The Little Vampire

"They're not just best friends, they're blood brothers."

2000 1h 35m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 484

FamilyAdventureComedyFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Based on the popular books, the story tells of Tony who wants a friend to add some adventure to his life. What he gets is Rudolph, a vampire kid with a good appetite. The two end up inseparable, but their fun is cut short when all the hopes of the vampire race could be gone forever in single night. With Tony's access to the daytime world, he helps them to find what they've always wanted.

“They're not just best friends, they're blood brothers.”

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Cast

Jonathan Lipnicki
Tony Thompson
Richard E. Grant
Frederick Sackville-Bagg
Jim Carter
Rookery
Alice Krige
Freda Sackville-Bagg
Rollo Weeks
Rudolph Sackville-Bagg
Anna Popplewell
Anna Sackville-Bagg
Pamela Gidley
Dottie Thompson
Tommy Hinkley
Bob Thompson

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Uli Edel
Writers: Karey Kirkpatrick, Larry Wilson
Languages: English
Countries: Germany, Netherlands, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 80% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

26 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Germany, Netherlands, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Uli Edel, shot by Bernd Heinl. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter R. Adam shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jonathan Lipnicki and Richard E. Grant and Jim Carter carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They're not just best friends, they're blood brothers.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0192255 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Uli Edel directs. Bernd Heinl behind the camera. Peter R. Adam cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Germany, Netherlands, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 80% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
226 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 3 countries: Germany, Netherlands, United States of America.
4Directed by Uli Edel, shot by Bernd Heinl. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Peter R. Adam shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jonathan Lipnicki and Richard E. Grant and Jim Carter carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "They're not just best friends, they're blood brothers.".
8IMDB entry: tt0192255 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Released under 17 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Bernd Heinl
Editing: Peter R. Adam
Production design: Joseph C. Nemec III
Costume design: James Acheson
Makeup / hair: Leendert van Nimwegen
Runtime: 95 min · 1h 35m
Status: Released
Budget: $35,000,000
Box office: $27,965,865
Return: 80% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): G
IMDB: The Little Vampire (2000)

Also by

Uli Edel

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2026-10-02
★ 7/10
With his family just moved from urban America to rural Scotland, the young "Tony" (Jonathan Lipnicki) is naturally a bit discombobulated. It doesn't help that he keeps dreaming of vampires and both his parents and his fellow pupils at school think he's maybe a bit bonkers. Well guess who is going to have the last laugh when he meets "Rudolph" (Rollo Weeks) who is (quite literally) hanging around in his bedroom. Initially terrified, "Tony" soon discovers that it's the local dairy farmer who has more to worry about and they become fast friends. The problem for "Rudolph" is, though, that he and his family are subject to a curse that can only be reversed by obtaining a special jewel and then doing some moon-barking on a very particular night. As his dad (Richard E. Grant) tells him that time is running out, and local vampire hunter "Rookery" (Jim Carter) hones in on his quarry armed with his silver bullets and illuminated crucifix, it looks like "Rudolph" and his pal have quite a challenge on their hands if they are to rescue the entire vampire race! Hammer horror this isn't, it isn't even "The Lost Boys" (1987) - instead it's just an enjoyable piece of engaging family entertainment that is really all about two lads making and staying friends in the face of some teatime menace from the contraption carrying Carter. There are plenty of holes to pick with the plot, the setting and the costumes if you've a mind to, but that would defeat the point of watching something that is squarely aimed at kids who are prepared to use a little of their own imagination rather than just be spoon-fed everything from someone's laptop. Lipnicki reminded me of Rick Moranis the whole time and there's an amiable bond between him and the energetic Weeks and between him and the slightly mischievous Anna Poppelwell as a vampire sister with perhaps a little emphasis on the vamp! There isn't much here for adults, but if you let that inner kid out then you might find this quite good fun.

Production companies