20 Vampire Movies You Must See Before You Die

15. Blade (1998)

Blade, based on the Marvel comic book series, was one of the first worthwhile superhero films to come out of Hollywood, long before Spider-Man and the X-Men made their mark. Starring Wesley Snipes in what remains his best role to date, Blade is a half-human, half-vampire who dedicates his being to protecting humans from the undead. What most people probably remember from this film is the scene at the beginning set at a rave club, with that sprinkler system that sprays blood, but there's still a lot of joy to be had throughout. The whole film is entertaining schlock, of course, and few would argue that this is anything even close to a masterpiece. But that's what makes Blade stand out: it's balls to the wall vampire fun, incredibly violent and shot with a giddy energy that renders it as a relic of its time - oh, the '90s - and yet interesting for exactly that reason (kind of like The Matrix). Blade II, helmed by auteur Guillermo del Toro, is arguably a better, more creative film; if you like this one, it's worth checking out. Avoid Blade: Trinity at all costs.