Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

A flighty teenage girl learns that she is her generation's destined battler of vampires.

Director:

Fran Rubel Kuzui

Writer:

Joss Whedon

Stars:

Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kristy Swanson	...	Buffy
Donald Sutherland	...	Merrick
Paul Reubens	...	Amilyn
Rutger Hauer	...	Lothos
Luke Perry	...	Pike
Michele Abrams	...	Jennifer
Hilary Swank	...	Kimberly
Paris Vaughan	...	Nicole 'Nicki'
David Arquette	...	Benny
Randall Batinkoff	...	Jeffrey
Andrew Lowery	...	Andy
Sasha Jenson	...	Grueller
Stephen Root	...	Gary Murray
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Cassandra
Candy Clark	...	Buffy's Mom

Storyline

Buffy Summers has the lifestyle any young woman could want. Cheerleading, dating the captain of the basketball team, and copious amounts of time spent shopping with friends. She had no idea of her true calling until a mysterious man named Merrick approached her and told her that she is the Slayer; one woman called to defend the world from vampires. Reluctant to concede to the fact, Buffy soon learns that Merrick speaks the truth and so begins to take her new life seriously while trying to maintain the sense of normality her life had once been. With her best friends slowly abandoning her, Buffy finds solace in the town outcast, Pike, who knows very well the terrors that have arisen. Together, they combat the forces of the old and powerful vampire, Lothos, who has his eyes set on Buffy.

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Plot Keywords:

mentor student relationship | destiny | high school | coming of age | teenage girl | 

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Taglines:

Pert. Wholesome. Way Lethal.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for comic vampire violence and drug references

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Filming Locations:

Merry-Go-Round, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,515,541, 2 August 1992

Gross USA:

$16,624,456

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,624,456

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alyssa Milano was originally set to play Buffy.

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Goofs

When trying to 'bond' with Buffy, the school administrator confesses he used drugs while watching the The Doobie Brothers in the '60s. The band didn't form until 1970.

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Quotes

Lothos: [Buffy holds up a cross] This is your defense? Puh-lease. Your puny faith?
Buffy: No.
[the cross ignites in flames and she tosses the cap off a hairspray can]
Buffy: My keen fashion sense.
[she sprays the flames, shooting them at his face]

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Crazy Credits

TV interviews with people who were at the dance attacked by vampires.

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Alternate Versions

The original theatrical release received a "12" rating in the UK without any cuts however, the video release was rated "15" with 11 seconds cut. The scene in which Lothos ignites Buffy's cross was removed and instead of immolating his head, she merely flees. At the time, the "12" rating did not cover video releases, only theatrical so it was rated "15" and the scenes in question may be imitated by younger viewers. In 2002, all previous cuts were waived and the video release was rated "15".

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Connections

Referenced in This Is Us: The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World (2016)

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Soundtracks

Party with the Animals
Written by Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde and Rondy Castillio
Produced by Duane Baron and John Purdell
Performed by Ozzy Osbourne
Courtesy of Epic Associated Records

User Reviews

That's fun. No, that's funny.

This is a terribly fun movie. The acting is deliberately over the top and does quite well. Everyone from Swanson to Perry to Reubens to Stephen Root does an excellent job. I don't understand people who didn't like this - it's simply fun.