Review: AMC's 'The Vampire Lestat' Is the Must Watch Event of the Year

Reel Perspectives

June 3, 2026

AMC

For decades, Lestat de Lioncourt has stood as one of fiction's most iconic vampires. A charismatic rogue draped in decadence, danger, and irresistible charm. However, AMC's latest interpretation of Anne Rice's legendary bloodsucker has achieved something truly remarkable. The new series, The Vampire Lestat, or the third season of Interview with the Vampire (depending on how you look at it), does not merely adapt Lestat for a new generation; it revitalizes him, transforming him into one of television's most electrifying characters.

Lestat is back, and he's having the time of his immortal life.

Bursting with energy, color, passion, and theatrical flair, Sam Reid's portrayal embraces everything fans have always loved about the character while fearlessly modernizing him for contemporary audiences. Gone is the image that vampire dramas must be gloomy and overly serious affairs, which does not take anything away from the first 2 seasons of Interview with the Vampire. The Vampire Lestat injects the character with a pulse of pure entertainment, balancing heartbreak, horror, romance, comedy, and spectacle with effortless confidence.

Every scene crackles with life. Whether he's delivering a cutting one-liner, seducing his latest companion, or spiraling into one of his gloriously dramatic meltdowns, Lestat commands our attention in a way only few television characters can. He's magnetic, unpredictable, hilarious, tragic, and endlessly watchable.

Following the highly acclaimed second season, in which he and his ex-lover Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) finally came to a place of healing and reconciliation after their daughter Claudia's (Delainey Hayles) death, Lestat takes to the open road and becomes a rockstar with his eclectic band, writing songs that reflect his eventful 265 year old life. Each song reveals another layer of vulnerability that very few get to see.

Reid deserves Emmy consideration for a deeply layered performance. The Vampire Lestat is truly special. Reid understands the character's contradictions, and creator Rolin Jones has raised the bar, taking the series to new euphoria. Lestat is both monster and lover, villain and hero, narcissist and wounded soul. The series leans into those complexities, allowing him to be messy, flamboyant, emotional, and larger than life without restrictions, fueled by his haunting past. Watching Reid embody the character so effortlessly is mesmerizing, as audiences see the humanity buried beneath centuries of immortality.

AMC

While Jacob Anderson drove the emotional narrative in the second season of the beloved Rice adaptation, he arguably takes a back seat in the new season, but remains just as relevant as he grapples with Claudia's death. Anderson continues to be highly underrated, once again delivering a multilayered performance. Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian), who was turned into a vampire by Louis' lover, Armand (Assad Zaman) in Season 2, remains bitingly sarcastic as he continues his investigative journalism, but this time, instead of Louis, he's interviewing Lestat with the same hard biting humor but now with added vampiric confidence. Bogosian has never been better.  

Lestat feels more relevant than ever while staying faithful to Anne Rice's spirit. At the end of Season 2, Daniel published Louis' confessions while Louis outed himself as a vampire, challenging other vampires to come after him and opening Pandora's box. In the new season, those vampires play a crucial role in the narrative, culminating in a thrilling finale as Lestat deals with the fallout from the publication of "Interview with the Vampire."

The series embraces a vampire saga that feels fresh, vibrant, and exhilarating. Lestat's abusive childhood in the 18th century is explored, giving the character even more depth as more layers are revealed. We're introduced to characters who have shaped Lestat into the dazzling contradiction he is today: Nicolas de Lentfent (Joseph Potter), a terrifying Magnus (Damien Atkins), his volatile mother, Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle), and Aksha (Sheila Atim). It would be remiss not to highlight Atim's performance. Bone chillingly effective that is simply hypnotic. The scenes featuring these characters are haunting, terrifying, and heartbreaking, showcasing the remarkable acting and depth of this season. One episode that easily stands out, among an already exceptional season, is episode 3. Simply superb on every level, and you definitely need to see it for yourself.

AMC

The production mirrors Lestat's personality - lush visuals, bold creative choices, unforgettable music thanks to Daniel Hart, and a fearless commitment to excess.

The series has achieved the rarest of accomplishments: it makes a beloved character feel alive again. We have always known that Lestat is vain, impulsive, manipulative, and often deeply toxic in his relationships, driven by an insatiable need for love and attention, but beneath the bravado and theatricality lies a profoundly human soul: lonely, vulnerable, wounded, and desperate to be understood. His capacity for both makes his flaws equally compelling as his charisma.

The Vampire Lestat isn't just a great adaptation. It's a resurrection with Sam Reid's blood-soaked brilliance on full display.

 The Vampire Lestat premieres Sunday, June 7 at 9pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+.