Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Some sex references, language in dated '80s teen comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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My Best Friend is a Vampire
What's the Story?
In MY BEST FRIEND IS A VAMPIRE, Jeremy (Robert Sean Leonard) is a suburban Houston teenager. He goes to school during the day and works as a grocery delivery driver at night. One night, he delivers an order to what he thought was a crumbling and vacant mansion but is instead occupied by an attractive older woman who leads Jeremy into her bed. After she bites Jeremy on the neck, it doesn't take long for him to discover that he's turning into a vampire. Fortunately, he's discovered by Modoc (Rene Auberjonois), a good vampire who wants to mentor Jeremy while helping him avoid a crazed professor (David Warner) and his sidekick (Paul Wilson) who think all vampires are bad and must be killed. While Jeremy's strange behavior gets in the way of him dating Darla, Jeremy must find a way to enlist Darla's help and also convince his best friend Ralph to help him avoid getting captured and struck in the heart with a stake.
Is It Any Good?
This is a kitschy slice of '80s teen vampire cinema. My Best Friend is a Vampire has all the elements of teen comedies from the era -- the awkward teen boy lead character, his sex-obsessed best friend, the cheerleader, the girl who wears glasses and plays in the marching band. It's a lot of cliches, but there is some entertainment value to it, especially with all the unexpected cameos -- everyone from Kathy Bates to David Warner to Paul Wilson among others. It doesn't take itself that seriously, and neither should the viewer.
That being said, it's worth mentioning that, like many '80s comedies enjoyed by teens who are now 21st-century parents, there are some moments of humor that haven't aged well. A joke about prison rape, the objectification of women, and humor mined out of parents thinking that their son is gay instead of a vampire are cringe-worthy and should be noted.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about '80s teen comedies like My Best Friend is a Vampire. How is this similar to and different from similar movies from the era that you've seen?
How have comedies centered on the behaviors of teenagers changed over the years?
What are some of the ways in which this movie is dated? How would you remake it?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 6, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : July 25, 2023
- Cast : Robert Sean Leonard , Cheryl Pollak , David Warner
- Director : Jimmy Huston
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories , Fantasy ( Magic , Monsters , Vampires ) , Friendship , Holidays ( Halloween , Valentine's Day ) , School ( High School )
- Run time : 89 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 8, 2025
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