Vampires usually stick to the realm of horror, occasionally venturing out for family-friendly fare, comedy, or even a good old-fashioned romance. Less often, you'll come face-to-face with a sci-fi vampire, and that's when you know you've really gone off the rails.

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In honor of the big film debut of one of Spider-Man's most goth villains with Morbius, there's no time like the present to look over times that people couldn't be vampires because they were scientists. Sci-fi has given us an excellent mix of silly, serious, and scary vampires, and these are some of the best.

Blade (1998)

In the comics, Blade was a popular guest-star but often failed to find his footing among the superheroes. That's why his massive film success came as a huge win, and to this day it's difficult to imagine comic book movies as a whole without thinking back on this Dhampir who uses his special talents to fight against the many wicked vampires of the world even as they become tech-savvy. Added bonus, Blade and Marvel's Morbius have actually appeared in several of the same story arcs in the comics, making these films must-see precursors even if they don't directly link to one another.

The Blade series is often considered to be one of diminishing returns, but the fact is that each entry rockets off on its own thing in a way that is pretty admirable by the end of it. By the time we get to the third film, our hero is surrounded by an ensemble cast of ragtag helpers. The second entry is likely the best, and the most science-tinged, but the trilogy continues to stand strong even through its weakest moments.

Lifeforce (1985)

Most horror fans are familiar with the work of director Tobe Hooper, yet this bizarre sci-fi outing remains more or less a hidden gem. The crew of a spaceship encounter what appear to be humans trapped in suspended animation, then they go radio silent, prompting a rescue mission.

This leads to an ethereal vampire alien who has the classic ability to control the actions of humans to be freed to walk the earth. Some horror films are about the triumph of the human character while this shows us a world in which human error makes everything significantly worse at every turn. While not necessarily an optimistic film, it is very entertaining, and gave us one of the best vampires of the 1980s.

Underworld (2003)

The Underworld franchise might be the best known sci-fi vampires of them all, using words like "evolution" right in the title of a sequel and centering around the unique hybrid blood of a character. Like Blade, this is very much an action movie, and revolves around its own stoic vampire protagonist with Selene.

As many Underworld sequels as there were, there were still some missed opportunities with the series. Sharing some aesthetic sensibilities of their respective era, Kate Beckinsale has teased a Blade crossover that never came to fruition. There were likewise proposed I, Frankenstein and Resident Evil team-ups. The ship may have sailed on those dreams, but any of the above truly would have been a sci-fi vampire extravaganza for the ages.

Daybreakers (2009)

For its star-studded cast, compelling action, decent box office returns, and great premise, Daybreakers remains a bit of an underrated great in the sci-fi horror canon. Based in a world in which an infected bat spread a plague among humanity that caused most of the people on earth to become vampires, this narrative centers around a man named Elvis as he claims to have a cure to save the human race.

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While a scientist works to create a synthetic blood substitute in order to satiate the many underfed vampires of the world, the remaining humans are harvested in factories to keep the vampires alive. This all ends more optimistically than one might think, but the general sense of unease the film sets is not to be missed.

I Am Legend (2007)

Horror legend Richard Matheson wrote the novel this film was based on in 1954, and it has gone on to inspire a number of takes, either directly based on the book or drawing reference from it in some way. Disturbed by the romantic image of vampires, the writer reimagined them as being much closer to what we think of as zombies today.

Combining the sci-fi and horror elements with all-out action and the charisma of its star, Will Smith, I Am Legend isn't particularly true to the tone of the novel or even the previous film versions, but it is still a fun watch. Immune to the virus, our hero races against the clock to find a cure and save humanity.

Queen of Blood (1966)

Imagining a world in which space travel is the norm, scientists receive attempts at contact from an alien species that turn into distress signals when their ship crash lands on Mars. When a crew goes to investigate and offer help, they discover a green-skinned woman with hypnotic eyes.

As various crew members begin to appear drained completely of blood, and it doesn't take a scientist to figure out what's going on. However, for fans of the Alien franchise, there is an added bonus of a cluster of eggs that threaten to hatch, making this a possible inspiration for those later films.

Thirst (2009)

A Catholic priest named Sang-hyun volunteers to participate in a medical experiment which makes him gravely ill. His life is saved by a blood transfusion, and if you want vampires, that's how you get vampires. He begins an illicit affair with his childhood friend's wife while struggling with a sudden...thirst.

This movie is full of surprising turns and top-notch characterization, making it one that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Yet, the sci-fi elements of this story will sound very familiar to fans of our Michael Morbius, who struggles against his vampiric tendencies only to often enough make a bigger mess of things than he could have imagined.

Last Man on Earth (1964)

Before the 2007 I Am Legend, there were other attempts at bringing Matheson's post-apocalyptic vampire world to life, including The Omega Man (1971) and Last Man on Earth. Starring the great Vincent Price, this film was partially written by Matheson, though he ultimately had his name changed in the credits due to overall dissatisfaction with the film.

Related: All the Scream Movies Ranked From Best to WorstYet, there is still plenty to love about this black and white romp through a world overrun by the undead. Telling the story of a man who buried his wife and child as well as his beloved dog as he was forced into the realization that the surrounding people would have to be staked to be at rest, this film is a classic of mid-century sci-fi movies despite the inevitable cheese factor.

The Hunger (1983)

The Hunger is a cult classic due mostly to its goth aesthetic, enjoyable protagonists, and one ridiculously hot scene between Susan Sarandon's Sarah Roberts and Catherine Deneuve's Miriam Blaylock. This reads like a checklist of things we like, but on top of everything, there's also a tragic romance and a performance from the band Bauhaus.

Oh, and murderous monkeys, which always helps sweeten the pot. Indeed, the sci-fi element of this film is Roberts' studies on rapid aging in chimpanzees. She's pulled away from her work by the whole vampire thing, but not before her research is tied to the sudden aging that Miriam's husband John experiences. If there was a sequel, it would be about an immortal scientist studying the aging process, which is a very cool idea.

Planet of the Vampires (1965)

Director Mario Bava is known for helping kick off the Giallo film movement in Italy with his horror flick Blood & Black Lace. Yet, he also applied his dreamy, colorful aesthetic sensibilities to a number of sci-fi and fantasy films, including Hercules and the Haunted World and, ah yes, Planet of the Vampires.

Receiving a distress signal, the crew of a ship attempts to land on the unexplored planet of Aura. Before they even land, the heavy fog and mist seems to possess the men and cast them in a murderous rage. Though they are able to overcome this and safely land, it quickly becomes clear that the call for help was merely a trap.

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