Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
52%RT Audience Score: 43%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s supernatural coming of age tale is let down by poor directing and even poorer plotting — though Kristy Swanson and Paul Reubens’ game performances still manage to slay
Buffy the Vampire Slayer” may not be the most sophisticated or respected film out there, but it’s definitely worth a watch on a warm summer night. Sure, it’s a bit silly and misses some opportunities, but it’s still a fun and lighthearted take on the classic vampire genre. Plus, it’s got plenty of Valley-girl lingo and cliquish quips to keep you entertained. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride. Just don’t take it too seriously, duh.
Production Company(ies)
Almega Projects O2 Filmes,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
1992
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
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Runtime:1h 26m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 10, 1992 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2007
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens, Rutger Hauer, Michele Abrams, directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui, written by Joss Whedon, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kenneth Turan, Jay Boyar, Dave Kehr, Kevin Jackson, David Ansen, Victor Dwyer, Dennis King, Roger Hurlburt, Malcolm Johnson, Sky Staff, PG-13, vampires, supernatural, coming of age, female protagonist, high school, cheerleader, training, fighting, bloodsuckers, California, humor, action, adventure, romance, horror, TV show adaptation, 1992, 20th Century Fox, Kaz Kuzui, Howard Rosenman, sound mix, surround
Worldwide gross: $16,624,456
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $16,624,456
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Luke Perry – Oliver Pike
Donald Sutherland – Merrick Jamison-Smythe
Paul Reubens – Amilyn
Rutger Hauer – Lothos
Michele Abrams – Jennifer Walkens
Director(s)
Fran Rubel Kuzui
Writer(s)
Joss Whedon
Producer(s)
Kaz Kuzui, Howard Rosenman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (53) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (34)
While it would be a mistake to oversell “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” the sad and/or happy truth is that you could do worse on a warm summer night. A lot worse.
March 26, 2019
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The idea of mixing vampires and modern teens has, of course, been tried before… But it has never been done with so much sophistication – yes, sophistication.
March 26, 2019
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
”Buffy” shuffles through a number of styles and approaches, from the satirical to the Grand Guignolesque, but never treats its material with much respect.
March 26, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Though the idea of pitting ancient European evil against modern Californian idiocy at the script conferences must have screamed High Concept, the result is pitiful.
March 26, 2019
Kevin Jackson
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
“Does the word duh mean anything to you?” It does to director Fran Rubel Kuzui, whose frenzied mistrust of her material is almost total.
March 26, 2019
TIME Staff
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
As a comedy, “Buffy” is a horror show, and vice versa.
February 9, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
There’s ultimately never a point at which Buffy the Vampire Slayer is entirely (or even partially) able to live up to the seemingly foolproof nature of its high-concept premise…
November 3, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
As silly as its title suggests, Buffy the Vampire Slayer manages to deliver a sly message about female strength and the fragility of sexual stereotypes.
March 26, 2019
Victor Dwyer
Maclean’s Magazine
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is lightweight summer fun.
March 26, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Dennis King
Tulsa World
Despite a promising set up, replete with oodles of Valley-girl lingo and cliquish quips, Buffy the Vampire Slayer becomes a comedy of missed opportunities and banal action.
March 26, 2019
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” ultimately falls prey to the worst tendencies of horror and teen pictures.
March 26, 2019 | Rating: .5/4
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Somewhere between Prom Night and Dracula, without any real sense of menace, comes this vampire comedy.
March 26, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Sky Staff
Sky Cinema…
Plot
“In every generation there is a chosen one… she alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer.” Buffy Summers knows this tale by heart, and no matter how hard she tries to be just a “normal girl”, she can not escape from her destiny… Thankfully, she is not alone in her quest to save the world, as she has the help of her friends, the hilarious (and surprisingly quite effective) evil-fighting team called “The Scooby Gang”. Together, Buffy & co. will slay their demons, survive one apocalypse after another, attend high school and college… and above all, understand that growing up can truly be Hell sometimes… literally.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer includes Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens, and Rutger Hauer.
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