just continues to grow in quality. Now sadly ended, it was without a doubt one of the greatest additions to the genre.
- CreatorRolin JonesStarsJacob AndersonSam ReidEric BogosianBased on Anne Rice's iconic novel, follow Louis de Pointe's epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality, as told to the journalist Daniel Molloy.For purists of book adaptations, some audiences might find this version of Interview with the Vampire hard to swallow, but while I enjoy a faithful adaptation and adherence to source material in most cases, there is a lot to admire with this take on the story. Louis and Lestat are both well developed and yet true to the heart of the characters in the novel. Settings and production values are excellent and the performances by all the cast members, especially the two leads are excellent. It stays true to the essence of the characters in the source material and the second season is even better than the first, with the third season looking to be truly amazing. Can't wait to see where they take it next.
- StarsMatthew GoodeTeresa PalmerAlex KingstonForbidden love blossoms between a witch and vampire after an ancient manuscript is uncovered, pitting them against supernatural forces vying for its coveted secrets.Arguably the easiest binge-worthy show on this list. I devoured this show in one day. It has a fascinating and compelling story that is reminiscent in its intricacies of plot and character arcs of Kindred: The Embraced. Full of beautiful grandiose landscapes, gorgeous characters draped in fantastic attire, it is in every way just extremely lush to watch and enjoy. The story line and characters are all treated with respect here and the plot unfolds at a natural and reserved pace. There is not much fault that we can find in this adaptation, actually. Definitely one worth watching if you are a fan of vampire romance.
- CreatorToby WhithouseStarsLenora CrichlowRussell ToveyAidan TurnerA werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost try to live together and get along.There is something really offbeat and interesting about this show, maybe it is the unexpected performances by all of its cast, but it is really great, even when it is at times quirky. I sat and watched the entire first series in one night because I just couldn't get enough. The second series (although it is considerably darker) is even better, and the third series really took the characters into an interesting direction. Next to True Blood, this is the show that delivers every time on what it is to be human, even when viewed by characters that are not. The Series went a bit off the rails after Season 3. Can't say I approve of Season 4 or 5, and it has now been cancelled. My suggestion? Watch through season 3 and then quit.
- CreatorAlan BallStarsAnna PaquinStephen MoyerSam TrammellTelepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse encounters a strange new supernatural world when she meets the mysterious Bill Compton, a southern Louisiana gentleman and vampire.For it's production value, acting, and writing alone this is one of the best vampire shows. Add to that several seasons of engrossing plots and even its more outrageous campy moments are still some of the best vampire entertainment around. Eric Northman is a pure delight to watch. Actually, the entire cast is fantastic. Things were beginning to get a little muddled in the third season and became outright crazy in the fourth, but the first two seasons are so good that I raced through them in just a couple days. The quality of later seasons cannot compete with the early seasons, the quality has gone downhill as the show continues, and yet it ended on a strong note (for the most part). This is one of the best of the genre, which is why it has so many rabid fans. However, be forewarned it has a lot of sex, violence, and nudity.
- CreatorDan CurtisStarsBen CrossBarbara BlackburnJim FyfeVictoria Winters comes to Collinwood, an isolated mansion in Maine, to work as a governess, but soon finds herself drawn into a strange world of vampires, ghosts and curses.With Ben Cross in the lead, this revision of the classic show could have been a spectacular re-ignition of the series if it had not been doomed by interruptions during the Gulf War. This one has Gothic atmosphere and a pretty smart script to keep it going. In fact, it is that classic Gothic story that has propelled it to the top of this list. It starts off a little slow, but about halfway through the first season it starts to become really compelling, and by the end I was totally engrossed in the story. The acting and writing is all really good and the story is just fantastic. One of the many shows that was tragically short-lived. Worth watching if for no other reason than to see the great horror film queen Barbara Steele and a very young (but talented even then!) Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
- CreatorCurtis GwinnEric WeinbergStarsTexas BattleBryce JohnsonTania RaymondeA mockumentary following a police force as they deal with various perpetrators who are mostly supernatural in nature.This is a reality show parody. It's like watching the series Cops with vampires, werewolves, and zombies, and while I'm not a big fan of comedy shows, or parodies, this one really made me laugh. One of the more original shows I've seen and very funny. Alas another one cancelled too soon, but definitely recommended.
- CreatorAndrew HinderakerStarsDemián BichirAnika Noni RoseGrace GummerFollows a 12-year-old girl who lives a closed-in life after turning into a vampire, only able to go out at night. Her father does his best to provide her with the minimal amount of human blood she needs to stay alive.Another reason TV adaptation of a film/book source material, this is one of the most successful to stray far enough from the source material to keep the story interesting and fresh. As a huge fan of Let the Right One In, the Swedish film, and Let Me In, it's American adaption, as well as the book it was based on, I am very familiar with this story, and yet the creators of this series have gone in a significantly different direction that really works for me. The performances by all the main characters are excellent and the motivations and character identities are very different than the films and the book, and while not as dark, their humanity shines through in such a believable way, and the challenges they deal with are also so believable that it makes for an excellent story. Definitely recommended.
- StarsAshleigh CummingsÓlafur Darri ÓlafssonJahkara SmithCharlie Manx, a seductive immortal who feeds off the souls of children, has his whole world threatened when a young woman in New England discovers she has a dangerous gift.Based on the book of the same name by Joe Hill, this series has a strong story behind. With a great cast including the always terrifying Zachary Quinto as the villain Charley Manx. The show has strong character development and so the fates of the characters keep growing more important to the viewer. There are quiet moments of horror that build and sneak up on you. Despite the low IMDB rating this one is one of the most original and best stories on this list. The first season ended strong and on a solid cliffhanger, if they can keep this strength of character up for the next season it may rival Penny Dreadful for the top spot. It's curious that the IMDB score is so low for such a good story. Don't believe it. Give this one a go, you won't be disappointed. It may be the most underrated show on this list.
- CreatorJohn LeekleyStarsStacy HaidukErik KingPatrick BauchauJulian Luna, the undead Prince of the City, leads the Vampire Clans as he falls in love with Caitlin, a human reporter.The pilot is wrought with bad writing and overacting (and steals its music from Interview with the Vampire and Bram Stoker's Dracula, interestingly enough) but the actual show was terrific. Every episode added a new element to this fantastic world and the acting and story lines just kept getting better. This was an awesome concept for a show that was ahead of its time. It could have been a long running fantastic series, but due to some mediocre ratings and the death of its star in a motorcycle accident, it was canceled before it was really given a chance. When it first aired, I was totally blown away by it, and watching it again (even though there are only 8 episodes) I find that it is still one of the best of the genre. I would love to see this concept revamped and redone, it could have been amazing, but as it was, it was still really great.
- CreatorLiz HeldensStarsMark-Paul GosselaarSaniyya SidneyJamie McShaneWhen a botched U.S. government experiment turns a group of death row inmates into highly infectious vampires, an orphan girl might be the only person able to stop the ensuing crisis.When it comes to book adaptations to screen, you tend to get one of two possibilities, a faithful adaptation, or something that carves out a completely different path. With "A Discovery of Witches" this year, we got a faithful adaptation. The Passage, on the other hand, has gone in a completely different direction. I was a big fan of the book so when the series began with a large amount of exposition and voice over explanation of things that were never revealed in the book until a much later point, I was worried. However, by the end of the first episode, I dropped my expectations and realized that the storytellers decided to tell their own story in their own way and it was actually a very compelling, very mature, and very effective way to tell the story. By the end of episode one, though the material strayed dramatically from its source material, I was hooked. Unlike with the Strain, (a similar story of an impending vampire apocalypse) here we have a story that creates so many dynamic and well developed and human characters, that you cannot help but be drawn in. Easily one of the best of the genre. The first season takes the story about to the mid-point of the first book. I will be interested to see where they go from here.
UPDATE: Alas! Another great vampire series cancelled too early. There won't be a season two which is disappointing because it had all the makings of a very good show. - CreatorBrad FalchukRyan MurphyHalley FeifferStarsLady GagaKathy BatesAngela BassettAn anthology series centering on different characters and locations, showcasing different aspects of horror.This is a show that is hit or miss for me. Some seasons are better than others. Only one has vampires (so far). "American Horror Story: Hotel" is by far one of the best seasons of the series, and is one of the best vampire series. These are classically decadent vampires and it is horror at its best. Outstanding sets, costumes, acting, and story. It is derivative and yet original as so much of the series is. Well worth watching.
- StarsJack DavenportSusannah HarkerIdris ElbaThe six-episode series, first aired in 1998, stars Jack Davenport as Detective Sergeant Michael Colefield, who discovers a secret government vampire-hunting unit while investigating the disappearance of his partner.This show really gets philosophical at times. It really makes you question what is good and what is evil. Are the vampires bad? I am not usually a fan of episodic cop type shows, but the very ambiguous nature of the moral dilemmas in this show really caught my attention, not to mention the unusual sci-fi element that was added to the story. Worthy of its place on this list if for no other reason than for the originality it brings to the genre and the great performances (especially by Stephen Moyer and Idris Elba, who have since proven themselves to be really great actors).
- CreatorJulie PlecKevin WilliamsonStarsNina DobrevPaul WesleyIan SomerhalderThe lives, loves, dangers and disasters in the town, Mystic Falls, Virginia. Creatures of unspeakable horror lurk beneath this town as a teenage girl is suddenly torn between two vampire brothers.Yes, it is sort of a teen drama, but that takes a back seat to the continually engrossing and intricate plots. The writing is smart, the characters are developing and growing (and Damon is just pure enjoyment) and it has its own cinematic style. In my book, that makes this one a winner. Occasionally the plots overwhelm the viewer, interfering with character development (and try not to get too attached to characters, because most characters have a very short lifespan in this show) but overall, it is a very addictive drama. Please don't call it a "Twilight" rip-off. Yes, it has a love triangle (as does Twilight) and yes, it has a teen storyline (somewhat) but this show is more clever and pretty much blows Twilight away. It continues to improve as it endures, with season 2 better than season 1 in many ways and season 3 even better. All subsequent season continued to lessen in quality, but it was still a very entertaining show for the most part. Perhaps this one lasted a bit too long, but the ending was satisfying overall and for those who enjoy the first few seasons, you will likely enjoy it to the end.
- CreatorPeter MohanStarsChristina CoxDylan NealKyle SchmidVicki Nelson, a former homicide detective turned private investigator, and Henry Fitzroy, a 470-year-old vampire, form a unique team solving cases and dealing with the supernatural world.Another P.I. type of vampire show, this one focused more on the who-done-it mystery of its weekly supernatural villain much like Buffy before it (or perhaps WHAT-done-it is more appropriate). The characters and writing are frequently more on the nose than I typically like, but after a while of watching it, I began to really enjoy their ongoing banter. In addition to this, there is one thing about this show that makes it irresistible - and that is Henry Fitzroy, one of the most smoldering of TV vamps I have seen yet. The relationship between the P.I. Vicky Nelson and the 500 yr. old vampire Henry Fitzroy are what keep this show interesting. The sexual tension between them is frequently palpable and the intense flirting is always fun to watch. Kyle Schmid makes a fantastic vampire, and by the time the show ended I was really saddened to have to let the characters go.
- CreatorKohta HiranoStarsJôji NakataYoshiko SakakibaraFumiko OrikasaA British taskforce, lead by the daughter of the vampire hunter Prof. Van Helsing, battles the supernatural with the aid of two vampires.This is a very violent anime series, but I just can't help liking this one for its interesting storyline. I'm not a huge fan of anime, but this has really nice artwork and pacing to go with its story and I found myself caught up in it and wanting to watch more. The dialogue and relationships are all frequently subtle too, which just adds to its appeal. A good series. The story was retold in a video series in 2006 called Hellsing Ultimate, which is also supposed to be really excellent.
- CreatorDavid S. GoyerStarsSticky FingazJill WagnerNelson LeeThe adventures of the half human/vampire hunter.As a fan of the Blade movies, I was really skeptical of this show, but I was pleasantly surprised. It seems that fans of the films stayed away because of Wesley Snipes not being in the lead performance, but that is really too bad. The characters, and performances of the actors were so good that I found myself really engaged in the story immediately in the pilot and the show only got better from there. What I found really great about this show is how it does not just include Blade's story, but really has some compelling vampires in the story too. It is sort of a spy show, the "Alias" of vampire shows, if you will, and that is an unusual and fascinating take on things. Another show sadly canceled too early, but definitely one of the best of the genre.
- StarsEri KitamuraKatsuyuki KonishiHiroyuki YoshinoIn present day Okinawa, a young amnesiac girl named Saya combats vicious, shape-shifting vampires. Her adoptive family and friends help her track down their source and uncover her past.Occasionally it suffers from some overdramatic dialogue, which is the problem with most anime, but this one has a really fantastic story and interesting characters. Another violent one, it is still one of the most compelling series I have seen. There was a short anime film on the same subject and a live action version of the story a few years back as well, both good, but this is the best of the three as it allows for plenty of opportunity to develop this great story. It loses some of its momentum and mystery in the second part as well as its great pacing, and sometimes the ongoing battle doesn't seem to gain any ground and feels like it is dragging on, but overall, it does a great job of showing the growth and transformation of its characters. A really good series that has a complete story if a slightly bittersweet ending.
- CreatorGuillermo del ToroChuck HoganStarsCorey StollDavid BradleyKevin DurandA mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism ravages the city of New York.I wanted to love the Strain, and there are things that are really quite great about it. The way the virus spreads, the transformations, and the progression of the plot are all terrific, but it took quite a long time for them to develop characters that captured my interest. Many of the characters do really stupid things, and as sometimes happens with horror, they fall into predictable behavior patterns, and have levels of skepticism and denial that are annoying to watch. Most of the season I found myself irritated with the majority of the characters or otherwise not particularly caring about them or for them one way or another, which is really too bad because this could easily be the Walking Dead of vampire shows, but it never quite got there. It's still a really good horror show, though, and one of the more original shows on this list.
- CreatorRon KoslowTrevor MunsonStarsAlex O'LoughlinSophia MylesJason DohringAn immortal vampire and private investigator struggles to exist after he was bitten 60 years ago by his vampire bride. He is also internally tormented as he falls in love with one he should not.When I happened upon a random episode of Moonlight while it was on television, I did not really care for it. Going back and starting from the beginning of the series, I've come to discover why so many people fell for this show. This show does a good job of making the investigations of the P.I. vampire secondary to the hero's story line. In this drama, the relationships take the focus and it is very hard not to like Alex O'Laughlin's character (Mick St. John) and care about his growing relationship. Halfway through the season, the focus on the characters' ever growing story lines and less on the weekly cop mysteries was really getting good, (it was almost noir at moments) but in the final few episodes of the season, it really lost a lot of its mystery and its momentum. A show that was at times great and at other times just ok, and like many shows before it, was canceled too early to give us a chance to really appreciate where the relationships and stories could have gone.
- StarsTôru ÔkawaKôki UchiyamaKazuyuki OkitsuWhen many deaths occur in the quiet village of Sotoba, Doctor Toshio Ozaki initially suspects an epidemic but soon becomes convinced that something else is causing them.Anime is not always easy to love, but this is a slow burning story akin to Salem's Lot. It has some very creepy moments and tells the story of the taking over of a small village and all the many people of it. It has depth. It deals with weighty themes. Like most anime, it has moments that don't ring true, but there is a lot to like about the story. The moral dilemma of the village as things escalate make for a fantastic story. Overall, definitely worth watching, and one of the more interesting anime series.
- StarsAleksandr PetrovEvgeniy StychkinTaisiya VilkovaIt's the year 1829. Nikolay Gogol, a young employee of the Third Section, is desperate: his own books seem superficial and mediocre to him.Originally intended as a TV series in Russia and also adapted as a three part theatrical release, this is one of the more interesting series on the list as it uses the life and stories of the author Nikolai Gogol, to tell its detective/horror story. In fact, Gogol is the main character of the series and the episodes pull elements from his works to add to the intricate plot. The focus of the series is more on witchcraft, but vampirism also has a place here, and as his story VIY has been told numerous times (with elements of it here), it has more than earned its place on this list. The series is one season, but has strong acting, nice effects, and overall is very strong. There are moments of absurdity that sometimes pop up, but mostly it is a great gothic tale. Perhaps a bit derivative at times, (it share similarity in both style and overall plot to Tim Burton's Legend of Sleepy Hollow), it is still very good fun.
- CreatorBarney CohenJames D. ParriottStarsGeraint Wyn DaviesCatherine DisherNigel Bennett800-year-old vampire Nick Knight quests for redemption as a cop in Toronto, trying to hide his vampiric nature from the rest of the world.I find this one hard to fairly judge. Often the production value is low, and I am not much of a fan of episodic television, preferring ongoing storylines, not to mention cop shows are not really my thing, so that is several things against it. All the same, the show had pretty good writing, interesting plots wherein the main character Nick Knight deals with both his past and his present as every episode has the character flashing back to memories of his extensive history (800 years) and paralleling that storyline in the current cop mystery. Also, the lessons learned by the character continue to propel him forward on his quest for humanity and that leads to some quality human drama. Gotta give it props for being groundbreaking in a lot of ways and ahead of its time, since this was the first detective vampire series, a formula that has since been repeated with moderate success. The first season is hit or miss, but the quality of the episodes increase greatly as the show continues. Overall a decent show. One I wouldn't mind at all seeing remade.
