Overview
A chilling blend of humor and horror as a young man grapples with a terrifying curse.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- irreverent
- visceral
- late night horror marathon
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize the film as an entertaining cult comedy-horror notable for its groundbreaking makeup effects, while opinions remain divided about its inconsistent tone, characterization, and rushed resolution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film juxtaposes gruesome attacks, zombie visitations, and nightmare imagery with black humor and comic exchanges.
David's werewolf metamorphosis emphasizes cracking bones, reshaping organs, and visceral physical pain through Rick Baker's effects.
Jack and other recent victims appear to David as trapped dead figures urging him to end the curse through suicide.
The American students' walking tour moves through Yorkshire and London, where townspeople refuse to acknowledge the werewolf's existence.
Films like An American Werewolf in London, and why
The Howling
Shares werewolf mythology, graphic transformation effects, supernatural dread, and tragic horror.
The Return of the Living Dead
Shares black comedy, grotesque practical effects, irreverent horror, and an unstable supernatural threat.
Gremlins
Shares comedy-horror tonal shifts, memorable practical creature effects, and darkly playful genre conventions.
The Wolf Man
Shares tragic lycanthropic horror, physical transformation, and doomed supernatural identity.
Movie Details
- Director
- John Landis
- Release Date
- 1981-08-21
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (2811)
Cast
- David Naughton
- Griffin Dunne
- Jenny Agutter
- John Woodvine
- Don McKillop
- Brian Glover
- David Schofield
- Lila Kaye
- Rik Mayall
- Sean Baker
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is An American Werewolf in London about?
- An American werewolf’s curse turns a British walking tour into a grisly, sharply funny descent through bodily transformation, guilt, and supernatural doom.
- What is An American Werewolf in London like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of An American Werewolf in London as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is An American Werewolf in London violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in An American Werewolf in London as graphic.
- What did critics think of An American Werewolf in London?
- Critics broadly recognize the film as an entertaining cult comedy-horror notable for its groundbreaking makeup effects, while opinions remain divided about its inconsistent tone, characterization, and rushed resolution.
- Which films are like An American Werewolf in London?
- Films with a similar feel include The Howling, The Return of the Living Dead, Gremlins, and The Wolf Man.
- How long is An American Werewolf in London?
- An American Werewolf in London runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch An American Werewolf in London?
- In United States, An American Werewolf in London streams on MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel.
