“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was not a big success when it came out in 1992, but over the years it had gained a loyal crowd thanks to the over-the-top camp humor and its self aware interpretation of the vampire genre. This cinematic experiment resonated with fans who appreciated its unique tone- it was the first time a vampire movie was laced into a camp high school comedy that played brilliantly with the cliches of the genres. The fact that the heroine is a blond cheerleader who kills vampires in all sorts of imaginative ways was quite surprising for the early 90’s.

The huge success of the TV series that followed helped a lot to keep the franchise alive, of course, and despite the very different tone of the TV show, its popularity helped elevate the film’s status as well.

If you don’t blink you might catch Ricki Lake as a disgruntled waitress, Ben Affleck as a basketball player and Alexis Arquette as a vampire DJ.