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An American Werewolf in London

Play trailer 1:35 Poster for An American Werewolf in London R 1981 1h 37m Horror Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 65 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.
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An American Werewolf in London

An American Werewolf in London

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Anton Bitel Little White Lies 10/29/2019
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. Go to Full Review Gary Arnold Washington Post 05/09/2018
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. Go to Full Review Tom Huddleston Time Out 10/30/2009
4/5
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. Go to Full Review Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk Dec 4
10/10
While the film does have humor, I would more describe it as casual. Which is a great contrast to the gory violence and disturbing dreamy jump cuts that pop out at you throughout. Go to Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast 04/15/2024
4.5/5
A near perfect blend of horror and comedy. Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast 04/10/2024
4.5/5
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Oct 10 this is one of the Best movies of all time See more Oct 10 This is one of my all time favorite movies EVER and I was so thrilled to see it was playing in theaters. Loving all the classic horror movies that have been playing, keep it up! See more Oct 10 An absolute classic! Great music, humor and one of the best werewolf transformation scenes in cinema history. See more 09/14/2024 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. See more Shaun C @Shaun570 Dec 5 A great mix of horror and humour, even some romance and a surprisingly tender love scene. An all time classic. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 28 One of the best werewolf movies you could see. Weird ending though. See more Read all reviews
An American Werewolf in London

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Cast & Crew

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John Landis

Director

David Naughton

David Kessler

Jenny Agutter

Nurse Alex Price

Griffin Dunne

Jack Goodman

John Woodvine

Dr. Hirsch

Brian Glover

Chess Player

Movie Clips

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An American Werewolf in London

An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Jack's Warning An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Jack's Warning 2:54 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Undead Jack An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Undead Jack 2:29 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Werewolf Attack An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Werewolf Attack 2:37 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Let Me Help You An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Let Me Help You 1:37 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Mutant Nazi Nightmare An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Mutant Nazi Nightmare 1:25 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - The Slaughtered Lamb An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - The Slaughtered Lamb 2:57 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - David's Undead Victims An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - David's Undead Victims 2:59 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Subway Chase An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Subway Chase 2:11 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - London Massacre An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - London Massacre 1:38 An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Naked at the Zoo An American Werewolf in London: Official Clip - Naked at the Zoo 1:12 View more videos

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An American Werewolf in London

An American Werewolf in London: An American Werewolf in London's Best Scenes An American Werewolf in London: An American Werewolf in London's Best Scenes 9:51 An American Werewolf in London: Trailer 1 An American Werewolf in London: Trailer 1 1:35 View more videos
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An American Werewolf in London

Poster Art An American Werewolf in London (1981) An American Werewolf in London (1981) An American Werewolf in London (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

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
MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Vestron Video, Polygram, Universal Pictures, Live Video
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
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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