Vampires In Pop Culture Will Never Die

You’ve undoubtedly been immersed in the so-called Twilight renaissance during the last couple of years, whether you’ve actively participated or not. 

The internet is once again gripped by the vampire craze of the early 2000s, with Twilight merchandise trending on TikTok. 

Even celebrities are displaying their affection for these imaginary bloodsuckers.

It’s being referred to as the “resurrection of the vampires,” but who decides when vampires are resurrected from the dead? Vampire popular culture, in my opinion, has never gone away. 

The Twilight renaissance is like a sudden embracement of the love we’ve always had for vampires in pop culture.

Modern vampires made their first appearance in Anne Rice’s novel Interview with the Vampire (1976). The book was a smash hit and even included a 1994 film adaptation starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. 

Rice’s characters influenced the classic vampire stereotype of the anguished and hesitant vampire vs. the egotistical and cold vampire, which is popular today.

To name a few, there was Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), True Blood (2008-2014) and The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017). Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuted at the height of the young adult genre’s popularity.

With its half-human, half-vampire romance, the show, now a cult classic, paved the way for our favorite vampire movies and shows.

In 2008, fuel was added to the fire with the release of the first Twilight movie.

The film follows 17-year-old Bella Swan and her love triangle with vampire Edward Cullen and werewolf Jacob Black. 

With box office earnings of $400 million, fans camped outside theaters on opening night, flocked to premieres, collected all the merch they could get their hands on, and traveled to Forks, Washington, where the series was filmed. 

Since 2015, the Forever Twilight in Forks Festival, a celebration of the series, has been held every year, with the exception of 2020 when the pandemic interrupted it.

In 2009, The Vampire Diaries on the CW followed closely behind Twilight. 

Its premiere broke the CW’s record as the most-watched television debut at the time. 

With a similar love triangle as Twilight at its center, viewers follow teen Elena Gilbert, tortured and brooding vampire Stefan Salvatore and his cocky brother Damon.  

The show was a smash hit, winning seven Teen Choice Awards in 2010 and igniting a “Team Stefan vs. Team Damon” debate that’s still going on today. 

The Vampire Diaries lasted eight seasons and had two spinoffs: The Originals (2013-2018) and Legacies (2018-present). 

The show’s creator recently signed on to adapt another vampire book series, Vampire Academy.

Twilight’s recent addition on Netflix introduces Bella and Edward to a new generation of fans and encourages its original followers to rediscover their passion for the series.

Vampire media, like the love for it, has shown no signs of slowing down. There is a renewed interest in the genre as fans have become more comfortable expressing their affection for their favorite characters.

Admittedly, Twilight was before my time. I was a kid when the first movie premiered but I admit to binge watching the series and buying an Edward Cullen graphic tee just a week ago.

I did, however, grow up watching The Vampire Diaries and arguing why Stefan Salvatore is the better brother. 

That just proves that every generation will have a vampire heartthrob. Whether it’s emo Edward Cullen or aristocratic Stefan Salvatore, vampires in pop culture will never die.