Vampires have a way of always enthralling audiences. Maybe it's the immortal life, the teeth, or the allure of a dark supernatural persona but the subject of vampires has a long history dating back to the famous book written in 1897 by Bram Stoker titled Dracula.
The famed character had people afraid of what lurks in the dark. Over the years, vampires have evolved into being blood-sucking creatures who may or may not sparkle or burn in sunlight. They've also gotten more good looking to add to their unworldly appearance. Vampires are a genre of film and television that will never grow old, literally. Thankfully, Netflix has more than enough binge-worthy content that will satiate anyone's hunger for vampires.
Updated on December 8th, 2021, by Kevin Pantoja: Considering Netflix is the world's largest streaming platform, it makes complete sense that it's the ideal place to find intriguing vampire shows. These can cover all sorts of genres from horror tales to those in the sci-fi realm to even some continuations of existing franchises. When trying to find the ultimate Netflix vampire series, there are actually over a dozen options to choose from. Although the streaming options change monthly, most of these vampire shows on Netflix have been on the platform for quite some time, giving you a chance to check them all out.
Immortals (2018)
The word "immortal" makes it somewhat clear what this show is about, at least a little bit. Immortals is indeed about vampires. This foreign Netflix show is set in Instanbul, seeped with a plot of revenge and blood.
It centers around a vampire who is on the hunt for the vampire who turned her. However, in order to return to her human state, she must first gain his trust before emitting the final blow. In between is a story of the vampire looking for an artifact that makes one immortal. The miniseries wasn't a huge critical hit but there's a lot to like in there.
V Wars (2019)
Ian Somerhalder returns for a new bloodthirsty vampire show but this time he isn't the vampire. Somerhalder stars (and acts as executive producer) in the Netflix show as Dr. Luther in V Wars. The science-fiction horror show is based on an anthology series and comic book by Jonathan Maberry.
The show ties together the popular themes of vampires, viruses, and global warming into one. Due to climate change melting the ice, a deadly virus was released that turned humans into vampires. The outbreak caused fractions in society that could soon lead to an ugly war between humans and vampires. Though solidly received, V Wars was canceled after one season.
Vampires (2020)
Vampires is a foreign Netflix original series that has gotten some rave reviews by audiences. The title says it all when it comes to what the show is about as it revolves around a half-vampire teen who comes into her growing powers and doesn't know how to exactly deal with them, all the while she is being pursued by a secret vampire community.
Fans of the show say sits a perfect match for anyone who was a fan of shows like The Vampire Diaries but who want more or a twist. Many fell in love with the show's drama and its refreshing take on the overdone vampire image. The protagonist could even be considered the best Netflix vampire to date.
Dracula (2020)
If looking for a show that plays upon the original Dracula character from the novel but with a dark and disturbing twist, Dracula is a good choice. Netflix released a short three-stage drama-horror show that took an interesting look at Dracula.
The show is a mix of the past and the modern future. It tells the origin of Dracula himself and over the years coming to face his enemy, Van Helsing. But don't expect any intense gore in this series. It's much more psychological and dark than what many would expect. Netflix describes the show as "The Count Dracula legend transforms with new tales that flesh out the vampire's gory crimes—and bring his vulnerability into the light."
Van Helsing (2016-2021)
Van Helsing is a refreshing new take on the famous vampire hunter. Audiences have seen the character played out in many shows and even the film starring Hugh Jackman. This version isn't your typical hunter and is a strong female compared to other versions.
A volcano erupts cloaking the world in ash and darkness allowing vampires to emerge from hiding. Vanessa Van Helsing (Kelly Overton) wakes up from a coma to find the world taken over by vampires and her daughter missing. She soon discovers her blood has a special cure for vampirism and is on the hunt to rescue her daughter. With the help of close companions, she hopes to end vampires once and for all.
From Dusk Till Dawn (2014-2016)
It's not hard to guess that the show From Dusk Till Dawn is based on the famous Quentin Tarantino film of the same name. The show takes story elements from the film, the direct-to-video films and the comics to create a new unique show about bloodsuckers.
The show starts with many of the popular plot elements seen in the original film. The Gecko brothers are wanted by the FBI and take a family hostage and reroute to a strip club in Mexico. Unbeknownst to them, the club is populated by snake-like creatures who feast on blood. They have to try and survive the night. The show develops the storyline from the film much further to make an enticing series.
The Originals (2013-2018)
The CW's The Originals was a spin-off series after the success of this predecessor, The Vampire Diaries. Fans fell in love with some of the original show's characters, especially Klaus Mikaelson, hence the new series revolving around him and his return to New Orleans.
He reunites with his brother to investigate rumors and plots against him. These being the original family of vampires, they're much stronger than those typically depicted in shows or movies. The series has more than enough vampire charisma to appease any fan as well as some twists and turns and even werewolves.
Vampire Knight (2008)
There are many popular anime shows to binge-watch on Netflix if a fan of the genre. If wanting to combine vampires with anime, Vampire Knight might be the answer. The series follows the popular manga story of a young girl remembering being attacked by a vampire and rescued by another.
In the current day, she is now a student at Cross Academy where she is a guardian of the "Day Class." Along with a vampire hunter, they protect the humans from the vampires of the "Night Class." An agreement was made to help build an amicable relationship between humans and vampires but proves to be harder said than done.
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
Who hasn't heard of The Vampire Diaries when it comes to the genre? The show helped skyrocket the genre into teen pop culture after the success of Twilight. It was based on the popular book series of the same name by L.J. Smith but went a much different route.
The show had everything audiences were craving from vampires, werewolves, witches and brooding and seductive romances. It starts by following Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) who must adjust to life after her parents' death. She soon meets and falls for a mysterious new student named Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). His arrival sparks the town's deep-rooted supernatural history and newcomers.
Castlevania (2017-2021)
Another worthy anime to watch on Netflix about vampires is Castelvania. The adult animated series takes after the Japanese video game of the same name. It was originally meant to be a film but experienced many issues before becoming a Netflix vampire show.
The show involves the famed character Count Dracula. After his wife is falsely accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake, he declares revenge. He lets loose a hoard of demons that cause the countries inhabitants to live in fear. An outcast monster hunter rises to defeat Dracula alongside a magician and Dracula's dhampir son.
The Kirlian Frequency (2019)
Not every episode of The Kirlian Frequency is directly about vampires but they still play a part. The Argentine series began on the web, running on YouTube and Vimeo before premiering on Netflix in 2019 officially.
The series is centered around a radio station that only broadcasts at night and tends to pick up supernatural events. While each episode is its own tale, the second installment, "Masters of the Night," focuses squarely on vampires. It's an easy watch for a quick vampire fix without commitment.
Sirius The Jaeger (2018)
Similar to the aforementioned Vampire Knight, 2018's Sirius The Jaeger is another case of a show in the genre that is actually an anime. The Japanese series is one that takes place way back in 1930 as a group of vampires leave China for Japan.
There, they are hunted by those known as jaegers, including the titular Sirius, who is a werewolf looking for vengeance after vamps destroyed his home. The show is filled with shocking twists and turns that keep the audience on their toes as you can never quite predict what will happen next.
American Horror Story (2011-Present)
The long-running anthology series American Horror Story doesn't always center on vampires. The various seasons have involved demonic possessions, slasher killers, ghosts, witches, aliens, and almost every other kind of horror trope you can imagine, so not all will be ideal for a vampire lover.
Two seasons stand out in that regard. First, there's season 5, subtitled "Hotel." In it, some of the residents at a hotel are indeed blood-sucking creatures, including one played spectacularly by Lady Gaga. Season 10 also features several episodes with a unique take on vampires, though that's not available on Netflix just yet.
Legacies (2018-Present)
The latest entry into The Vampire Diaries universe is Legacies. Like its predecessors, vampires are certainly not the only creature around, with the Salvatore School featuring witches, werewolves, fairies, phoenixes, and more.
Of course, several main characters are vampires, including best friends Kaleb and MG. Plus, the show has plenty of callbacks to the series of the past, giving it connections to more vampire lore. Protagonist Hope Mikaelson (Danielle Rose Russell) even recently became a "tribrid" as she is now a witch, vampire, and werewolf, all in one.