Dayna BrownfieldJanuary 27, 2025

A Financial Bite

Dayna BrownfieldJanuary 27, 2025

I first heard of this theory back in the early 2000s when I was listening to the radio while running errands for my job. And I didn’t think much of it, until I started thinking about Twilight.

Twilight was published in 2005, with the movie adaptation following in 2008. And those dates aligned with the U.S. recession from 2007-2009.

Thus began my semi-deep dive into vampires in popular culture and why there might be a connection to these creatures popularity during times of economic recession.

To backtrack a bit, the pop culture theory I’m referring to is: vampires rise in media and mainstream popularity during or leading up to times of austerity and economic recession. They can also be referred to as a “recession monster.” However the most popular recession monsters are zombies. (Salon 2022)

I came back to this theory when predictions of a recession starting happening around 2022-23. You can can read more about that here: Time 2022, NBC News 2023, and John Hopkins 2024

So naturally I noticed there’s several vampiric works that have come out in the past two years and more following in 2025:

Movies:

The Invitation (2022) - inspired by Dracula
Abigail (2023)
Renfield (2023) - adaptation of Dracula
Voyage of the Last Demeter (2023) - adaptation of "The Captain's Log" from Dracula
Nosferatu (2024) - remake of 1922 film (unofficial Dracula adaptation)
Flesh of the Gods (2025) - Starring Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame
Sinners (2025)

Television:

Salem’s Lot (2024) - Max, Stephen King adaptation, 2004 miniseries
Interview with the Vampire (2022+) - Anne Rice vampire series adaptation
Twilight animated series (animated)

Cannot discount Netflix resurgence (all 5 movies added to streamer in 2021)

Miscellaneous

Dracula Daily - substack (launched in 2021); Book version published in 2023

Some things to note that could also be ‘upping’ vampire popularity; Dracula is in the public domain and often adaptations of works recently in the public domain increase during those years. Like how when Frankenstein entered public domain a few years ago, several adaptations were announced. Here’s a list of upcoming Frankenstein adaptations.

—> Should also note that this will likely increase, because Universal's Frankenstein and Dracula enter the public domain in 2027.

The other thing factor is how in recent years, the popularity of the horror genre has grown. There’s more of a push to consider it as a serious genre and storytelling vehicle. (The Washington Post 2024, IGN 2023)

For me, horror is popular because it allows - more than other genres - for more metaphor and viewer interpretation. There cannot only be a bigger line between authorial intent and audience interpretation, but a more accepted gap as well. There’s more willingness to let audiences draw their own parallels to characters, stories, etc. in horror than other genres.

I have always enjoyed vampires and as I’ve gotten older, I have a started to appreciate the nuance and message(s) horror can provide.

As a fun end to this piece, below are some of my top vampire movies and TV shows.

My Top Vampire Movies & TV Series: In no particular order

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Byzantium (2012)
Let The Right One In (2008) – special mention for U.S. remake: Let Me In (2010)
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Thirst (2009)
Interview with a Vampire, TV version (2022+)
What We Do in the Shadows (2014) – special mention for U.S. TV version (2019-2024)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, TV version (1997-2013) – special mention for movie (1992)
Midnight Mass (2021)
30 Days of Night (2007)

Special Mentions: