The Best Live Action Vampires

Is there any figure in the horror and supernatural genres that generates more fear and awe than the vampire? It is certainly something that you can debate. Personally, I am always ready to give my coins away to good vampire content. There is just something about their attributes and general presence that is mesmerizing. Over the decades there have been many notable performances in movies and TV by actors and actresses who decided to delve into the realm of vampirism. The following list is comprised of my favorites but I am sure those of you reading this will have a few to add as well. So without further ado, lets look at some Nosferatu!

                Gary Oldman as Vlad Dracula in 1992’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula

 "The blood is the life. And it shall be mine!"

Not only is this one of the greatest vampire performances ever, but the film itself may be the greatest vampire movie. Gary Oldman took on the role of Count Dracula in such a powerful and emotional way that TILL THIS DAY, it is held as a master class in acting. The movie starts with Vlad Dracula, a member of the Order of the Dragon, returning from a victorious war against the Turks. Upon his return he discovers that his beloved wife, Elisabeta, was tricked into committing suicide after a false report of his death. Enraged and incensed that God would allow such a betrayal, he swears revenge with all the powers of darkness, striking a cross and drinking the blood that pours from it. Gary’s Dracula was powerful, mesmerizing and seductive. A living personification of irresistible desire and iron hard will.

Tom Cruise as Lestat de Lioncourt in 1994’s “Interview with a Vampire”

"I am going to give you the choice that I never had."

Interview with a Vampire is a movie I normally count as my second or tied for first favorite vampire movie and a large part of that is because of how amazing Tom Cruise’s performance as Lestat was. I actually preferred the movie version of Lestat as compared to the book version, which I am sure some Anne Rice purists might disagree with. Tom brought a certain level of manic and chaotic seduction to the role combined with excellent delivery of dialogue. Every time Lestat spoke he hypnotized you. Every movement and touch held you in his grip. There was just a certain amount of flair and charisma coupled with an ever-present darkness that made you say “Now, THAT is a vampire.”

Gerard Butler as Dracula (Judas Iscariot) in 2000’s “Dracula 2000”

"You made the world in your image. But now, I make it in MINE."

Now, while this movie may be considered “bad”, I really liked Gerard Butler in this role as well as the retelling of Dracula’s origin. In this story, Dracula was actually the Apostle, Judas Iscariot, whom betrayed Jesus. As punishment for his betrayal, he was cursed by God to walk the Earth for eternity with a thirst for blood. I thought it was a very interesting and creative recreation of Dracula’s origin and it’s too bad the overall film wasn’t done better. Gerard’s Dracula was more of an unstoppable and insatiable killing machine. Driven by his hatred for anything relating to God and also by his desire to find another being like himself that wasn’t bitten, but born.

Kate Beckinsale as Selene in the Underworld series

"The weapons had evolved, but our orders remained the same: Hunt them down and kill them off, one by one."

The first two Underworld movies were some of the BEST vampire and werewolf content we’ve ever had and from that gold mine came the character of Selene. She was a type of vampire called a “Death Dealer” whose purpose it was to hunt and eradicate Lycans (werewolves). She eventually finds out that everything she’d been told about the centuries long war was a lie and that the real villains are the vampires themselves. Kate brought such a high level of strength and a bad ass mentally to the role. Selene was constantly giving out her hands like hot cakes and everybody, even vampire elders, were getting a piece.

Aaliyah as the Vampire Goddess Akasha in 2002’s “Queen of the Damned”

"They believe in NOTHING. Now they are NOTHING."

In the last role before her death, Aaliyah gave us a powerful and unique character to remember her by. Akasha stepped on the scene and had the incubi screaming. I think a lot of people like to pretend that Queen of the Damned never happened (it was bad), but it’s one of those movies that has made it to my guilty watch list because there was certain things I really like about it, Akasha being chief among them. She didn’t have a ton of dialogue, but in every one of her scenes she has presence and invokes terror in all around her. Aaliyah brought her grace and sensuality to the character while also showcasing the ruthlessness and brutality that Akasha was famed for.

Daniel Gillies as Elijah Mikaelson in “The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals” tv series

"You young vampires. So arrogant. How dare you come in here and challenge me."

One of the top two vampire performances ever and I am not here to debate these facts. Daniel Gillies as Elijah jumps off the screen in every scene he is in and he does so in the most suave, debonair and silkily threatening ways possible. Elijah is a member of the Mikaelson family, the oldest and most powerful vampires in existence.  He is considered the noblest and most morally sound, but he has as much darkness in him as any of the others, especially when it comes to his family being threatened. The way Daniel sells this role just leaves you wanting more and the way that Elijah dispatches his enemies in the most gentleman like manner leaves you wanting for someone else to dare test him.

Joseph Morgan as Niklaus Mikaelson in “The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals” tv series

"Don't underestimate the allure of darkness. Even the purest souls are drawn to it."

This is the other of the top two vampire performances ever. I see a lot people saying that Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister is the greatest TV villain ever and I am here to tell you that if you think that then you have not seen Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson. Klaus is a member of the original vampire family like Elijah, but he is different. He is actually a vampire/werewolf hybrid due to an affair his mother had before his family was turned into vampires by magic. His father was extremely abusive to him and this create a horrible impact on his psyche. Once he gained the power of an Original Vampire, Klaus started on a bloody path of massacre, terror and a thirst for power over the next thousand years. Joseph lent a high level dose of charisma to the role but also a sadistic and overwhelming desire for control.

Wesley Snipes as Blade in 1998’s “Blade”

"Some motherfuckers are always trying to ice skate uphill."

The legendary Daywalker jumped on our screens in 1998 and immediately became a cult classic. In fact, the success for modern day comic books films can be tied directly to this movie. Blade is a half human, half vampire with all the strengths of the undead and none of their weaknesses except for the thirst for blood. Trained by his human mentor, Whistler, he honed his skills and became the ultimate vampire hunter. Wesley brought such a great mixture of confidence and flair to this role as well as some amazing martial arts prowess. The opening scene is still one of the greatest moments in comic book history.

David Boreanaz as Angel/Angelus in the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” series

"To kill this girl, you have to love her."

Once known, as the Scourge of Europe, Angelus was once one of the most brutal and sadistic vampires ever. Even the Master recognized how purely evil Angelus was. He was known for playing the most convoluted and twisted mental games with his victims and enemies in an effort to get them to go insane. He made the mistake of killing a young gypsy girl and her clan cursed him with a soul so that he might feel the weight of all his crimes. He was rechristened as “Angel”, a tortured soul who now fought against the armies of evil to make the world a better place. David Boreanaz really killed this role because while he was Angel he was kind and thoughtful albeit brooding. But once he was transformed back into Angelus, the sadistic glee with which he stalked Buffy and her friends was such a startling contrast. It was a gem of a performance. 



Honorable Mentions: Luke Evans as Dracula in "Dracula Untold" and Kiefer Sutherland as David in "The Lost Boys"



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