Emmy-nominated What We Do In The Shadows is currently on air with its fourth season, while Syfy's Reginald the Vampire finds Jacob Balaton playing the titular character next month. The hype behind these two titles themselves proves the marketability of the vampire comedy subgenre.
For decades, the lore of the bloodsucking nightwalkers has inspired several horror movies and shows. But with parodies of existing vampire stories, it has also become common to laugh at their misadventures. In some cases, the humor might be less slapstick and more mellowed-down as can be seen in Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive.
Vampire's Kiss (1988) - 6.0
Vampire's Kiss, aka 'that movie in which Nicolas Cage ate a cockroach,' is enjoyable when watched without any context whatsoever. Cage's vampire is also pretty different from the rest because of the psychological angle. His character is convinced that he's a vampire after a sexual partner bites him, but when he shows no signs of the transformation, he ends up donning fake fangs and acting like the vampire that he was meant to be.
The charismatic actor's over-the-top theatrics and its exploration of human (or vampire in this case) isolation is what makes it a cult classic vampire comedy and one of the most underrated Nic Cage movies.
Shadow Of The Vampire (2000) - 6.9
FW Murnau's Nosferatu revolutionized the on-screen depictions of vampires forever and is regarded as one of the most influential vampire movies. Shadow of the Vampire attempts to fictionalize the making of this classic with the twist being that the actor playing the vampire is actually one! John Malkovich's Murnau strikes an unlikely deal with Willem Defoe's Max Shreck, a vampire who is presumed to be an intense method actor by the rest of the crew.
The twisted comedy perfectly blurs the line between fact and fiction while serving as a tribute to the movie it attempts to parody. Meanwhile, Defoe effortlessly bites into the flesh of his role, especially shining in moments where his vampiric hunger comes out.
Hotel Transylvania (2012) - 7.0
Adam Sandler puts on his heaviest Transylvanian accent to play Count Drac, a legendary vampire who clashes with his daughter when she decides to marry a human. While also managing the titular hotel, Drac eventually shows his softer side and becomes one of the best dads in animated movies.
The movie also features other classic creatures such as a mummy, a werewolf, Frankenstein's monster, and the Invisible Man. With the titular Hotel Transylvania being a Gothic castle, there are a plenty of gags and satirical jabs at the overdone tropes of the vampire genre.
Fright Night (1985) - 7.0
When a teenager discovers that his seemingly perfect neighbor is actually a homicidal vampire, he seeks the help of a washed-out movie star. This team-up leads to a bizarrely hilarious (and yet slightly scary at times) adventure making Fright Night an 80s classic worth visiting.
While Chris Sarandon plays a delightfully diabolical vampire villain, Roddy McDowall's appearance as the yesteryear actor Peter Vincent is also commendable. The latter plays the host of a horror TV show, evoking the nostalgic clichés and tropes of the classic horror era. His portrayal seems to carry traces of legendary horror villain actors like Vincent Price and Christopher Lee.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) - 7.2
Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston star as the titular characters, lonely vampires who hold a high-seated appreciation for human culture, music, and art. However, as the years pass and their chances of survival look bleak with zombies contaminating human blood, they just dwell in existentialist dread.
Thrown in the mix are writer/director Jim Jarmusch's trademark deadpan humor and a diverse soundtrack boasting some niche electronic and rock numbers. All in all, it is not an average vampire comedy. Only Lovers Left Alive is more artistic and philosophical in its exploration of the vampire experience.
The Lost Boys (1987) - 7.2
A time portal from the 80s, The Lost Boys overcame the familiar Transylvanian stereotypes to craft more stylish and relatable vampires. Kiefer Sutherland and his co-stars represent a new brand of bike-riding, leatherjacket-wearing vampires, who can seem like cool high school seniors in one scene and reckless ghouls in the next.
As a ragtag bunch of teens are determined to expose this vampire gang and fight them through any means possible, a Goonies-like adventure is set in motion. One of Joel Schumacher's best movies, The Lost Boys is funny, stylish, violent, and a much-needed break from the old vampire horror movies.
What We Do In The Shadows (2014) - 7.6
The Taika Waititi comedy movie introduced vampires to the mockumentary genre. Dealing with the everyday lives of three vampires, the movie plays out in a haphazardly and bizarrely funny manner. From adjusting with humans to fighting against werewolves, the vampires are shown to have their own fair share of laughable issues.
Ultimately, these daily problems only humanize their character, making viewers empathize with the vampires at one point. Waititi stars himself as one of the vampires joined by Jemaine Clement and Jonathan Brugh, all of whom share a praiseworthy bromance.
The Munsters (1964-1966) - 7.8
American suburban life gets satirized in the Gothic way as The Munsters offers a glimpse at the home life of a perfectly imperfect family of freaks. There's the Frankenstein monster Herman, who heads the family with his vampire wife Lily. As the family deals with one chaotic situation after the other, Herman and Lily also ensure that the young members learn some valuable life lessons. It is the kind of vintage sitcom that is worth rediscovering for a family watch.
Lily isn't the only vampire as her father appears as Grandpa, an aged and over-dramatic Count Dracula who craves his former glory. Al Lewis pulls off a convincing performance while yearning for Transylvania, unintentionally capturing the evolution of vampires in pop culture. What was once seen as terrifying night creatures are now characters that are used for comic relief.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) - 8.3
What initially drew mixed reactions as a movie eventually became a cult favorite television show, as Buffy The Vampire Slayer premiered in 1997. As is evident from the title, the series deals with a vampire hunter who is tasked with fighting off forces of darkness while also balancing her life as an ordinary high-schooler. Joining her is a 'scooby gang' of both human and supernatural friends.
On the surface, the show falls mostly in the action drama and teenage drama categories, but it has enough segues for comic relief that makes it one of the best vampire comedies in existence. In fact, one of the best Buffy episodes, "Once More, with Feeling" plays out as a musical comedy.
What We Do In The Shadows (2019-) - 8.6
Based on the movie of the same name, What We Do In The Shadows carries the same satirical tone as its original. The difference is that the human 'Familiar' (assistant) to the vampires plays a larger role in the narrative with his perpetual quest to become a vampire, leading to some brilliant situational humor.
The multiple Emmy-nominated show also introduces a vampire council whose roles and traditions poke further fun at the archaic vampires. What also makes it a must-watch for vampire fans is the range of cameos that includes actors like Evan Rachel Wood (True Blood), Tilda Swinton (Only Lovers Left Alive), and even Wesley Snipes (Blade).