The movie gained negative reviews from critics and holds a 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. During an interview with Rolling Stone, Murphy said why Vampire in Brooklyn was a failure. He was quoted as saying "The only way I was able to do "Nutty Professor" and to get out of my Paramount deal, I had to do Vampire in Brooklyn. But you know what ruined that movie? The wig. I walked out in that longhaired wig and people said, 'Oh, get the fuck out of here! What the hell is this?'"