A Ranking of On-Screen Vampires, from Best to Worst
Although you may be more familiar with Edward Cullen than Nosferatu, there’s something to be said about the fact that people have been intrigued with vampires for centuries. Bram Stoker’s Dracula was written in 1897, yet people from all over the world remain baffled by the undead, fang-toothed, fantastical creatures. We’ve staked out the best to worst on-screen vampires for your ghoulish pleasure, so you can get clued in to all the spooky perpetrators who love to go bump in the night.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY1/91. Akasha, Queen of the Damned
Aaliyah shines as Akasha in this play on Anne Rice’s classic series, The Vampire Chronicles. Akasha is the queen of all the undead bloodsuckers and is awoken by heavy metal music. Refusing to give up her position of power, she sets out to do anything she can to destroy those who stand in her way. (The film was released six months after the R&B icon's death, making her performance that much more bittersweet.)
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY2/9Eric Northman, True Blood
True Blood was full of the undead, but Eric Northman holds a special place in our beating hearts — just don’t tell him that, eating hearts is kind of his thing.
3/9Vasilisa “Lissa” Dragomir, Vampire Academy
Not much sounds cooler than being a vampire, except for being a royal vampire. One of the last Moroi queens, Lissa has psychic abilities as well as bloodsucking tendencies. Can you say #goals?
4/9Edward Cullen, Twilight series
Arguably one of the silver screen’s hottest vampires, even if he wasn’t exactly terrifying. Whether you were team Edward or team Jacob, you still had to give Edward props for going above and beyond to protect his girlfriend.
5/9Elena Gilbert, The Vampire Diaries
Living in the town of Mystic Falls can be rough, especially if you’re a normal girl-turned-vampire caught in the crosshairs of a love triangle. Elena deals with the transition pretty well. That is, until a coven leader traps her in a magical coma. Some vamps just can’t catch a break!
6/9Klaus Mikaelson, The Originals
Growing up can be confusing—especially when you’re half-vampire, half-werewolf. The only one of his kind, Klaus’ story involves moonstones, ritualistic sacrifices, and severe mommy issues.
7/9Lestat de Lioncourt, Interview with the Vampire
Vengeful and very heavily made-up, Tom Cruise as Lestat is both creepy and comical. Although this chapter of The Vampire Chronicles is one of the most renowned vampire retellings in recent history, Lestat becomes more “psycho father figure” than horrifying half-life.
8/9Barnabas Collins, Dark Shadows
Johnny Depp pays homage to the 1960s soap opera, Dark Shadows, as Barnabas Collins in the 2012 Tim Burton remake. More bite than bark, this movie proved that not everything Depp touches can turn to gold.
9/9The Count, Sesame Street
The Count doesn’t exactly haunt your dreams but he does haunt your childhood memories. This number-loving puppet proves that some vampires are more interested in education than domination.
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