An American Werewolf in London

R

Now Playing

1h 37m

Horror

Comedy

TRAILER

for An American Werewolf in London: Trailer 1

List

89%

65 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne), two American college students, are backpacking through Britain when a large wolf attacks them. David survives with a bite, but Jack is brutally killed. As David heals in the hospital, he's plagued by violent nightmares of his mutilated friend, who warns David that he is becoming a werewolf. When David discovers the horrible truth, he contemplates committing suicide before the next full moon causes him to transform from man to murderous beast.

Read More

Read Less

Now in Theaters

Now Playing

Buy Tickets

In Theaters

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent An American Werewolf in London on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Terrifying and funny in almost equal measure, John Landis' horror-comedy crosses genres while introducing Rick Baker's astounding make-up effects.

Read Critics Reviews

Thom G

Despite its status as a classic, I was somewhat surprised by An American Werewolf in London. While it's campy and somewhat entertaining, the acting and the plot are not particularly great, and the film does not leave a particularly memorable imprint.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

LillikoiSeed

A classic in every way. Just the right amount of funny, scary, emotionally moving; always a hit near Halloween. Not only stands the test of time, but it's suspended in time. If you didn't know when it was made, you probably would not have guessed. Special effects still hold up. And it makes me want to visit Europe 😈

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/24

Full Review

Daniel B

The American Werewolf in London is a classic, especially in terms of Werewolf movies. Where this movie succeeds is the atmosphere and performances, the main cast are heavily invested in their roles and the mystery surrounding this condition. Though everyone knows the movie for its intense and original practical effects, something not apparent in modern movies. They're striking and really engrossing to watch even after 40 years. The movie falls apart near the end where they clearly couldn't think of a way to conclude the story. Especially when the movie starts to kick off its iconic setpieces near the final act. That on top of a pretty odd story and romance plot. I'll still happily rewatch and recommend to any fans of horror.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/24

Full Review

Jeff M

Earlier this summer a friend sent me this message: American Werewolf in London is possibly the best horror movie ever made! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Well, that's quite a statement! I vaguely remember this being part of my HBO-inspired childhood, and my foggy recollections left me with a positive feeling, but it had probably been 30 years since I had seen it. So I inevitably had to check it out, and I'm afraid my response was quite mixed. In fact, if I were to make a pros and cons list, they would probably be remarkably equal. Let's start with the pros: it is refreshing to see a horror movie that is funny and doesn't take itself too seriously. Most of the humor is provided by Dunne, in easily the film's best performance. The makeup and visual effects remain impressive 40 years later. And the titular werewolf is indeed a scary creation. Now the cons: too much time is spent on exposition and the actual werewolf scenes feel too brief. Naughton seems to be a nice enough guy but a rather bland protagonist, and the romance between him and Agutter is non-existent. And I had issues with the movie's editing. Some scenes go on way too long, sometimes uncomfortably so. Others feel too short as if they were edited with a chainsaw. My overall reaction, though, is enjoyment, although much of that may have been a sense of nostalgia. I give it a slight recommendation, but I can't share the intense enthusiasm of said friend.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Crey Fish S

“Have you ever talked to a corpse? It's boring!” This movie was a blast. The makeup and effects remain mind-blowing. It’s truly awesome to see little bits of Jack’s flesh decaying in real time. Not to mention that werewolf transformation - a masterclass in suspense and directing with special effects. However, the best surprise was just how well this movie balanced comedy with horror. David’s conversations with Jack and the other victims at the porn theatre had me in stitches! But the menacing undertones of suicidal paranoia, and gruesome kills in the subway still ran a shiver down my spine. About to live in a new city on my own, this movie had a particularly creepy relevance. Up there with The Cabin in the Woods, An American Werewolf is one of the few films I could watch as equally a Horror or Comedy.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

delbroox D

For how many great films John Landis gave us, this is definitely not among them and the great reviews are most likely due to nostalgia. While practical effects are good for the time, and the whole setup is interesting, the development itself is a bit of a letdown. Without going into spoilers, it feels rushed and not satisfying.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/12/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

John Landis

Director

David Naughton

David Kessler

Jenny Agutter

Nurse Alex Price

Griffin Dunne

Jack Goodman

John Woodvine

Dr. Hirsch

Brian Glover

Chess Player

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Jack's Warning

2:54

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Undead Jack

2:29

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Werewolf Attack

2:37

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Let Me Help You

1:37

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Mutant Nazi Nightmare

1:25

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - The Slaughtered Lamb

2:57

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - David's Undead Victims

2:59

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Subway Chase

2:11

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - London Massacre

1:38

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Naked at the Zoo

1:12

View more videos

67%

53%

Motel Hell

88%

89%

Evil Dead 2

TRAILER

for Evil Dead 2

83%

76%

Fright Night

TRAILER

for Fright Night

77%

85%

The Lost Boys

88%

81%

Theater of Blood

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022

Watch Online: The Professional, Charlotte’s Web, Raw, and More on Netflix and Amazon Prime

It Follows, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and More Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and FandangoNOW

An American Werewolf in London: Trailer 1

1:35

View more videos

View more photos

Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

David's writhing discomfort in his own skin marks not just the monstrous metamorphosis in and of genre, but also that deep sense of estrangement experienced by any well-meaning if gauche tourist tripping up on local lore and mores.

Oct 29, 2019

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

I suspect Landis hoped to keep moviegoers eerily disarmed with an unpredictable mixture of wacky and terrifying touches. Unfortunately, his own touch... is so slack and uncertain that the movie ends up dramatically shapeless.

May 9, 2018

Full Review

Tom Huddleston

Time Out

Not just gory but actually frightening, not just funny but clever, 'American Werewolf...' has its flaws, but these are outweighed by the film's many, mighty strengths.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 30, 2009

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

A near perfect blend of horror and comedy.

Rated: 4.5/5

Apr 15, 2024

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A classic for more than its outstanding visual effects, John Landis' film deftly explores queer and anti-semitic elements via its lead character David in ways that are both coded and explicit. Also: these set pieces go HARD.

Rated: 4.5/5

Apr 10, 2024

Full Review

John Brosnan

Starburst

This is a revolutionary movie... It pull's off the difficult trick of revitalizing the genre while parodying at the same time.

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne), two American college students, are backpacking through Britain when a large wolf attacks them. David survives with a bite, but Jack is brutally killed. As David heals in the hospital, he's plagued by violent nightmares of his mutilated friend, who warns David that he is becoming a werewolf. When David discovers the horrible truth, he contemplates committing suicide before the next full moon causes him to transform from man to murderous beast.

Director: John Landis
Producer: Peter Guber, Jon Peters
Screenwriter: John Landis
Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Vestron Video, Polygram, Universal Pictures, Live Video
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Guber-Peters Company
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 13, 2015
Runtime: 1h 37m

Most Popular at Home Now