Twilight has become a staple film in the romantic fantasy genre, though several other movies with shared themes and tropes elevate its tale of forbidden vampire love to a darker, more sensual level. Based on Stephenie Meyer’s novel of the same name, Twilight depicts the complicated romantic relationship between vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and human teenager Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart). Though Twilight and its succeeding movies contain plenty of action within a good-versus-evil framework, their greatest appeal is the progression of Bella and Edward’s relationship.

Movies like Thirst and The Hunger similarly explore the challenges that come with being a vampire and yearning for connection with others. Many romantic vampire movies humanize their unᴅᴇᴀᴅ characters, though that’s not necessarily to say they’re faultless either. Many romantic vampire movies still contain shocking acts of violence committed by their protagonists, presenting a compelling blend of horror and romance —an ideal level up for fans of Twilight.

10

The Wisdom Of Crocodiles (1998)

A Hungry Vampire Searches For True Love

Like Twilight, The Wisdom of Crocodiles, also known as Immortality, depicts the romance between a handsome and charming vampire and a naive human. Jude Law leads the film as Steven, who is a vampire that lives off the blood of single women whom he gets to fall in love with him. To sustain himself for longer, Steven begins the search for a woman who truly loves him.

Though The Wisdom of Crocodiles has a bit more style than it does substance, there is still plenty for audiences to sink their teeth into. Differing from the romance seen in The Twilight Saga, the budding romantic relationship between Steven and Anne (Elina Löwensohn) is much more intense and has a satisfyingly grim ending.

9

The Hunger (1983)

A Vampire Seeks Out Various Lovers

After Twilight, as the film series continued, the central love triangle between its three leading characters was a large appeal of the romance fantasy movies. Another romantic vampire film that depicts a captivating love triangle is The Hunger. The erotic horror film stars Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon, whose three characters’ lives are intertwined when John (Bowie), a vampire turned by Deneuve’s Miriam, begins aging rapidly.

Nearly every scene in The Hunger is filled with a stylish ’80s aesthetic that makes it impossible for audiences to look away, even when the plausibility of the movie’s narrative begins to weaken. As a result of its gothic aesthetic and the casting of its three leads, The Hunger has gained a strong cult following in the years since its early ’80s release.

8

Dracula (1979)

An Adaptation Of Bram Stoker’s Novel That Leans Heavily Into Romance

After having portrayed the character a year earlier on Broadway, Frank Langella took on the role of Count Dracula in John Badham’s late ’70s movie. Dracula follows the basic formula of Bram Stoker’s original novel, but makes drastic changes to be more romantic. The end product has earned a positive response over the years, with Langella’s version of Count Dracula being considered one of the best.

Langella’s Count Dracula is much more human than other adaptations of the character, per the actor’s request. Langella has stated several times over the years that he finds a vulnerability and loneliness within Count Dracula, and his performance deftly captures this side of the character that was so rarely seen at the time of Dracula‘s release.

7

Interview With The Vampire (1994)

A Complicated Dynamic Between Two Vampires Has Romantic Undertones

In 2022, an Interview with the Vampire TV series premiered, which is far more obvious with its elements of romance and LGBTQ+ themes, echoing those of Anne Rice’s original novel series. Still, the ’90s movie of the same name is a worthwhile watch, especially for Twilight fans looking for another vampire movie based on a popular book. The events of the film are told through a present-day interview between a journalist and Louis (Brad Pitt), a vampire.

The latter describes his life after being turned into a vampire by Lestat (Tom Cruise) and raising a young girl (Kirsten Dunst) together. Cruise delivers one of his best villainous performances in Interview with the Vampire, and his palpable on-screen chemistry with Pitt makes for some compelling tension between their characters.

6

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

The тιтle Character Pursues His Reincarnated Lover

Just like Frank Langella in Dracula, Gary Oldman’s performance as Count Dracula taps into the vulnerability of the character, resulting in a truly memorable performance. As its name suggests, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a rather faithful adaptation of the author’s 1897 novel, though a handful of embellishments are made to please ’90s audiences, most notably the film’s romantic tone and Dracula’s characterization.

The film sees the character romantically pursuing Mina Murray (Winona Ryder), the fiancée of Jonathan Harker, whom Dracula believes is the reincarnation of his deceased wife. Unlike the main family of vampires in Twilight, Oldman’s vampire is terrifying. Still, there’s a tinge of tragedy to his character as a result of his lost love, which positively sets the character apart from earlier variations.

5

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023)

A Suicidal Teenager Befriends A Sensitive Vampire

There’s a lot of charm within the familiar premise of Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person. The vampire comedy follows Sasha (Sara Montpeтιт), a sensitive vampire who can’t easily kill for sustenance. With her family pressuring her to hunt on her own, Sasha finds a workaround and befriends a suicidal teenager, Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard).

Sasha and Paul have a sweet connection that is easy for audiences to become invested in. Though their transformation into something more than friends is somewhat predictable, it’s still affecting. Many vampires in movies and TV shows struggle to obtain the blood necessary for their strength, but Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person feels singular thanks to its unconventional humor and captivating leading performances.

4

Let The Right One In (2008)

A Young Vampire Makes A Strong Connection With A Lonely Boy

Though it’s not as thoroughly explored in Twilight, many vampire movies touch on the isolating experience of being a vampire, including Let the Right One In. The horror film is set against a chilly Swedish backdrop and follows the budding friendship and romantic connection between two lonely kids, Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) and Eli (Lina Leandersson), the latter of whom is revealed to be a vampire.

Let the Right One In has its fair share of brutal attacks and uneasy depictions of violence, but the movie is made palatable thanks to the surprisingly sentimental and unconventional romance between Oskar and Eli. Both characters seek a strong emotional connection with others, and, following a series of unsettling acts of violence, they find the other to be the one person who truly understands them.

3

Thirst (2009)

A Vampire Begins A Dangerous Relationship With A Married Woman

Both Twilight‘s Edward Cullen and Thirst‘s Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) struggle to gain control over their lust for blood. The latter’s struggle is significantly more intense and plays into Thirst‘s larger exploration of moral dilemmas. Directed by celebrated South Korean director Park Chan-wook, Thirst sees Sang-hyun, a Catholic priest, transform into a vampire following a medical experiment gone wrong.

Thirst is among the best Korean horror movies of all time, thanks to its cinematography and lead performances. Thirst is packed with bloody sequences as the movie follows Sang-hyun on his journey to control his desire for blood. The film’s romance component comes into play when Sang-hyun begins falling in love with Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), the wife of his close friend. Thirst combines eroticism with dark humor for a thrilling story that both horror enthusiasts and Twilight fans can enjoy.

2

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Old Lovers Reunite And Search For Purpose

Unlike the setup for Twilight‘s love story, and that of most romantic vampire movies, Only Lovers Left Alive centers around a couple who have been married for centuries. Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton lead the film as Adam and Eve, whose lives in the modern world cause them to feel uninspired and lost. Hiddleston and Swinton make a wonderful pair on screen and fit well within Jim Jarmusch’s plotless, moody world.

Only Lovers Left Alive benefits greatly from the mature and long-established romance between Adam and Eve. Veering away from any newfound romances, the film’s narrative avoids many of the romance genre’s overused clichés. Still, as quiet and clever as Only Lovers Left Alive is, there’s also an appreciated amount of playfulness introduced with Adam and Eve’s contemporary setting.

1

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014)

Two Opposing Individuals Find Connection In Their Loneliness

One of the scariest black and white movies of all time has a unique love story at its center. Though romance isn’t the main draw of the Western-horror film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, it plays a significant part in the way audiences view the film’s тιтular character. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night takes place in the Iranian ghost town known as Bad City, where an unnamed vampire (Sheila Vand) lurks the streets and attacks violent men.

The Girl’s expected violent tendencies and desire for retribution are challenged when she comes across the equally lonely and lost human, Arash (Arash Marandi). The two form an unexpectedly moving connection that is alluring to audiences, but doesn’t overshadow A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night‘s artistic integrity or clever feminist themes.