29 Years Ago Today, This Cult Classic TV Series Premiered—Now You Can Stream It

On March 10, 1997, Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered on The WB. While no one knew it as a time, the horror TV series would become a cultural phenomenon, ultimately running for seven seasons.

For its young stars, Buffy was the big break that launched their careers. Bones star David Boreanaz, How I Met Your Mother star Alyson Hannigan, Gossip Girl star Michelle Trachtenberg, and of course Buffy herself — Sarah Michelle Gellar — all broke through through via the acclaimed '90s series. Boreanaz went on to star in the Buffy spin-off Angel, which ran for five seasons. IndieWireranked Angel as the 11th best TV spin-off series of all time.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Began as a Movie

Most people don't know that the show is actually based on a 1992 movie of the same name written by series creator Joss Whedon. While it failed to make much of a splash, it had some serious star power. Donald Sutherland and Luke Perry starred in major roles, with David Arquette and Hilary Swank featured in smaller parts. For Swank, the Buffy movie was actually her film debut.

While Whedon wrote the film's script, he didn't direct it — and felt that his vision got lost in the making. "I felt like — well, that's not quite her," he said, per The Guardian. "It's a start, but it's not quite the girl." His dissatisfaction led him to create the series, which became an instant cult classic.

How to Stream 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Today

Buffy may have premiered nearly 30 years ago, but it's easy for fans today to revisit Sunnydale whenever they want. The series is available to stream on both Hulu and on Disney+. The 1992 movie, however, is a little bit harder to find. While it doesn't appear to be available on any of the major streaming services, it is available to rent or buy on YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.