Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Name: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Genre: Action, Horror, Comedy
Released: July 31, 1992
Duration: 86 min
Rating: 48
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Kristy Swanson

1992

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 121 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 121 Ratings

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Buffy The Vampire Slayer

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Video | Release Date: July 31, 1992 | PG-13

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Kristy Swanson

Summary: Buffy is so popular. She rules her high school as head cheerleader. But it's not all fun and games. She has to juggle a pushy boyfriend, style-stealing rivals, and her duties as head of the dance committee. But when this serious old dude comes around and tells her about some birth-right that makes her the Chosen One, she has to learn howBuffy is so popular. She rules her high school as head cheerleader. But it's not all fun and games. She has to juggle a pushy boyfriend, style-stealing rivals, and her duties as head of the dance committee. But when this serious old dude comes around and tells her about some birth-right that makes her the Chosen One, she has to learn how to fight vampires too and like save the world or something. … Expand

Director: Fran Rubel Kuzui

Genre(s): Action, Horror, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 86 min

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Critic Reviews

Jay Scott

Buffy The Vampire Slayer should be a mess, but it's not. It's a mini-comic triumph, and although it's technically a teen movie, it's in the tiny genre of sophisticated, darkly funny teen films such as Heathers and Pump Up the Volume. [4 Aug 1992, p.C1]

Hal Hinson

The movie is a mess from start to finish. But then again, this jerky, haphazard approach is part of the movie's goofy charm. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a slight, good-humored film that's a lot more painless than might have been expected. Ms. Swanson's funny, deadpan delivery holds the story together reasonably well, as does the state-of-the-art Val-speak that constitutes most of Buffy's dialogue. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

If you've seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer's poster, you've seen the movie. Otherwise, this pallid crossbreeding of vampire horror with Valley Girl vamping has no surprises. Read full review

Jay Carr

In short, when Buffy starts getting fangy, it stops being tangy. It gets all serious and earnest and flops as a teen-age love story and as a vampire thriller and even as a parody. It's not even a "Fright Night," much less a "Near Dark," and only hints at a "Lost Boys" ambience. [31 Jul 1992, p.38]

Mick LaSalle

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer is lightweight and fun -- not great fun, but it has its moments. The high school satire angle is both authentic and good-natured. [31 Jul 1992, p.D1]

Staff (Not Credited)

Director Fran Rubel Kuzui's frenzied mistrust of her material is almost total. Somebody should have given her a garlic necklace -- or a Miltown -- and told her to chill out. Read full review

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User Reviews

Dostoyevsky3

Aug 10, 2022

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a fun and campy combat based chick flick with plenty of female fights to keep you cheerleading.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

IRONK1979

Jan 31, 2018

A favorite of mine growing up. Fun time where you don't have to think too much.

13 of 13 users found this helpful130

TylerDurden900

Jul 16, 2014

This movie isn't a classic but the action is cool, the jokes are funny and the cast is great. The movie is
a decent movie and it's what you expect, no more no less. Give the movie a shot and you'll enjoy it, I've
seen way worse movies than this, B+.

29 of 30 users found this helpful291

Meth-dude

May 14, 2017

It's early 90's cheese at it's best. It was safe, predictable, had decent, but over the top acting, had unnecessary and unbelievable action scenes and it even had the "Let's prepare ourselves" montage with a cheesy song. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not a good movie, but it's veryIt's early 90's cheese at it's best. It was safe, predictable, had decent, but over the top acting, had unnecessary and unbelievable action scenes and it even had the "Let's prepare ourselves" montage with a cheesy song. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not a good movie, but it's very entertaining and if you're a fan of silly 90's action movies, you should like it.… Expand

1 of 8 users found this helpful17

phoenix_prjct

Jan 12, 2023

Final Thoughts: If you’re looking for a night of campy cringe with a 90s filter, then Buffy the Vampire Slayer might just be the worst possible example (#notmybuffy - I’m being cruel at this point, aren’t I?), but it is an example. Short flashes of wit are there and it’s fun to see the firstFinal Thoughts: If you’re looking for a night of campy cringe with a 90s filter, then Buffy the Vampire Slayer might just be the worst possible example (#notmybuffy - I’m being cruel at this point, aren’t I?), but it is an example. Short flashes of wit are there and it’s fun to see the first portrayal of a now beloved character, but I highly recommend watching the show instead. Pushing past the severely aged first season will show you how a painstakingly built coming-of-age supernatural dramedy should be done.
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#notmybuffy

For an in-depth look and more posts like this, please check out my site (yes, I'm begging): https://thephoenixprjct.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-stand-alone-in-depth-review/… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

HellHoleHorror

Feb 15, 2022

This really is the stupidest vampire film ever. It is not big and it is not clever. The actors are good but the film is terrible. It is too tame for a vampire film and it is too boring for a teen film. The series is much better than this shallow rubbish.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Necromus

Dec 29, 2012

So I was a huge fan of the TV show which was awesome and has basically nothing in common with the original movie, except having a teenage girl named Buffy whose destiny is to slay vampires as a Vampire Slayer. This movie was so boring, I literally, fell asleep 15 minutes into it. I woke upSo I was a huge fan of the TV show which was awesome and has basically nothing in common with the original movie, except having a teenage girl named Buffy whose destiny is to slay vampires as a Vampire Slayer. This movie was so boring, I literally, fell asleep 15 minutes into it. I woke up 15 minutes from the end and surprisingly it didn't seem like I missed any of the plot to me. I asked the group of friends I saw it with what I missed during my hour or so nap, they informed me that I hadn't really missed anything lol. My advice is just stick to the awesome TV show, which was cheesy but great because it didn't take itself seriously (it poked fun at itself and its characters from time to time) but had great character development, drama, and brilliant writing in the later episodes (The Musical episode was great!). As for the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie well I am giving it a 3/10 since that is the highest red review I can give it, since I slept through most of it I will give it the benefit of a doubt that there was something worth watching that I missed during my snooze.… Expand

1 of 19 users found this helpful118

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