Vampire Movie That Flopped in Theaters 10 Years Ago Is Your Next Best Hatewatch
It would’ve done better as The CW series.
After the enormous success of Twilight in theaters and The Vampire Diaries on television, almost every studio and broadcast network wanted their piece of the impressionable teen and young adult audience. However, the word "vampire" in the promo or title of the movie was not enough to lure people into the theaters.
Now, in 2024, we can safely say that the vampire genre is undergoing a renaissance, and many viewers are ready to unironically appreciate what movies and TV shows in the genre have been truly good at. A decade ago, however, many would have turned away in cringe.
What was the global problem with Vampire Academy, and why did it fail both at the box office and among critics? Many are certain that it had nothing to do with the actual quality of the story and everything to do with poor timing.
Is Vampire Academy Bad?
With a 17% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Vampire Academy might have been perceived differently in 2024. Not because we as an audience have lost our taste for movies and our common sense, but because we've taken a break from both vampire stories and cheesy young adult adaptations. And now we crave more.
The story is by no means unique. The movie follows two friends, Rose and Lissa, who once escaped from St. Vladimir's Academy boarding school, but then were forcibly returned and had to adjust and struggle through the rest of their education.
From the very questionable romance to the overused tropes, Vampire Academy is so bad and clichéd that it could actually be good. Besides, the movie managed to assemble a cast that has only risen to new heights since then. Zoey Deutch, Dominic Sherwood, Cameron Monaghan and Sarah Hyland are just a few of the recognizable names.
If you are looking for something lighthearted, fun and not requiring any brain activity from the audience, Vampire Academy may be just the movie for you. Don't be too afraid of low numbers. Commercial and critical flop or not, the production's audience rating is significantly higher, landing at 56%.
For anyone intrigued by the young and talented cast and the cheesiest possible vampire story, Vampire Academy is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.