An American Werewolf in London poster

1981·97 min·Released

An American Werewolf in London

“From the director of Animal House... a different kind of animal.”

Comedy
Horror
Fantasy

American tourists David and Jack are savagely attacked by an unidentified animal while hiking on the Yorkshire Moors. After retiring to the home of a beautiful nurse to recuperate, David soon begins experiencing disturbing changes to his body and mind.

7.4(2,728 votes)

Popularity4

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An American Werewolf in London ≣ 1981 ≣ Trailer

Cast & Crew

David Naughton

David Naughton

David Kessler

Jenny Agutter

Jenny Agutter

Nurse Alex Price

Griffin Dunne

Griffin Dunne

Jack Goodman

John Woodvine

John Woodvine

Dr. J.S. Hirsch

Don McKillop

Don McKillop

Inspector Villiers

Brian Glover

Brian Glover

Chess Player

David Schofield

David Schofield

Dart Player

Lila Kaye

Lila Kaye

Barmaid

Rik Mayall

Rik Mayall

Second Chess Player

Sean Baker

Sean Baker

Second Dart Player

Frank Oz

Frank Oz

Mr. Collins

Paul Kember

Paul Kember

Sergeant McManus

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Potential Kermode

Written on 2/14/2017

**The best horror film of the eighties** This is a gem, it really is. Alternately amusing and horrific - John Landis plays our emotions like a fiddle here. He is pulling all the strings and we are uncertain as to which string he is going to pull next. From the eerie Yorkshire countryside of the opening scenes through David's _awful_ nightmares in hospital to amusing zombie chit chat and finally the climactic slaughter in London - this film never lets up. How many films will you find Kermit the frog sharing a scene with throat slicing, machine gun wielding mutants dressed as Nazis? - Potential Kermode

Matthew Brady

Written on 1/27/2020

"Beware the moon, lads." Still frightening and funny 38 years later. The transformation scene was absolutely incredible, but also really painful. You literally hear every bone crack in his body, and all his organs reshaping and shifting. No other werewolf movie has topped that scene and never will. The song Bad Moon Rising is the icing on the cake. Rick Baker make-up work is masterful. He's the real beast here.

Peter89Spencer

Written on 10/30/2020

An 80s horror classic! The storyline was well written, the special effects were amazing, and Jenny Agutter was so sexy! Although the ending was a bit rushed - just like the Wolfman, the main character dies, and the film ends, just like that! What's more messed up is they play an upbeat song during the end credits, right after we see David's lifeless body. The ending is my one critique. The rest of the movie was pretty good.

CinemaSerf

Written on 4/21/2024

"David" (David Naughton) and his pal "Jack" (Griffin Dunne) are taking a walking tour of the UK when they decide to stop off at a pub. They are about as welcome as a dose of the clap and after a few minutes banter with the natives decide they are better off walking. The thing is, those inside know how dangerous it's about to be out there - and the boys soon find out. It's "David" who wakes up in hospital, replete with some mysterious scratch marks, nightmares and claiming that they were attacked by a brutal hound. Nobody really believes him, and anyway his attention is quickly diverted by nurse "Alex" (Jenny Agutter) whom he visits for dinner and never leaves. Luckily she works nights, else she might have discovered that her beau doesn't just stop at a bit of gentle biting. With corpses piling up around London, he is at a loss to know where he goes at night (waking up naked in the wolf enclosure at the zoo might be the final straw) but try as he might, he can't engage the authorities with his claims. Maybe only doctor "Hirsch" (John Woodvine) believes that something unusual is amiss - but can he help before "David" does himself or anyone else more damage! Increasingly more often naked as he goes along, Naughton joins in with the spirit of this enjoyable comedy horror with enthusiasm. I wonder what might happen now if a naked man in a bush even mentioned a boy's balloons!? It runs out of steam a little at the end, and Agutter's acting never really evolved much from the "Railway Children" 1970) but the visual effects work quite well especially when the full moon rises!

Media

'An American Werewolf in London' | Crafting Rick Baker's Oscar-Winning Werewolf

'An American Werewolf in London' | Crafting Rick Baker's Oscar-Winning Werewolf

An American Werewolf in London ≣ 1981 ≣ Trailer

An American Werewolf in London ≣ 1981 ≣ Trailer

The Transformation

The Transformation

Secrets Behind the Iconic Transformation | Bonus Feature Spotlight

Secrets Behind the Iconic Transformation | Bonus Feature Spotlight

An American Werewolf in London (1981) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

An American Werewolf in London (1981) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

An American Werewolf in London (1981) Trailer

An American Werewolf in London (1981) Trailer