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Love at First Bite

Play trailer Poster for Love at First Bite PG 1979 1h 36m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
When the government of Transylvania appropriates his castle, Count Dracula (George Hamilton) is obliged to relocate and decides to give New York City a try. He suffers all manner of adjustment problems, but finds solace in a new relationship with Cindy Sondheim (Susan Saint James). Unfortunately, her fiancé, Dr. Jeff Rosenberg (Richard Benjamin), is a direct descendant of Dracula's old nemesis, Van Helsing, and is prepared to do whatever is necessary to stop his undead rival.
Love at First Bite

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Love at First Bite could use some more warm-blooded barbs to liven up its undead comedy, but George Hamilton's campy charisma gives the prince of darkness some welcome pizazz.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Schickel TIME Magazine Oct 19, 2009
The production's genially tatty air enhances its anarchical mood and encourages one to go with its goofy yet often shrewd comic flow. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Oct 19, 2009
Casting Dracula as the Last Romantic, Scott Fitzgerald-style, was a clever idea, but nothing clever remains in the film's hodgepodge of flat one-liners and graceless slapstick. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
What would happen if Dracula was victimized by life in modern New York City? It's a fun notion and George Hamilton makes it work. Go to Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times Oct 15, 2025
4/5
The fast and furious fun is superbly scripted by Robert Kaufman and wonderfully pulled together by director Stan Dragoti. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Sep 13, 2021
3/5
...may have a few regrettable scenes, but there's plenty of comedy meat on these often gnawed bones... Go to Full Review Augusto Martínez Torres El Pais (Spain) Aug 7, 2019
An entertaining and sarcastic comedy. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 12, 2026 Love at First Bite = a *3* star Movie See more John C @RT25427934 Sep 20, 2025 'Love at First Bite' is one of those late-70s comedies that works best if you walk in with very low expectations. It’s a vampire spoof with plenty of 'gags' (note the quote marks?) and, while the humor is often over the top and entirely predictable, it leans into its campy nature enough to stay watchable. The performances match the tone - they're very broad, extremely exaggerated and full of scene-chewing energy, so subtlety isn’t something you’ll find here. Still, the film never really takes itself too seriously, which makes it a mostly harmless affair. It knows what it is, delivers silly laughs without much bite and then wraps up before overstaying its welcome. Not a hidden gem by any means, but if you’re in the mood for light, goofy parody, you could do worse. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Aug 27, 2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Monica S @wielandsmith Jan 26, 2025 One of my favorite movies as a kid (around 2nd grade). I'm not sure what that says about me or this movie:) See more Bahad j @RT27093708 Aug 8, 2024 The costumes of the actors seemed to be very real, as if they were in their roles. The dress is really beautiful. See more Geke g @RT40239519 Jul 26, 2024 Very clever context and worth to watch it See more Read all reviews
Love at First Bite

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Cast & Crew

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Stan Dragoti

Director

George Hamilton

Count Dracula

Susan Saint James

Cindy Soundheim

Richard Benjamin

Doctor Jeff Rosenberg

Dick Shawn

Lieutenant Ferguson

Arte Johnson

Renfield

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Love at First Bite

Love at First Bite (1979) Love at First Bite (1979) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When the government of Transylvania appropriates his castle, Count Dracula (George Hamilton) is obliged to relocate and decides to give New York City a try. He suffers all manner of adjustment problems, but finds solace in a new relationship with Cindy Sondheim (Susan Saint James). Unfortunately, her fiancé, Dr. Jeff Rosenberg (Richard Benjamin), is a direct descendant of Dracula's old nemesis, Van Helsing, and is prepared to do whatever is necessary to stop his undead rival.
Director
Stan Dragoti
Producer
Joel Freeman
Screenwriter
Robert Kaufman
Distributor
Vestron Video, Orion Pictures, American International Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
Melvin Simon Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 27, 1979, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 10, 2015
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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