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Movies and TV Like 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'The Vampire Diaries' to Watch Next

If you like 'Buffy' and 'TVD,' you should discover these other supernatural dramas, ranked by Metascore.

Lara Vukelich
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From left to right: Nina Dobrev in 'The Vampire Diaries' and Sarah Michelle Gellar in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

Courtesy Warner Bros. TV/YouTube and 20th Century Fox TV/YouTube

If stories of the immortal really get your heart pumping, you're probably a fan of all things vampire. And you're not alone. Movies and TV shows about these undead creatures gather a seriously loyal following.

Two of the most beloved to cross the small screen are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which has a Metascore of 85 and a user score of 8.2, and The Vampire Diaries, which only has a Metascore of 57 but has a user score of 8. Though these two shows aired decades apart, they have a few things in common, most notably being centered on young women with complex personal relationships with supernatural beings, but also the date of March 10. That is when (in 1997) Buffy first premiered, and it is also when The Vampire Diaries aired its series finale (in 2017).

As these shows each approach milestone anniversaries in 2022, it may be time to revisit them. But for those who are ready to branch out into other supernatural tales, there are plenty of options, including witches, zombies, and werewolves. Some, such as The Walking Dead, are long-running television dramas, while others, including new vampire film Vampires vs. The Bronx, take a shorter storytelling approach. Some focus on one kind of supernatural creature and the humans who interact with them, while others (True Blood, American Horror Story) blend a variety of fantasy creatures into one story. 

Vampire movies and related content are great for anyone who enjoys thrillers, fantasy content, sci-fi, and stories that give you goosebumps. Have some fun with a teen drama or hide under the covers with a grittier show. And we can't talk about vampires without mentioning some classic titles — yes, we mean Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles. Come on, give these bloodsucking creatures a chance! 

Just be warned: Some of the best shows and movies are best watched in the light of day. 

Here, Metacritic highlights 10 movies and TV shows to watch next if you enjoy vampire dramas Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Vampire Diaries.


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'What We Do in the Shadows' Season 3

FX

What We Do in the Shadows

Metascore: 83
Best for: Sarcastic viewers and fans of mockumentaries
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 3 (so far)

If you like such mockumentaries as The Office and vampires, you'll be excited to dive into this series, which is based on Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's 2014 independent film of the same title. It follows four vampires who have been alive for centuries and a familiar — who is also revealed to be a vampire hunter — as they interact with humans, witches, and the Vampire Council in the present day and throw witty remarks to the camera. 

"A series that scores inning after inning. What We Do in the Shadows is a clear comedy league leader." — Bruce Miller, Sioux City Journal


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Norman Reedus in 'The Walking Dead' Season 11

Courtesy AMC / YouTube

The Walking Dead

Metascore: 79
Best for: Thrill seekers and viewers who love a jump scare 
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, iTunes, Netflix
Seasons: 11

If you spent any time around a water cooler (or on Twitter) circa 2010, you definitely heard about this AMC series based on the comic series of the same name from Robert Kirkman when it debuted. The show doesn't cover vampires — rather, this is a classic tale of a zombie apocalypse starring an ensemble that includes Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride. Still, it may be of interest to anyone who loves vampire-related stories because you follow the living members of society who seek to avoid the "walkers" and build new communities and relationships. The survivors are always on the go, looking for a way to keep the zombies at bay and, of course, fighting them off in a series of inevitable confrontations. The show is set to conclude in 2022.  

"Taken as a fright fest, pure and simple, Dead succeeds admirably well, capturing the terror and confusion of waking up in a world where you've gone from person to endangered-species zombie food overnight."  Robert Bianco, USA Today


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'Vampires vs. the Bronx'

Netflix

Vampires vs. The Bronx

Metascore: 76
Best for: Fans of satirical comedy
Where to watch: Netflix
Runtime: 85 minutes

If you "heart" New York, love satire, and say "Aw, that's Method Man!" whenever you see Method Man on screen, you may love this short and sweet vampire movie. The tale follows a group of young people in the Bronx who realize that vampires are afoot just as a major developer tries to gentrify their neighborhood. The satirical movie explores what it means to fight for your community, how to convince your neighbors to watch their necks, and just how much about vampire hunting you can really learn from the movie Blade. If you don't always need to take your vampire content so seriously, this one may be for you. 

"A witty and likeable horror-comedy that manages to put a stake to the heart of some real issues while it tickles your ribs." — Ben Travis, Empire


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Kiernan Shipka in 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'

Netflix

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Metascore: 74
Best for: Fans of witchcraft, young adult relationships, and Archie Comics characters
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons:
 2

Sabrina the Teenage Witch introduced Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman to young television fans, but here she gets a darker adaptation from the mind of Robert Aguirre-Sacasa. This Riverdale spin-off follows the titular witch, played by Kiernan Shipka as she comes of age and decides whether she wants to become a witch full-time. Her other option, of course, is to throw aside her powers all together and become a regular human. Between navigating her time at the Academy for the Unseen Arts and fighting off evil forces  Sabrina doesn't have the best time turning 16. 

"It's a delight and an obsession, and the scariest thing about it is just how good it is." — Allison Keene, Collider


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Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer in 'True Blood'

HBO

True Blood

Metascore: 69
Best for: Fans of many kind of creatures and social commentary wrapped in supernatural stories
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 7

What if vampires could live in the open with the help of synthetic blood? This is what True Blood explores in its seven seasons based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries books by Charlaine Harris. The show stars Anna Paquin, who happens to be gifted with telepathy. Viewers watch as vampires fight for equal rights in society and Paquin's character falls in love with a vampire who is more than 100 years old. Vampires are not the only supernatural beings in the show, though. True Blood originally aired on HBO and it might be great for people who love a cheeky take on an old tale.  

"There's just nothing else on TV with this level of jubilant satire." — Paige Wiser, Chicago Sun-Times


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'A Discovery of Witches' Season 2

Courtesy of Sky / YouTube

A Discovery of Witches

Metascore: 67
Best for: Romantics and book lovers
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, iTunes,
Seasons: 3

If you want to depart the vampire world for a moment, try this modern take on witchcraft (with just a side of vampirism). The British series lasted for three seasons, concluding in January 2022. It's based on Deborah Harkness' All Souls book series and is full of mystery. It begins when a historian who happens to be a witch finds a magic document throughout the course of her day job. She connects with a vampire and geneticist to unlock the mysteries held in the text. It's ultimately a love story, but it's also beautifully shot and a bit spooky. 

"While the longing looks and cravings for blood might make some roll their eyes, every second of A Discovery of Witches is pure catnip for fans of this genre." — Lindsay McDonald, TV Guide


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Tyler Posey in 'Teen Wolf' Season 3

Courtesy of MTV / YouTube

Teen Wolf

Metascore: 66
Best for:  Fantasy lovers
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes, Paramount+, Pluto TV
Seasons: 6

Based on the 1985 movie of the same title, this series will appeal to the same crowd who like seeing vampires fall in love and navigate high school. After Scott (Tyler Posey) is bitten by a werewolf, he becomes one himself. As if high school isn't tough enough, he has to navigate his new abilities with a crush on Allison (Crystal Reed), who happens to be from a family of werewolf hunters. He has to figure out how to be a werewolf while keeping up his relationships and protecting his family. It's a tale as old as time — or, at least, as old as an invincible werewolf. 

"Like The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf successfully blends horror, mystery, romance, teen angst and plenty of reasons for cast members to show some (tasteful) skin." — Curt Wagner, RedEye

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'American Horror Story: Double Feature: Red Tide'

Courtesy of FX / YouTube

American Horror Story

Metascore: 65
Best for: Thrill seekers and horror lovers
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 10 (so far)

Each season of American Horror Story has its own theme, and some of them cater to vampire lovers. The first half of Season 10, specifically, will appeal to your blood-loving heart. In that season, titled Double Feature, AHS follows a writer (played by Finn Wittrock) who is seeking creative ideas at a winter retreat. He discovers a pill that will allow the inspiration to flow… but oops, it also turns him into a vampire. We won't spoil the outcome, but if you like absurd and fantasy storylines, you may love this one. Other worthy seasons include Season 5, subtitled Hotel (also featuring vampires), and Season 3, subtitled Coven.

"The show may be ridiculous, but the humiliation and panic feel real. And there's something to be said for surprise." — Emily Nussbaum, Vulture

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Brad Pitt in 'Interview with the Vampire'

Courtesy of YouTube

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles

Metascore: 59
Best for: Horror lovers
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, iTunes, Netflix, Vudu
Runtime: 123 minutes

This movie only has a 59 Metascore but has earned an impressive 8.5 from fans. It features both Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. So maybe give it a chance. Anyone who gets nostalgic for 1990s cinema will also appreciate the film, which is based on Anne Rice's novel of the same title. The movie begins in modern day San Francisco, where a journalist interviews a man (Pitt) who claims to be a vampire from the 1700s. As his life's tale unfolds, viewers learn how he came to be a vampire and discover his many, many regrets from centuries of blood sucking. This movie is a little dark and spooky — which is why you might love it.  

"[This] sumptuous film is as strange and mesmerizing as it is imaginatively ghastly. It's a sophisticated, spookily intense rendering of Ms. Rice's story." — Elvis Mitchell, The New York Times

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Danielle Rose Russell in 'Legacies' Season 4

The CW

Legacies

Metascore: 59
Best for: Fans of not-so-serious vampire tales and young adult relationships
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, iTunes, Netflix
Seasons: 4 (so far)

This show earns a viewer rating of 8/10 and it's a The Vampire Diaries spin-off. Technically, the series is a spin-off of The Originals, the first show to spawn from The Vampire Diaries. While both may be entertaining to fans of the first series, Legacies has a higher Metascore and is a bit more in line with The Vampire Diaries' origins as a high school-set drama. The show is aimed at viewers who are invested in the characters from the other shows, so you may want to binge those first to get the backstory. Or, just dive in, we trust your judgment. In any case, this show follows Hope Mikaelson (Danielle Rose Russell) who has vampire, werewolf, and witch heritage — a real triple threat. Viewers watch as she attends a school for the supernaturally gifted and tries to perfect her unique abilities.  

"The pilot is confident and fun, and firmly establishes a new part of the world worth watching." — Chancellor Agard, Entertainment Weekly