The nineties sure loved bloodsucking creatures of the night. Vampire movies of the decade were hit-or-miss, but there were a few creepy, campy gems.
Vampires have fascinated audiences since the early days of cinema. The bloodsucking undead creatures of lore remain a frequently used feature in horror movies as well as other genres. While there could be much debate over which era delivered the best vampire movies, the 1990s certainly added some gems to the genre.
RELATED:The 10 Best Vampire Movies From The '80s (According To Rotten Tomatoes)
This decade tries a lot of new approaches to the classic vampire stories. Some of the most acclaimed filmmakers and most popular actors tackle the subject matter. While not all '90s vampire films have stood the test of time, there are plenty that still thrill audiences to this day.
While Eddie Murphy was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s, he was not making the same hits in the early '90s. Still, the idea of him teaming up with horror icon Wes Craven for a vampire horror-comedy sounded too good to ignore.
Vampire in Brooklyn had Murphy plays a deadly vampire who arrives in New York City to look for a woman who is half-human and half-vampire, played by Angela Bassett. The movie was panned when it was released but has since earned a cult following thanks to the performances and Craven's direction.
Some fans might not realize that the beloved vampire television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer initially started as a not-so-beloved movie. Kristy Swanson plays the titular high school cheerleader who learns that she is her generation's selected warrior against the vampire threat.
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The movie embraced the silliness of the premise a lot more than the show did, and it didn't work for all audiences. However, there are some great aspects to the film, especially Paul Reubens' scene-stealing performance as a vampire.
As the independent cinema scene began to flourish in the 1990s, young and bold filmmakers were making their own takes on familiar stories. Nadja was produced by David Lynch and follows a family of vampires who try to come to terms with their father's death while being hunted.
The arthouse take on the vampire story is certainly fascinating and there is a unique deadpan sense of humor to the whole film which is quite fun. But fanswanting a straightforward vampireflick should look elsewhere.
John Carpenter has made some of the most iconic horror films of all time,likeThe Thing and Halloween. It felt only natural that he would eventually get around to telling a vampire story. The film follows Jack Crowe (James Woods), a vampire hunter trying to stop a master vampire from gaining the ability to live in the daylight.
Though the film is not on the same level assome of Carpenter's masterpieces, it is still a really fun B-movie. Carpenter infuses the film with a lot of dark humor and a Western vibe that works very well.
Acclaimed filmmaker Abel Ferrara is best known for his gritty crime films, so he is not an obvious choice for a vampire film. But The Addiction is another unique and bold take on this kind of story to emerge from the 1990s.
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Lili Taylor plays a woman who is attacked by a deranged person and soon acquires the taste for human blood. The movie then becomes a surreal glimpse at her downward spiral caused by her new thirst.
Guillermo Del Toro is now one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the business, but he made his debut with the inventive and captivating Mexican horror film, Cronos. When an antique dealer finds a strange mechanical device, he soon realizes that it grants the owner eternal life along with a thirst for blood.
Del Toro took a new approach to the familiar vampire lore. His signature style of mixing beauty and horror is on display even in this early work. Cronosis a stylish and compelling horror film.
Though Spider-Man and X-Men were still a few years away, Blade proved the box office potential of the superhero genre. It also brought vampires into the superhero films. Wesley Snipes stars as the titular vampire hunter armed with an arsenal of weapons and an impressive set of skills.
Snipes feels like the perfect fit in the role and creates a truly badass action hero.Blade is a bloody and violent superhero movie which feels refreshingcompared to the typical genre offerings these days.
Filmmaking buddies Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriquez teamed up for this wild and fun vampire film, From Dusk Till Dawn. George Clooney and Tarantino play bank robber brothers who kidnap a family to help them escape into Mexico. Once across the border, they stop at a biker bar that happens to be overrun by vampires.
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The film is an interesting mix of B-movie and a legitimately great crime story. The vampire twist seems to come out of nowhere which makes it all the more thrilling.
Francis Ford Coppola, the iconic filmmaker behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, took on the most famous vampire story of all time. Gary Oldman stars as Dracula, the ancient vampire lord who travels to England to find his bride.
Coppola creates a faithful adaptation to Bram Stoker's classic novel and Oldman is sensational in the lead role.The film is a surreal, horrific, and beautiful telling of one of the most famous horror stories.
The star power of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt was astronomical in the 1990s, so it's no surprise their first collaboration on camera was a hit with audiences. Interview with a Vampire is based on the Anne Rice novel about an ancient vampire recollecting his story of love and tragedy to a reporter.
The two leads are incredibly compelling and they are backed by an impressive supporting cast. The film is an epic, emotional, and entertaining vampire story that puts them as both the heroes and villains of the tale.
NEXT:5 Reasons Interview With The Vampire Is The Best Anne Rice Adaptation (& 5 Reasons Its Queen of The Damned)
Next Full House: Which Character Voices Aladdin? (& 9 Other Films & TV Shows You've Seen The Cast In)
A writer and film fan. I always enjoy keeping up with the latest films in theaters as well as discovering some hidden gems I may have overlooked. Glad to be a part of Screen Rant's positive and fun community and have the opportunity to share my thoughts with you.
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Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero