Howl Away at the 10 Best Werewolf Movies of All Time

Werewolf lore is steeped in superstition. When there’s a full moon out, all bets are off. People believe in cryptic omens and rush off to use ancient remedies of protection. We’re terribly afraid of embracing our inner animals — yet, as horror fans, we also love to howl in fear.

With Wolf Man snarling its way into theaters, the time to round up the pack is here. This Universal Monsters film reboot, from Invisible Man director Leigh Whannell, looks to be highly atmospheric and chilling to the core. But throughout the decades, other werewolf films have also caught our imaginations, ranging from the feral to the funny. Here’s a look at 10 of the best werewolf movies around, including those with the best werewolf transformation scenes.

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The Wolf Man (1941)

You have to start with the classics, and it doesn’t get more classic than Universal’s first foray into wolf territory. With Lon Chaney Jr. as the titular monster, The Wolf Man provides all the expected thrills and chills for a werewolf movie. You’ve got creepy forest chases, swirling mists under the full moon, and black and white for the vibes. From Chaney’s loping walk behind trees to the feet-first transformation, the original is always a good time.

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The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

Once you move past the upsetting exposition, The Curse of the Werewolf is an interesting take on the werewolf story. Plus, it’s the genre’s first film to be shot in color. Bright splashes of blood accentuate the danger that befalls this sleepy Spanish town. Once the curse truly takes hold of poor Leon, his life becomes a mess of murder and rampaging blackouts. It’s especially unnerving to see his torment as a young werewolf, locked tight behind barred windows.

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An American Werewolf in London (1981)

When it comes to werewolf transformations, An American Werewolf in London set the bar extremely high. Morphing from human to werewolf has never seemed all that comfortable, but this ’80s film truly highlighted the gruesome body horror aspect. As David’s fingers elongated into curled claws and his spine snapped into an arched lupine shape, you can’t help but recoil (yet still watch in frozen terror). Rick Baker even won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work on the film.

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Teen Wolf (1985)

Hey McFly, is that you? Putting Michael J. Fox as the lead in this werewolf movie gives the story an undeniable wholesome charm, straying from the usual gore to instead focus on fuzzy self-acceptance. Even if werewolf lore gets lost in the high school drama, Teen Wolf does something unique by flipping the traditional social pariah effect of lycanthropy. And you gotta love a bit of Spider-Man wisdom for a teen who is struggling to understand their identity. Cowabunga, catch the wolf wave!

Honorable Mention: MTV’s Teen Wolf TV Series

Though this list focuses on film, MTV’s television adaptation of Teen Wolf should not be missed for anyone with full moon cravings. Trading basketball for field hockey, the show pivots back toward the way of the dangerous werewolf. In fact, Beacon Hills becomes a hub for all things supernatural, with plots that dive deep into cultural lore, both lupine and beyond.

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Ginger Snaps (2000)

Prepare to give new meaning to grrrrl power. Ginger Snaps upends the usual male werewolf story and puts a young girl front and center. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this will be a cutesy frolic through the woods — Ginger Fitzgerald’s descent into lunacy is as gruesome as they come. Nobody at her high school is safe when Ginger’s transformation takes her from awkward outcast to empowered killer.

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Underworld (2003)

For fans of deep supernatural lore, Underworld is the way to go. A war has been brewing for centuries between vampires and Lycans, and even when it seems to have reached a lull, darkness looms in unseen corners. But the monstrous treachery runs deeper than anyone might have suspected. With a sleek, cool-toned color palette and lethally smooth fight choreography, Underworld holds up for fans of the genre. And with a whole slew of sequels, there’s plenty of Selene to keep you busy.

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Cursed (2005)

Cursed strikes the rare balance between horror fantasy and teen flick, giving an edgier feel than something like the 1980s Teen Wolf. With biting humor and a few plot twists to keep things fresh, Cursed brings back the glitz and glamor to werewolf movies — literally, the climax takes place at a Hollywood party. If you needed any more convincing about this film’s pedigree, it’s directed by horror legend Wes Craven.

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Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

Beloved horror anthology Trick ‘r Treat introduced us to Sam, the trickster spirit of Halloween. While he certainly steals the show, one of the film’s biggest surprises was turning a group of college girls’ night out into a frenzied bonfire feeding. This scene also features a very memorable transformation style, in which the young women practically unzip their inner wolves from their sultry exteriors. Be careful who you chase — Red Riding Hood might just bite back.

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Twilight: New Moon (2009)

What, you thought you could escape the power of Forks? You’re loca. Say what you will but the Twilight series breathed all-new life into the eternal feud of vampires and werewolves. While not explicitly a nod to the Native myth of skinwalkers, the Quileute tribe’s connection to lycanthropy adds a ferocious layer to Bella Swan’s complicated life. Besides, you can’t deny there’s something visually satisfying about the way Jacob Black and his pack leap into their wolf forms.

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The Wolfman (2010)

Finally, we have The Wolfman, a 2010 remake of the 1941 film. While it did not perform well at the box office, it still hits all the right notes as far as brooding atmosphere and spooky superstition are concerned. Benicio del Toro looks perfect as Lawrence Talbot and the director, Joe Johnston, also directed Jumanji, Jurassic Park III, and Captain America: The First Avenger. The film encouraged Universal to move away from its shared Dark Universe into standalone films, but this remake does deliver on striking visuals.

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No need to bark at us if your favorite isn’t included here! But we would like to know — what werewolf movies and scenes are your favorites? There’s still entire forests out there packed with lupine thrills, especially in TV series like Southern thriller True Blood or Eli Roth’s wicked Hemlock Grove.

Join the conversation with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!