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John Carpenter's Vampires Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the John Carpenter's Vampires movies in order

Last updated: November 14 2026

Written by: ChronoChris

John Carpenter's Vampires is a gritty horror-western about Vatican-backed vampire hunters, and its two sequels kept the slayers in business.

James Woods stars as Jack Crow, the ruthless leader of a team of slayers who hunt the undead across the American Southwest for the Catholic Church. When a master vampire wipes out most of his crew, Crow sets out for revenge. The film's blend of western grit and horror led to two direct-to-video sequels, the first starring Jon Bon Jovi.

πŸ• Release Order

Here are all three Vampires films in release order.

  1. Vampires (1998)
  2. Vampires: Los Muertos (2002)
  3. Vampires: The Turning (2005)

Each sequel introduces a new slayer, so the films are only loosely connected.

πŸ“– Story Chronology

The story chronology matches the release order, with Los Muertos following a new hunter in Mexico and The Turning shifting the action to Thailand.

  1. Vampires (1998)
  2. Vampires: Los Muertos (2002)
  3. Vampires: The Turning (2005)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Start with John Carpenter's original, which is the only film he directed and easily the best of the bunch. Los Muertos is a solid follow-up in the same western style, while The Turning is a very different film that's only for completists. Carpenter's version also features a memorable performance from Thomas Ian Griffith as the master vampire Valek and a moody, guitar-driven score composed by Carpenter himself. If you enjoy vampire stories that feel more like dusty westerns than gothic romances, this series is a great pick for a late-night horror marathon.

πŸ”— Related Guides

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