When the Castlevania series first debuted, credit was given to Vampire Hunter D, a series of Japanese novels (and two movies) about a vampire hunter going up against Dracula. We'll begin our discussion of movies and cinema with reviews of both Vampire Hunter D flicks (and maybe one day we'll get ahold of English copies of the books and review those, too).
- Vampire Hunter D (1985, CBS Theatrical Films, Unrated)
- Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000, Urban Vision, Rated R)
Of course, more recently Frederator Studios, in conjuction with Netflix and Konami, produced an animated series based on Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (and beyond). And since we review everything (especially when it has the name Castlevania on it), let's look at that as well:
- Castlevania (2017, Frederator Studios, Rated TV-MA)
- Castlevania: Nocturne (2023, Frederator Studios, Rated TV-MA)
Horror Cinema
But the connection between the Castlevania series and cinema isn't limited to two anime movies and its own TV show. The series has long shared ties to classic horror cinema, parodying both the Universal and Hammer films series from the very first game onwards. Over time, the connection has grown deeper, borrowing ideas and characters from horror cinema to give the series a greater connection to its cinematic ancestors.
Throughout this section, we'll take a look at the classic monsters of the silver (and smaller) screen. It's our excuse to watch movies and call it an assignment for the site.
Sections are organized by monster. Films within are then sorted by the date of the first work in a series (be it ovie or TV show), followed by other works in the series indented to follow. Reboots and remakes are listed by their starting date and are not grouped with the original works. Also note that some works which feature multiple monsters will appear multiple times on the various lists.
Movies and Shows Featuring Dracula (and Other Vampire Lords)
- Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922, Film Arts Guild, Unrated)
- Dracula (1931, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- Dràcula (1931, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- Dracula's Daughter (1936, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- Son of Dracula (1943, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- House of Frankenstein (1944, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- House of Dracula (1945, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- Renfield (2023, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
- Dracula (1958, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- The Brides of Dracula (1960, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968, Hammer Films, Rated G)
- Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Scars of Dracula (1970, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Dracula AD 1972 (1972, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Count Dracula (1970, Filmar Compagnia Cinematografica, PG)
- Lake of Dracula (1971, Toho, Unrated)
- Evil of Dracula (1974, Toho, Unrated)
- Blacula (1972, American International Pictures, Rated PG)
- Scream Blacula Scream (1973, American International Pictures, Rated PG)
- Dracula (1973, Latglen Ltd, Unrated)
- Dracula (1979, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
- Nosferatu: The Vampyre (1979, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, Rated PG)
- The Monster Squad (1987, TriStar Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- Waxwork (1988, Palla Pictures Corp., Rated R)
- Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992, Electric Pictures, Rated R)
- Dracula (1992, Columbia Pictures, Rated R)
- Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995, Brooksfilms, Rated PG-13)
- Dracula 2000 (2000, Dimension Films, Rated R)
- Dracula II: Ascension (2003, Dimension Films, Rated R)
- Dracula III: Legacy (2005, Dimension Films, Rated R)
- Van Helsing (2004, Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- Dracula 3000 (2004, Lions Gate Entertainment, Rated R)
- The Batman vs. Dracula (2005, Warner Bros. Animation, Unrated)
- Dracula (2006, Granada Television, Unrated)
- Dracula 3D (2012, Enrique Cerezo Producciones Cinematogràficas S.A., Unrated)
- Dracula (2013, Universal Television, Rated TV-14)
- Dracula Untold (2014, Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- Dracula (2020, Netflix, Rated TV-MA)
- The Invitation (2022, Screen Gems, Rated PG-13)
- Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
- Nosferatu (2024, Studio 8, Rated R)
Movies Featuring Carmilla Karnstein
- Vampyr (1932, Tobis Filmkunst, Unrated)
- Blood and Roses (1960, Documento Film, Unrated)
- Crypt of the Vampire (1963, E.I. Associates Producers, Unrated)
- The Vampire Lovers (1970, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Lust for a Vampire (1971, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Twins of Evil (1971, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- The Blood Spattered Bride (1972, Morgana Films, Rated R)
- The Unwanted (2013, W.A. Entertainment, Unrated)
- The Curse of Styria (2014, Like Fire Productions, Unrated)
Movies Featuring Elizabeth Bathory
- Daughters of Darkness (1971, Showking Films, Rated R)
- Countess Dracula (1972, Hammer Films, PG)
- Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron (2007, Starz Media, Unrated)
- Chastity Bites (2013, Weirdsmobile Productions, TV-MA)
- Fright Night 2: The New Blood (2013, 20th Century Fox, Rated R)
Movies Featuring Dr. Frankenstein and His Abominations
- Frankenstein (1931, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Bride of Frankenstein (1935, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- Son of Frankenstein (1939, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- House of Frankenstein (1944, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- House of Dracula (1945, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Curse of Frankenstein (1957, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- The Evil of Frankenstein (1964, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- Frankenstein Created Woman (1967, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969, Hammer Films, Rated PG-13)
- The Horror of Frankenstein (1970, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1973, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Lady Frankenstein (1971, Condor International Films, Rated R)
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1973, Universal Studios, Unrated)
- Young Frankenstein (1974, 20th Century Fox, Rated PG)
- Re-Animator (1985, Re-Animator Productions, Rated X)
- Bride of Re-Animator (1990, Wild Street Pictures, Rated R)
- Beyond Re-Animator (2003, Lionsgate Entertainment, Rated R)
- The Monster Squad (1987, TriStar Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- Waxwork (1988, Palla Pictures Corp., Rated R)
- Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992, Electric Pictures, Rated R)
- Frankenhooker (1990, Troma Entertainment, Rated R)
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994, TriStar Pictures, Rated R)
- Van Helsing (2004, Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- Victor Frankenstein (2015, 20th Century Fox, Rated PG-13)
- The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023, Crypt TV, Rated R)
Movies Featuring the Gill-Man
- "Abbott and Costello Meet the Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954, Colgate-Palmolive-Peet, Unrated)
- Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- Revenge of the Creature (1955, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Creature Walks Among Us (1956, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Monster Squad (1987, TriStar Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- The Shape of Water (2017, Fox Searchlight, Rated R)
Movies Featuring the Mummy
- The Mummy (1932, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Mummy's Hand (1940, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Mummy's Tomb (1942, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Mummy's Ghost (1944, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Mummy's Curse (1944, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Mummy (1959, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- The Mummy's Shroud (1967, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971, Hammer Films, Rated PG)
- The Monster Squad (1987, TriStar Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- Waxwork (1988, Palla Pictures Corp., Rated R)
- The Mummy (1999, Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- The Mummy Returns (2001, Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008, Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- The Mummy (2017, Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13)
Movies Featuring the Wolf Man
- Werewolf of London (1935, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- She-Wolf of London (1946, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Wolf Man (1941, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- House of Frankenstein (1944, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- House of Dracula (1945, Universal Pictures, Rated PG)
- Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948, Universal Pictures, Unrated)
- The Curse of the Werewolf (1961, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- The Monster Squad (1987, TriStar Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- Van Helsing (2004, Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13)
- Cursed (2005, Dimension Films, Rated PG-13)
- The Wolfman (2010, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
- WolfCop (2014, CineCoup, Unrated)
- Another WolfCop (2017, CineCoup, Unrated)
- Wolf Man (2025, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
Additional Movies and Shows Featuring Lycanthropes
- Cat People (1942, RKO Radio Pictures, Unrated)
- The Seventh Victim (1943, RKO Radio Pictures, Unrated)
- Curse of the Cat People (1944, RKO Radio Pictures, Unrated)
- The Howling (1981, AVCO Embassy Pictures, Rated R)
- The Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf (1985, Hemdale Film Corporation, Rated R)
- The Howling III: The Marsupials (1987, Hemdale Film Corporation, Rated PG-13)
- The Howling IV: The Original Nightmare (1988, International Video Entertainment, Rated R)
- The Howling V: The Rebirth (1989, Lionsgate, Rated R)
- The Howling VI: The Freaks (1991, Lionsgate, Rated R)
- The Howling: New Moon Rising (1995, New Line Home Video, Rated R)
- The Howling: Reborn (2001, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Rated R)
- An American Werewolf in London (1981, PolyGram Pictures, Rated R)
- An American Werewolf in Paris (1997, Hollywood Pictures, Rated R)
- Silver Bullet (1985, Paramount Pictures, Rated R)
- Wolf (1994, Columbia Pictures, Rated R)
- Ginger Snaps (2000, Motion International, Rated R)
- Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (2004, Lionsgate Films, Rated R)
- Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004, Lionsgate Films, Rated R)
- Wolf Girl (2001, The Kushner-Locke Company, Rated R)
- Dog Soldiers (2002, Kismet Entertainment Group, Rated R)
- Underworld (2003, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld: Evolution (2006, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld: Endless War (2011, Screen Gems, Unrated)
- Underworld: Awakening (2012, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld: Blood Wars (2016, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Red Riding Hood (2011, Appian Way productions, Rated PG-13)
- Werewolf: The Beast Among Us (2012, Universal 1440 Entertainment, Rated R)
- Bubba the Redneck Werewolf (2014, Two Rubbing Nickels, Unrated)
- Werewolves Within (2021, Vanishing Angle, Rated R)
- Werewolf By Night (2022, Marvel Studios, Rated TV-14)
Additional Movies and Shows Featuring Vampires
- The Kiss of the Vampire (1963, Hammer Films, Unrated)
- The Vampire Doll (1970, Toho, Unrated)
- Vampire Circus (1972, Hammer Films, Rated PG)
- Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter (1974, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Sexcula (1974, Frog Productions, Rated X)
- Salem's Lot (1979, Warner Bros. Television, Rated PG)
- A Return to Salem's Lot (1987, Warner Bros., Rated R)
- The Hunger (1983, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Rated R)
- Fright Night (1985, Columbia Pictures, Rated R)
- Fright Night Part 2 (1988, Tri-Star Pictures, Rated R)
- The Lost Boys (1987, Warner Bros. Pictures, Rated R)
- Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008, Warner Premiere, Rated R)
- Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010, Warner Premiere, Rated R)
- The Lair Of The White Worm (1988, White Lair, Rated R)
- Subspecies (1991, Full Moon Features, Rated R)
- Bloodstone: Subspecies II (1993, Full Moon Features, Rated R)
- Bloodlust: Subspecies III (1994, Full Moon Features, Rated R)
- Vampire Journals (1997, Full Moon Features, Rated R)
- Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm (1998, Full Moon Features, Rated R)
- Subspecies V: Blood Rise (2023, Full Moon Features, Rated R)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992, Kuzui Enterprises, Rated PG-13)
- Interview with the Vampire (1994, Warner Bros. Pictures, Rated R)
- Queen of the Damned (2002, Warner Bros. Pictures, Rated R)
- Vampire in Brooklyn (1995, Eddie Murphy Productions, Rated R)
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996, Dimension Films, Rated R)
- From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999, Dimension Films, Rated R)
- From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (1999, Dimension Films, Rated R)
- Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood (1996, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997, Kuzui Entertainment, Rated TV-14)
- Angel (1999, Kuzui Enterprises, Rated TV-14)
- Blade (1998, New Line Cinema, Rated R)
- Blade II (2002, New Line Cinema, Rated R)
- Blade: Trinity (2004, New Line Cinema, Rated R)
- Blade: The Series (2004, New Line Television, Rated TV-14)
- Vampires (1998, Columbia Pictures, Rated R)
- Vampires: Los Muertos (2002, Destination Films, Rated R)
- Vampires: The Turning (2005, Destination Films, Rated R)
- Shadow of the Vampire (2000, BBC Films, Rated R)
- The Forsaken (2001, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld (2003, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld: Evolution (2006, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld: Endless War (2011, Screen Gems, Unrated)
- Underworld: Awakening (2012, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- Underworld: Blood Wars (2016, Screen Gems, Rated R)
- What We Do In the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires (2004, Defender Films, Unrated)
- What We Do In the Shadows (2014, Defender Films, Rated R)
- What We Do In the Shadows (2019, FXP, TV-MA)
- Vampire Sisters (2004, Pendulum Productions, Unrated)
- Shira: The Vampire Samurai (2005, A55 Films, Unrated)
- Night (2005, Pendulum Productions, Unrated)
- Ultraviolet (2006, Screen Gems, PG-13)
- 30 Days of Night (2007, Ghost House Pictures, Rated R)
- 30 Days of Night: Blood Trails (2007, Ghost House Pictures, Rated R)
- 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust (2008, Ghost House Pictures, Rated R)
- 30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2010, Ghost House Pictures, Rated R)
- Let the Right One In (2008, EFTI, Rated R)
- True Blood (2008, HBO Entertainment, Rated TV-MA)
- Twilight (2008, Temple Hill Entertainment, PG-13)
- The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009, Temple Hill Entertainment, Rated PG-13)
- The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010, Temple Hill Entertainment, Rated PG-13)
- The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 (2011, Temple Hill Entertainment, Rated PG-13)
- The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (2012, Temple Hill Entertainment, Rated PG-13)
- Daybreakers (2010, Lionsgate, Rated R)
- Let Me In (2010, Hammer Films, Rated R)
- Priest (2011, Screen Gems, Rated PG-13)
- Fright Night (2011, Touchstone Pictures, Rated R)
- Fright Night 2: The New Blood (2013, 20th Century Fox, Rated R)
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012, 20th Century Fox, Rated R)
- Only Lovers Left Alive (2013, Pandora Film, Rated R)
- From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (2014, Miramax, Rated TV-MA)
- Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020, Broadway Video, Rated PG-13)
- Blood Red Sky (2021, Rat Pack Filmproduction, Rated TV-MA)
- Night Teeth (2021, Unique Features, Rated TV-14)
- First Kill (2022, WaterWalk, Rated TV-MA)
- Day Shift (2022, 87Eleven Entertainment, Rated R)
- Interview with the Vampire (2022, AMC Studios, Rated TV-MA)
- Slayers (2022, The Avenue Entertainment, Rated R)
- Abigail (2024, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
- Sinners (2025, Warner Bros. Pictures, Rated R)
Additional Movies and Shows Featuring Zombies
- Night of the Living Dead (1968, The Walter Reade Organization, Rated R)
- Dawn of the Dead (1978, United Film Distribution Company, Rated R)
- Day of the Dead (1985, United Film Distribution Company, Rated R)
- Land of the Dead (2005, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
- Diary of the Dead (2007, The Weinstein Company, Rated R)
- Survival of the Dead (2009, Magnet Releasing, Rated R)
- The Return of the Living Dead (1985, Hemdale Film Corporation, Rated R)
- Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988, Lorimar Motion Pictures, Rated R)
- Return of the Living Dead III (1993, Trimark Pictures, Rated R)
- Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (2005, Castel Film Romania, Rated R)
- Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005, Castel Film Romania, Rated R)
- Dead Heat (1988, New World Pictures, Rated R)
- Waxwork (1988, Palla Pictures Corp., Rated R)
- Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992, Electric Pictures, Rated R)
- Night of the Living Dead (1990, Columbia Pictures, Rated R)
- Dead Alive (1992, Trimark Pictures, Rated R)
- Dawn of the Dead (2004, Universal Pictures, Rated R)
- Shaun of the Dead (2004, Rogue Pictures, Rated R)
- Day of the Dead 2: Contagium (2005, Tartarus Entertainment, Rated R)
- Night of the Living Dead 3D (2006, Lux Digital Pictures, Rated R)
- Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation (2012, Dimensional Dead Productions, Rated R)
- Day of the Dead (2008, Millennium Films, Rated R)
- Zombieland (2009, Columbia Pictures, Rated R)
- Zombieland: Double Tap (2019, Columbia Pictures, Rated R)
- The Dead (2010, Latitude Films, Rated R)
- The Dead 2: India (2013, Latitude Films, Rated R)
- Warm Bodies (2013, Mandevilla Films, Rated PG-13)
- Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2014, Guerilla Films, Unrated)
- Wyrmwood: Apocalypse (2022, Guerilla Films, Unrated)
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016, Stage 6 Films, Rated PG-13)
- Train to Busan (2016, Next Entertainment World, Unrated)
- The Girl with All the Gifts (2016, British Film Institute, Rated R)
- Day of the Dead: Bloodline (2018, Millenium Films, Rated R)
- Army of the Dead (2021, Netflix, Rated R)
- Army of Thieves (2021, Netflix, Rated TV-MA)
- Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas (2023, Netflix, Rated TV-MA)
- Planet of the Dead (TBD, Netflix, Rated R)
- Night of the Animated Dead (2021, The Long Game, Rated R)