My Top 5 Best Black Vampire Movies and Tv Shows
Where are all my fellow Black vampire movies and tv shows lovers?? When I tell you I can talk all day long about vampires, I mean it. I talk my boyfriend’s ear off all the time about them. Vampire lore is different in every show and movie, but one thing they all have in common is the lack of African American representation. There aren’t that many Black vampire movies and TV shows, but the ones that do exist completely changed my life. Since they aren’t talked about nearly enough, I figured, why not put my readers on and share my top five favorite Black vampire movies and TV shows featuring African American characters?
Best Black Vampire Movies and TV Shows
1. Interview with the Vampire (2022–)
Best Black Vampire Tv Show
Starting off, we have Interview with the Vampire. I love a good 1920s setting and vibe, and the New Orleans setting always reminds me of vampires. The show touches on topics like segregation, closeted gay and bisexual men, manipulation, religion, and rape, and I could keep going. I love when I’m watching a show and I don’t immediately recognize when they’re trying to touch on a topic to give the story more substance and make it stay relevant with the times.
This is easily one of my favorite Black vampire tv shows because it does a really good job of reeling you in and making you feel entranced with every interaction between Lestat and Louis. I also love the character Claudia and how they show her struggles with being an adult trapped in a child’s body. I never thought about how hard it would be for a child who was turned into a vampire to experience adulthood. It’s kind of how I feel between the ages of 18 and 20. You’re not a kid, but you’re not fully respected as an adult yet. This show is the perfect blend of romance, comedy, and tragedy. Something Shakespearean like.
2. Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)
Best Black Vampire Comedy
Next, we have Vampire in Brooklyn. When I say I loved this movie growing up, I loveddd it. It’s hilarious, scary, sad, and a little romantic all in one movie. Eddie Murphy is one of the funniest people alive, and this movie is just another example of how funny he really is. My whole family loves rewatching it, so it always feels a little nostalgic whenever I put it on.
I also love that this movie exists in the first place. There aren’t that many Black vampire movies, so growing up this felt different. It wasn’t just another vampire movie. It was one that actually looked like us, and that’s probably one of the reasons it’s stayed one of my favorites all these years.
And don’t get me started on Kadeem Hardison. All his scenes had me dying. His ear falling off scene still gets me every time. John Witherspoon never fails to make me laugh either. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever watched something with him in it that wasn’t funny. Angela Bassett is, and always will be, one of my favorite actresses. Not just one of my favorite Black actresses, but one of my favorite actresses, period. While Eddie Murphy brought all the comedy, Angela Bassett brought so much emotion. She made me care about her character, and I genuinely felt bad when the whole Rita thing happened.
Out of all the Black vampire movies I’ve seen, this is still one of the funniest. This is the perfect movie to watch on a rainy night when you want a good laugh and a spooky ’90s vibe.
3. Sinners (2025)
Best Modern Black Vampire Movie
For my third movie, we have Sinners. This movie has become my favorite vampire movie right next to Twilight. Every scene had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Sinners instantly became one of my favorite Black vampire movies because of the way it touched on history, religion, slavery, racism, and culture was beautifully written.
When I went to see it in theaters, I went with a few people who weren’t Black, and they didn’t really understand the movie. They thought it was kind of dumb, and I was honestly in disbelief. The amount of history, symbolism, and messages throughout the movie couldn’t have been any clearer to me.
The biggest scene they didn’t understand was the dance where it showed different eras of African American music. That scene was one of my favorites because it reminded me that music has always been more than entertainment for us. It’s history, storytelling, resistance, and community all at once.
They also didn’t understand when Remmick recited Sammy’s Bible verses back to him or why Sammy’s father warned him about going out and playing music. Throughout history, music has always been connected to spirituality, whether for good or bad. The movie takes those ideas and twists them into its own vampire lore, which made the story feel so much deeper than a typical horror movie.
Speaking of Sammy, I couldn’t believe this was Miles Caton’s first acting role. He did an amazing job. His voice feels so soulful and powerful that I completely believed why everyone in the movie was drawn to it. He made Sammy feel innocent, gifted, and conflicted all at the same time, and I don’t think the movie would’ve been the same without him. Michael B. Jordan also deserves so much praise for playing two completely different personalities. I never found myself confusing Smoke and Stack because they each had their own identity, even though they looked exactly alike. That takes real talent.
And of course, Ryan Coogler deserves all the flowers for this one. Everything in this movie felt intentional. Every conversation, every song, every symbol, and every shot felt like it was there for a reason. I walked into the movie theater expecting a vampire movie and left thinking about history, faith, family, identity, and culture.
To me, that’s what makes Sinners so special. It doesn’t just entertain you. It leaves you thinking long after the credits roll. I honestly think this movie will go down as one of the most important Black horror films ever made.
4. Black as Night (2021)
Most Underrated Black Vampire Movie
Black as Night is one of those Black vampire movies that surprised me the most. One thing that really stood out to me was the fact that the vampires were targeting innocent people from poor neighborhoods because they believed no one would notice if they disappeared. That immediately made me think about how powerful people and corporations often take advantage of low-income communities in real life. They prey on people who don’t have the same resources or opportunities, and over time they slowly take over neighborhoods through things like buying up homes and pushing longtime residents out. It made the horror feel a lot more realistic because it reflected things that actually happen.
I also liked the storyline with Shawna and her mom. You could tell Shawna loved her, but loving someone who’s struggling with addiction isn’t always easy. Her mom was constantly asking for money, and Shawna wanted to help, but she also knew that helping too much could turn into enabling. I think a lot of people can relate to loving someone while also realizing you can’t save them from every decision they make.
Another part of the movie that stood out to me was Shawna’s struggle with her self esteem. As a dark-skinned Black girl, she constantly compares herself to the girls she thinks Chris is attracted to, and I think that’s something a lot of Black girls can relate to. Colorism is still a real issue, and I like that the movie didn’t make her insecurities disappear overnight. It showed that confidence is something you have to build, and sometimes the biggest battle isn’t against vampires. It’s against the way you see yourself.
Another character I found interesting was Lefrak. He wanted to take back everything that had been stolen from African Americans throughout history, and I understood where that anger came from. But the way he chose to do it was through violence and fear. In the end, he became the very thing he claimed to be fighting against. I think that’s one of the biggest messages in the movie. If you’re not careful, pain and hatred can turn you into the same kind of person who hurt you in the first place.
I don’t think this movie gets talked about enough. It’s a fun vampire movie, but it also has a lot to say if you’re willing to look beneath the surface.
5. Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)
Best Family Black Vampire Movie
For the last movie, I chose Vampires vs. the Bronx. This movie kind of has the same theme as Black as Night. It focuses on people coming into a predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood and buying up all the properties, but there’s a twist. The people buying the buildings are actually vampires. I thought that was such a creative way to represent gentrification because, in a way, they’re sucking the life out of the community just like vampires do.
What I really loved about this movie was that the neighborhood actually fought back. Instead of giving up and letting their community disappear, they came together to protect the place they called home. It showed how important community is and how much power people have when they work together.
I also liked that the main characters were just regular kids. They weren’t superheroes or vampire hunters. They were just trying to save their neighborhood and the people they loved. Even though this movie isn’t as serious as the other ones I listed, it still has its own message. It gives not only the Black community a voice, but the Afro Latino community as well. I think that’s one of the reasons it stands out. It’s funny, entertaining, and easy to watch, but it still shines a light on issues that affect real people and real neighborhoods. If you’re looking for a Black vampire movie that’s funny but still has something to say, this is the one I’d recommend.
At the end of the day, I think vampire stories can be so much more than blood, fangs, and jump scares. The best ones use vampires to explore real life issues like racism, colorism, religion, addiction, and identity. I also love seeing Black people at the center of these stories because growing up, there weren’t many vampire movies or shows that looked like me. If you’re a fellow vampire lover, I hope this list helps you find your next binge watch. And if you’ve already seen these, let me know your favorite because I could honestly talk about vampires all day.
If you’re into supernatural stories as much as I am, you might also like reading my review of Life Is Strange, where I talk about how the game made me think differently about choices and consequences.