An American Werewolf in London

Play trailer

1:35

An American Werewolf in London

R

Released Apr 21, 1981

1h 37m

Horror

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

64 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Rent Now

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

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

Spencer Nielsen

While I don’t find An American Werewolf in London as viscerally terrifying as others, I find its use of genre as satire to be regularly chilling. Landis’s use of monster-as-metaphor is brilliant his werewolf is simultaneously a universal stand-in for the other, as well as a personal stand-in for the anxieties of a Jewish-American. And of course, the transformation scene is iconic for a reason.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/14/24

Full Review

Ruan H

Loved it! It's scary and funny. Very entertaining movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

Full Review

Jeepers C

It's definitely in my top 5 of werewolf movies. It's atmosphere is top notch. Transformation scene is awesome and the ending is really good with the werewolf out on the loose. This one doesn't disappoint.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/08/24

Full Review

Anton H

The greatest werewolf film of all time. Nothing else needs be said.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

Full Review

Alejandro E

As an option to see on Halloween, the film remains as a half-fulfilled promise. It's not that the film is bad, but that at times it doesn't decide between causing horror or laughing. The highlight: the stunning makeup.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the best transformations in a horror movie by the GOAT special effects artist Rick Baker. Top 10 favorite horror movie of mine and the werewolf look is amazing. Credence ClearWater Revival song of Bad Moon Rising and the Marcels Blue Moon fits so perfect. Amazing practical effects. Mixture of horror and humor . Great cast. Still can't believe the financers wanted Dan Aykroyd as Jack and John Belushi as David. 10/10 EPIC FANTASTIC horror movie , the best werewolf movie .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/25/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Motel Hell

67%

55%

Motel Hell

Watchlist

Evil Dead II

88%

89%

Evil Dead II

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Evil Dead II

Fright Night

83%

76%

Fright Night

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Fright Night

The Lost Boys

75%

85%

The Lost Boys

Watchlist

Theater of Blood

88%

81%

Theater of Blood

Watchlist

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

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: George Folsey Jr.
Screenwriter: John Landis
Distributor: Vestron Video, Live Video, Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Polygram
Production Co: Guber-Peters Company, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
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