Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- campy
- silly
- breezy
- late night comedy viewing
- halloween movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized stylish presentation and occasional sexual humor while finding the film silly, dated, and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mark's desire to sleep with Robin collides with the Countess's need to feed on virginal blood, making sexuality the engine of the supernatural farce.
The search for a virgin leads Mark and his friends to a Hollywood pickup spot where the Countess hunts for victims.
The film combines a 400-year-old vampire's deadline with goofy friends, sexual misunderstandings, musical comedy, and broad transformation humor.
Mark's developing vampirism turns his teenage sexual urgency and emotional confusion into an exaggerated bodily and supernatural crisis.
Films like Once Bitten, and why
The Last American Virgin
1980s teen sex comedy blending romantic frustration, adolescent embarrassment, and broad humor
Vampire's Kiss
campy vampire comedy with sexual farce, supernatural transformation, and playful horror conventions
Teen Wolf
teen-oriented supernatural comedy centered on romance, desire, and a young protagonist drawn into occult danger
My Best Friend Is a Vampire
lighthearted horror comedy using a monster premise for relationship comedy and adolescent wish fulfillment
Movie Details
- Director
- Howard Storm
- Release Date
- 1985-11-15
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (384)
Cast
- Jim Carrey
- Lauren Hutton
- Karen Kopins
- Cleavon Little
- Thomas Ballatore
- Stuart Charno
- Skip Lackey
- Jeb Stuart Adams
- Joseph Brutsman
- Dominick Brascia
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Troma NOW
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Once Bitten about?
- A sexually frustrated Los Angeles teenager becomes entangled with a glamorous vampire countess in a campy race against Halloween.
- What is Once Bitten like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Once Bitten as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Once Bitten violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Once Bitten as mild.
- What did critics think of Once Bitten?
- Critics broadly recognized stylish presentation and occasional sexual humor while finding the film silly, dated, and uneven.
- Which films are like Once Bitten?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last American Virgin, Vampire's Kiss, Teen Wolf, and My Best Friend Is a Vampire.
- How long is Once Bitten?
- Once Bitten runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Once Bitten?
- In United States, Once Bitten streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Troma NOW.
