25 Best Female Vampires in Movies, Ranked (original) (raw)

One of the most popular mythological creatures that has been adapted for movies and TV shows is the vampire, as seen in the 2022 TV show Interview with the Vampire and movies like Abigail. The popularity of vampires is due in large part to their mythology existing throughout various cultures for centuries. Although vampires are typically characterized as nocturnal, parasitic creatures that feed on human blood (or energy, in the case of 'psychic vampires'), individual aspects of vampire lore vary from story to story. As a symbol, the vampire has been used to explore myriad themes and political perspectives — from reactionary representations of societal 'deviance' to subversive and progressive portrayals of empowered outsiders.

Many of pop culture's most famous vampires are male, from Bram Stoker's iconic villain Count Dracula to more recent examples like Marvel Comics character Michael Morbius and Twilight's romantic hero Edward Cullen. However, unlike many other classic movie monsters, female vampires are very frequently represented in films. Often engaging with themes of feminism and gender — as well as simply telling fun, spooky stories — the best representations of female vampires in movies will sink their teeth into viewers' minds, leaving them thirsty for more.

25 Sarah Fox

'My Babysitter's a Vampire' (2010)

Image via Fresh TV

Who says that cool female vampires are just for adults? The Canadian comedy horror children's film My Babysitter's a Vampire, which received a TV show continuation two years later, premiered in the U.S. on Disney Channel in 2011. It's not exactly a masterpiece, nor even one of the best family-friendly horror flicks, but it's a nostalgic bomb of charm.

She's no artsy or avant-garde interpretation of the female vampire archetype, but Sarah Fox, the titular vampire babysitter, is definitely underappreciated. Both the writing for the character and Vanessa Morgan's enchanting performance have a surprising amount of depth for what otherwise seems like a pretty surface-level vampire teen film, making Sarah a constant blast of fun to watch. —Diego Pineda Pacheco

24 Katrina

'Vamp' (1986)

Image via New World Pictures

Vamp is a dark comedy about three college students who visit a sleazy bar in search of a stripper for their college fraternity, unaware of the fact that it's occupied by vampires. Camp, funny, and with a 40% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes that fans of trashy cinema are bound to be tempted by, Vamp is one of the most criminally underrated vampire films of the '80s. Played by Grace Jones, Katrina is the film's main vampire, a seductive stripper who's as mesmerizing as she is imposing. She's a macabre, nearly silent feminist icon that—much like Vamp as a whole—subverts the male gaze in all sorts of interesting ways, and she's made all the more iconic by Jones' timeless performance. —Diego Pineda Pacheco

23 Abigail

'Abigail' (2024)

Alisha Weir flashes her fangs in an image from 'Abigail'

Image via Universal Pictures

Vampire-ness is often restricted to grown-ups, so the mere concept of a film centered around a bloodthirsty child vampire is interesting in and of itself. Thankfully, though not without flaws,_Abigail_does all sorts of awesome, spooky stuff with that premise. Played by future star Alisha Weir, this girl is introduced as the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure—but an ordinary girl she most definitely is not.

Horror movies weaponizing the innocence of kids to turn them into scary monsters is no new concept, but the way Abigail executes that concept is uniquely entertaining. Turning a character that in any other horror film would be little more than a helpless victim into an apex predator works wonders, and the blend of bloodiness, camp, and musical rhythm makes Abigail's vampiric attacks quite unique. —Diego Pineda Pacheco

22 Alucarda and Justine

'Alucarda' (1977)

Image via Yuma Films

Alucarda is a Mexican 1977 supernatural horror film directed by Juan López Moctezuma. Set in a Catholic convent, the film follows Alucarda (Tina Romero) and Justine (Susana Kamini), two teenage girls who become immediately infatuated with one another and accidentally unleash unholy forces in the convent. As the film progresses, Justine becomes a blood-drinking vampire while Alucarda remains more of a metaphorical vampire character.

The film is a key example of the nunsploitation horror subgenre, blending occult religious horror with vampirism while telling a compelling story with sapphic themes. Based on the influential 1872 lesbian vampire story Carmilla, the film explores transgressive themes through its representation of convent girls worshiping the devil, and the central relationship between its vampiric lead characters is one of Alucarda's major selling points.

21 Mae

'Near Dark' (1987)

Directed and co-written by acclaimed filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow, Near Dark is a 1987 horror-Western film. The film follows a gang of vampire outlaws who live in an RV and hunt for food by indiscriminately killing humans. In particular, the film centers on the relationship between Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) and Mae (Jenny Wright) as she decides to turn him into a vampire in order to engage in a romance with him.

Near Dark is a stylish, atmospheric, and highly underrated vampire film, and its (anti)heroine, Mae, is a strong and appealing character. Mae is a surprisingly layered and nuanced character who is torn between two worlds due to her affection for Caleb and her dangerous, nomadic lifestyle. Portrayed with great charm by Jenny Wright, Mae is one of the vampire subgenre's best female leads.

20 Sasha

'Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person' (2023)

Sasha inspecting her vampire fangs in Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person.

Image via Drafthouse Films

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Personis a 2023 French Canadian horror-comedy co-written and directed by Ariane Louis-Seize in her feature film debut. The film follows Sasha (Sara Montpetit), a teenage vampire who finds herself unable to kill anyone for food. When she meets the suicidal Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard), Sasha feels inspired to mutually help one another, vowing to help him die in exchange for drinking his blood.

Unlike many vampire films, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is a remarkably tender and charming horror film, focusing on the bond between its misfit protagonists rather than on graphic carnage. Sasha is a highly endearing main character, with her strong empathy causing a serious problem for her as a vampire, which creates a compelling and unique dimension to the film. Quirky, sensitive, and literally bloodthirsty, Sasha is a compelling female vampire.

19 Tae-ju

'Thirst' (2009)

Thirst 2009

Written and directed by Park Chan-wook, Thirst is a 2009 South Korean gothic romance horror film. The film centers on the love affair between Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho), a priest who becomes reliant on human blood after a medical experiment backfires, and Tae-ju (Kim Ok-bin), a beautiful young woman trapped in an unhappy marriage. However, their relationship becomes complicated when Tae-ju becomes a vampire herself and reveals herself to be far more brutal and monstrous than Sang-hyun.

Appearing in one of South Korea's best underrated horror films, Tae-ju recontextualizes the classic femme fatale archetype into a vampire figure, proving herself to be cunning and ruthless and possessing a shocking disregard for human life. Kim Ok-bin perfectly portrays Tae-ju, oscillating between appearing sweet and mischievous and downright frightening. Completely believable as a woman Sang-hyun is willing to risk everything for, Tae-ju is a great female vampire.

18 Claudia

'Interview With the Vampire' (1994)

Image via Warner Bros.

Based on Anne Rice's 1976 gothic novel, Interview with the Vampireis a 1994 vampire horror film directed by Neil Jordan. The film centers on the relationship between vampires Lestat (Tom Cruise) and Louis (Brad Pitt) throughout the 18th-20th centuries as they attempt to create an unconventional family by raising the young vampire Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) as their surrogate daughter, causing turmoil for all three characters.

The film is beloved by fans of gothic horror and vampire fiction due to its powerful atmosphere and excellent cast. Claudia is one of the film's most complex characters, viewing her eternal youth as a curse due to the restrictions forever appearing to be a child place upon her. Despite being only 10 years old at the time of filming, Kirsten Dunst received universal acclaim for her role as Claudia, giving one of the best performances in vampire film history as her tortured and complicated character.

17 Queen Akasha

'Queen of the Damned' (2002)

Not many people know how iconic the characters are in Anne Rice’s universe. The late singer Aaliyah brings Akasha, the ancient vampire queen of Queen of the Damned to life. Awakened by Lestat's (Stuart Townsend) music, Akasha becomes the central antagonist. A formidable presence, Akasha embodies a regal demeanor and ruthless ambition. She desires world domination with Lestat at her side. Though her screen time is limited, Akasha's magnetic presence and incinerating power make her a truly unforgettable villain.

Aaliyah dominates the screen in Queen of the Damned as her captivating performance creates a chillingly alluring female vampire. Akasha embodies the duality of beauty and terror, both terrifying and mesmerizing audiences. She represents the ultimate power fantasy — an unstoppable queen with the strength to reshape the world as she desires.

16 Abby

'Let Me In' (2010)

Let Me In is a remake of the Swedish film Let the Right One In. In Let Me In, Chloë Grace Moretz plays Abby, a centuries-old vampire disguised as a child who befriends Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a lonely boy. The deepening friendship between Owen and Abby is shattered when the boy discovers the truth. This discovery triggers a series of violent and unsettling events.

Moretz delivers a compelling performance as Abby, by creating a stark contrast between her innocent appearance and predatory nature. There's more to Abby than monstrous behavior, as her actions hint at a tragic backstory marked by centuries of isolation. The audience can’t help but feel bad for Abby and understand her struggle for survival, especially since her unexpected humanity emerges through her bond with Owen.