The Vampire Lestat: AMC's 96% RT Series Is Quietly One Of TV's Best To Binge

AMC's vampire series with a near-perfect 96% Rotten Tomatoes score is quietly one of the best shows to binge-watch on any streaming platform. The 7-part series, which exists both as a standalone and as the third season of a storied larger vampire franchise with massive viewership, originally premiered back in June 2026 and only just recently dropped its finale episode, making now the ideal time to binge it all in just a few sittings. Despite its universal acclaim, this gothic horror series has flown under the radar so far this summer.

AMC's The Vampire Lestat earned a rare 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and is one of the best shows to binge on TV right now, with all 7 episodes available on AMC+. As a continuation of the acclaimed Interview with the Vampire series, which has a 99% RT score across two seasons, The Vampire Lestat was one of the most-viewed shows on AMC+ this year and is worth a quick 7-part binge. Adapted from the 1985 novel of the same name by Anne Rice, this serves as the third season of AMC's expanding Interview with the Vampire franchise.

What Makes AMC's The Vampire Lestat Adaptation Work

The Vampire Lestat earned rave reviews from nearly all of its 88 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, including ScreenRant's Nick Bythrow, who gave the series a strong 9/10 rating. He notes, "Filled with deep complexity, staggeringly emotional performances, and a protagonist who's captivating in so many layered ways, this season of Interview with the Vampire is not only the show at its best, but one of the best seasons of TV in 2026 so far." This high degree of praise was given by just about every major news outlet and online publication, including Variety, IndieWire, and RogerEbert.com.

The Vampire Lestat works so well as a book adaptation because its plot essentially demands it to come to life on screen, even though it took more than four decades to happen. The story follows Lestat de Lioncourt, played by Sam Reid, who is also known as the Brat Prince. Lestat was a late 18th-century French nobleman who turned into a vampire and emerged as an antagonist in Interview with the Vampire. Tom Cruise famously played Lestat in the 1994 film adaptation, which also starred Brad Pitt.

In The Vampire Lestat, the titular vampire awakens in the 1980s and decides to front an 80's glam rock band out of spite, determined to set the record straight after he was exposed in Daniel Molloy's bestseller, Interview with a Vampire. Taking back control of his life and name, Lestat calls upon his memories to fuel his hit rock songs, which makes him a famous icon among both fans and vampires. This premise works splendidly for a TV adaptation, as the David Bowie-inspired music is a core part of the story that the book could only describe through text alone.

Why The Vampire Lestat Is Still Flying Under The Radar

AMC's Interview With the Vampire series has garnered a strong, loyal following, even though it hasn't necessarily broken into the mainstream. As a gothic horror vampire series, its audience is generally niche but large enough to make The Vampire Lestat one of AMC's most-streamed shows this year. What's more, the series is only available to watch on AMC+ at the time of writing, which also limits its overall scope. In time, The Vampire Lestat will likely join Interview With the Vampire seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix, especially now that season 4 has been officially confirmed by AMC.

Given that The Vampire Lestat released its season finale roughly one month ago, it likely won't make its way to Netflix anytime soon, or even in 2026 for that matter. That said, the acclaim and hype for Interview With the Vampire season 3 has built so much momentum that viewers may be encouraged to sign up for an AMC+ subscription so they can binge the entire series now. With plans starting as low as $7.99/month, AMC+ is a worthwhile investment for viewers who can't wait to dive into The Vampire Lestat, which remains one of 2026's top-rated new series.