Vampires have been a popular subject in storytelling for centuries, appearing in everything from scary horror tales to passionate romances. While vampires are often portrayed as villains, there have been instances of them taking on the role of heroes. Though less common, these vampire heroes can be incredibly powerful, fun to watch, and simply captivating.
While vampires are often portrayed as villains, some films have shown them as sympathetic characters, and even heroes. Though rare, these heroic vampires have left their mark on cinema. Here’s a look at some of the best vampire (or half-vampire) heroes in movies.
It’s up for debate whether Edward Cullen from Twilight is truly a hero, or simply the main character who sometimes acts bravely.
9. Mina Harker
A Character Reinvigorated With New Life
- Appears In The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen
- Played By Peta Wilson
While not a critical success, the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen featured interesting takes on classic literary characters. Mina Harker, originally from Dracula, was portrayed as a powerful vampire working as a hero to protect the world. Peta Wilson’s performance and the character’s blend of wisdom and strength made her stand out.
Okay, so as a movie fan, I always loved how they reimagined Mina Harker. You know, she originally came across as a bit helpless in Dracula, but in this version, they gave her a backstory – apparently, she has ties to Dorian Gray! – and turned her into this seriously capable scientist. She’s not just some damsel in distress; she’s got skills, even some pretty risky ones, and honestly, she’s a really compelling character. It’s great to see a classic character get such a cool, updated take.
8. Eben Oleson
A Sheriff That Turns For Good
- Appears In 30 Days Of Night
- Played By Josh Hartnett
I really enjoyed 30 Days of Night even though critics weren’t crazy about it. The premise is just so cool – a sheriff in Alaska has to defend his town from vampires during a whole month of darkness! Josh Hartnett does a great job as the sheriff, and it’s heartbreaking to watch him struggle against such a powerful enemy and see everything fall apart around him. It’s a pretty intense movie!
Eben initially tried to fight the vampires, but repeatedly failed. Desperate to stop them, he made the ultimate sacrifice: he turned himself into a vampire. He succeeded in defeating them, but perished as the sun came up. Though his time as a vampire was brief, Eben’s ability to maintain his values after the transformation made it a powerful and memorable moment in vampire films.
7. Mavis
Dracula’s Dream-Filled Daughter
- Appears In Hotel Transylvania
- Played By Selena Gomez
Many vampire movies aren’t intended to be scary, and that’s certainly true of the animated film Hotel Transylvania. This family-friendly movie, starring Adam Sandler, features classic monsters like mummies, werewolves, and Frankenstein’s monster. The story focuses on Dracula’s daughter, Mavis, and her wish to travel the world and find love.
Selena Gomez’s character, Mavis, is a delightful and important part of the Hotel Transylvania series. Throughout the films, Mavis grows from a teenage vampire into a mother and hotel owner alongside her husband, Johnny. She proves herself to her father and finds the freedom she deserves, and her fun personality and strong moral compass are key reasons why the Hotel Transylvania movies have been so popular.
6. Rose Hathaway
Vampire Academy’s Young Hero
- Appears In Vampire Academy
- Played By Zoey Deutch
Zoey Deutch plays a Dhampir in the teen fantasy film Vampire Academy – a character who is half-vampire, half-human, and definitely a hero. In this series, vampires are divided into two groups: the feared Strigoi, and the more accepted mortal vampires and Dhampir.
Rose is tasked with protecting Lissa, a royal vampire, shielding her from danger and assisting her in developing her magical powers. While the other books in the Vampire Academy series weren’t made into movies, Zoey Deutch’s performance helped make Rose a standout character on the big screen.
5. Louis de Pointe du Lac
The Not-So-Bad Interviewee
- Appears In Interview With A Vampire
- Played By Brad Pitt
The movie Interview With The Vampire is a complex story with fascinating characters. It brilliantly shows how immortals might become detached from human concerns. Louis de Pointe du Lac is a particularly compelling character – it’s difficult to see him as simply good or evil. He’s lived for centuries, constantly trying to maintain his morality while being influenced by his mentor, Lestat, and struggling with the challenges of raising their vampire daughter, Claudia.
By the time we see Louis being interviewed, he’s clearly burdened by regret and wants to find a way to make things right. He doesn’t find that connection with the interviewer, Molloy, but it’s possible he eventually found redemption through his actions as the central character, even though he committed murders throughout the story.
4. Dracula
A Heroic-Warrior Take On The Vampire Legend
- Appears In Dracula Untold
- Played By Luke Evans
Most versions of Dracula portray him as a villain, but one film presented him as a hero – though it’s unclear if that changed later on. In this version, played by Luke Evans as Vlad III the Impaler, he’s a prince and war hero who reluctantly becomes a vampire to protect his family.
Dracula Untold is a powerfully sad movie because it shows Vlad’s painful transformation into a vampire, a fate he can’t escape, and his realization that he can’t share his powers with anyone. Despite this sadness, the film is memorable for its exciting depiction of a powerful creature and his incredible feats of heroism.
3. Selene
Underworld’s Leading Lady
- Appears In Underworld
- Played By Kate Beckinsale
The Underworld franchise stood out by making a vampire the star of the action. Kate Beckinsale played Selene, a highly skilled warrior caught in a centuries-old battle between vampires and werewolves (Lycans). After falling for a human targeted by a werewolf, Selene defies her vampire clan and fights the war on her own.
Before the popularity of Twilight, the Underworld series established itself as a significant force in vampire and werewolf romance. It successfully blended action, horror, and a central love story. While the series never fully resolved its plot, the intense conflict between vampires and werewolves remains a fondly remembered part of early 2000s action cinema, largely thanks to the iconic character of Selene.
2. D
The Anime Vampire Hunter
- Appears In Vampire Hunter D & Bloodlust
- Voiced By Kaneto Shiozawa and Michael McConnohie (Vampire Hunter D); Andy Philpot and Hideyuki Tanaka (Bloodlust)
The world of Vampire Hunter D is full of dark, striking beauty, and the main character, a half-vampire named D, perfectly embodies that style. He’s a man of few words and doesn’t boast, but he’s incredibly mysterious and undeniably cool, instantly grabbing your attention whenever he appears on screen. While his past is quite involved—especially in the original novels—D is essentially a solitary hero who hunts down other supernatural creatures, often those similar to himself.
Both films are excellent, but Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is better. It really showcases the main character’s incredible fighting ability and intelligence. He’s ruthless towards his enemies, yet he’ll fiercely defend those who need help, even if he doesn’t always appear to care about people.
1. Blade
The Definitive Vampire Hero
- Appears In Blade
- Played By Wesley Snipes
No vampire is as famous and well-known as Blade. The unique and action-packed style of the Blade movies, starring Wesley Snipes, had a huge impact on how vampires are portrayed in film and television. Snipes’ portrayal of the character was so popular that Blade recently returned in the movie Deadpool & Wolverine.
The 1998 film Blade was a groundbreaking Marvel movie, instantly captivating audiences with its intense and violent nightclub opening. Blade has since become a popular figure across many areas of entertainment, but he’s especially well-known as the defining standard for vampire heroes, a position he still holds today.
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2025-12-06 20:07