My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1988)

54% of users liked it
(8,018 ratings)

This '80s teen comedy involves a youth (Robert Leonard), who is seduced by a sexy schoolgirl and then transforms into a blood-sucking vampire. Instead of fighting his affliction, he tries to cope with the change. ~ John Bush, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Jimmy Huston
Genres: Horror, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Apr 14, 2009
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
pig-blood-flavored, bubble-gum fun
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
Its friendly nature and intriguing subtexts keep it from being just another slice of nostalgic filler.
Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central
My Best Friend is a Vampire is a perfect little snapshot of 1989. It was a great old time while it lasted, but in the end you'll be glad that you've moved on since then.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This isn't the best of the teen vampire movies of the 80s or anything, but personally I loved it, it's fun, exciting, and funny. It's the perfect 80s entertainment, plus it's a vampire movie, so enjoy it.
Emily A

I have such a soft spot for this movie - it's part of my childhood. It's kind of funny how my young mind glossed over all the sexual elements and focussed entirely on the comedy and vampire bits. Come to think of it, 12-year-old me did that quite a bit. Anyway, this movie is… More
I have such a soft spot for this movie - it's part of my childhood. It's kind of funny how my young mind glossed over all the sexual elements and focussed entirely on the comedy and vampire bits. Come to think of it, 12-year-old me did that quite a bit. Anyway, this movie is just delightful, but you need to suspend your disbelief with fifty-pound-test fishing line. This movie asks you to accept some pretty zany things, and some pretty wall-banging knots in the plot. Do the police just give out scanners so that American households can plot thier routes to school? Why does Nora turn into a cat while all the other vampires turn into wolves? But no, not bats though. That would just be silly. And why don't the cops in this town do anything when a teenager tells them that he just witnessed his friend being abducted by two middle-aged men in a white van? *sigh* What makes this movie so endearing is the comedy and the characters. Robert Sean Leonard is really really likeable as Jeremy Capello and Evan Mirand was hilarious as his best friend, who serves as the comic relief. Actually, one of the things I found funniest was seeing Ralph interact with Grimsdyke, Professor McCarthy's doofus of a sidekick. The two have confused which of the two kids is the vampire and spent the movie hunting (and confusing) Ralph. I was surprised in hindsight at how much of this movie is devoted to car chases.
Jason S

Mildly entertaining 80's teen flick much in the vein of Teen Wolf. The acting isn't good and the plot is a little too silly. A lot of logic has to be thrown out the door on this one. It will come as a surprise when you see a few people in this flick... such as Kathy Bates… More
Mildly entertaining 80's teen flick much in the vein of Teen Wolf. The acting isn't good and the plot is a little too silly. A lot of logic has to be thrown out the door on this one. It will come as a surprise when you see a few people in this flick... such as Kathy Bates in a small roles as the girl friend's mom.
Quinto W

The film inserts and interesting subcontext in which to present the vampire angle of the story, but then completely fails to explore it. The resolution is so corny, I've seen edgier episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place.
Leo L

Funny!