Werewolves: Top 10 Werewolf Movies

It's hard to find Werewolf Guide to Life: A Guide for the Newly Bitten. Welcome to the brotherhood, or prepare to defend yourself against the lycanthropic hordes (lycanthrope = werewolf, for those new fans).

Underworld: Vampires and Werewolves at constant war

#10: Underworld (2003): IMDB (6.6 of 10)

This movie is probably quite a bit better and more entertaining than some of the other movies that are ranked higher up on the list, but this is considered more of a vampire movie than a werewolf movie, so on that basis I'm keeping it down at #10.

But werewolves do play a key role here, and their war against the vampires is really fascinating stuff, especially considering the twist at the end of this film that re-writes the history between the two factions...or it would if the word got out.

The action is top notch, the acting good, and both vampires and werewolves get chances to test the full mettle of the other. As far as modern films go, this is far more action than horror (kind of taking after the Blade series in that regard) but this is a good film that has some nasty looking werewolves in it.

And Kate Beckinsale as a sexy vampire isn't hard on the eyes, either.

Loosely based on Stephen King's "Cycle of the Werewolf"

#9: Silver Bullet (1985): IMDB (5.7 out of 10)

This movie is loosely based on the limited edition book Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King, which was originally released as a rare limited edition Stephen King book, but was later released wide spread.

Like many movies based on King's work, there are huge differences between the movie and the book itself, but this is still a pretty good 1980s werewolf movie about a man who struggles, then accepts, his curse of being a werewolf.

Being a good man despite his curse as a werewofl, he tries to limit the damage he does, but eventually the curse is far too much to bear and he just goes with the killing sprees. Starring Gary Busey and Corey Haim in an odd combination of good actors perfect for his film.

This is a quality werewolf flick perfect to whet your appetite for the titles that appear a little higher up on this list.

Stephen King's only werewolf work adapted to the screen.

Werewolves meet...Little Red Riding Hood?

#8: The Company of Wolves (1984): IMDB (6.5 out of 10)

This movie gets a lot of its influence from the writings of Angela Carter, who knew how to really revise classic fairy tales, always heavily emphasizing feminist symbolisms.

This movie is a very strange surreal fantasy world, based around an extremely warped version of Little Red Riding Hood. This is a very artistic and symbolic film full of metaphors, and Angela Lansbury plays the grandmother warning about shape changers and "men with one brow."

This is a strange and complex movie that mixes traditional myths with modern fantasy in a bizarre but effective combination.

This movie is visually stunning and manages to reflect the symbolism of woods, light against darkness, and the untold dangers of what happens to those innocents who don't follow the path.

If you want an unconventional werewolf movie, they don't get any more original than this.

A werewolf movie based on a novel

#7 Wolfen (1981): IMDB (6.2 out of 10)

This werewolf movie was directed by Michael Wadleigh, and is a modern werewolf tale that is actually based on a novel by Whitley Strieber.

This is an urban horror movie that doesn't take werewolves from the European tales, but treats werewolves as a part of the shape shifter legends from Native American legends and mythology.

The werewolves from this movie are some of the strangest and most uniquely bizarre that you will find from any film.

They are actually telepathic wolves who have amazing acute extra sensory powers. Not only can they sense their victims' worst inner fears, but they can also detect cancer and other diseases so they only go after "clean" and healthy food.

This movie also has many of the most unique and eccentric characters from any film, as almost every character is original and strange. While it's a little too weird for some horror movie fans, other werewolf movie fans absolutely love this werewolf movie and believe it is one of the best.

Werewolves as part of the North American shapeshifters - this is a great twist on the classic werewolf stories.

The Howling: Werewolves as Dark Comedy

#6 The Howling (1980): IMDB (6.5 out of 10)

This movie is not only a solid werewolf movie, but it also qualifies as an excellent dark comedy. Not many people think of humor when the word lycanthropy comes up, but in this case gore and humor both mix.

The Howling mixes in the type of classic over the top gory scenes expected from splatter horror movies, and every non-gory scene is full of puns, witty jokes, dry humor, and strange plot twists that seem to suggest every single character has some odd ball secret they are trying to keep from everyone else.

The transformation of man to wolf is exceptionally solid in this film, especially considering the limited special effects of the time, and that sequence of transformation still holds up.

The special effects are top notch, and although there were a lot of sequels to this film, none of them are worth a mention. If you're looking for good werewolf scenes and dark humor all mixed into one movie, than this film is for you!

Gory horror movie meets dark comedy. What more could you want?

Werewolf action at its best!

#5 Dog Soldiers (2002): IMDB (6.8 out of 10)

Here's a fantastic werewolf movie we can thank the Brits for! "Dog Soldiers" is a British horror film that combines heavy action, suspense, and thriller. They do a fantastic job of mixing the military action with the modern day horror, and this film shows that moving making is best done through great movie making.

In Dog Soldiers a special forces unit goes missing in the Scottish highlands, and a group of soldiers follows them, only to be ambushed by an entire family of werewolves. It turns out the special forces knew of a werewolf, they weren't expecting an entire family.

As you can probably guess, things didn't go well for the good old SAS.

The soldiers sent in as a rescue/follow up try desperate counter-attacks, knowing they are desperate (i.e. "screwed") as they are eaten one by one in this intense action thriller meets horror movie.

The final scenes of this film put together one of the most entertaining action sequences you will ever see, horror film or not, and is worthy of remembrance.

The werewolves are great, too, because they have a unique look and personality. Tall, skinny, lanky, and strangely creepy looking (even for werewolves), they are great monsters who are also very messy and starving eaters.

A great werewolf movie that deserves all the attention it gets from werewolf fans. As this movie proves: werewolves are awesome.

This British werewolf film is a great horror movie, and the best modern werewolf movie in recent times.

The original classic werewolf movie

#4 The Wolf Man (1941): IMDB (7.4 out of 10)

This is the second highest rated werewolf movie on the Internet Movie Database, and is an old classic that starred the famous Lon Chaney Jr.

In this movie Larry Talbot kills a werewolf, but during the struggle he is bitten and becomes one himself in Wales. This movie created several catchy poems about the werewolf that were copied in many werewolf movies later, and the irony and tragedy of this ending makes this werewolf movie a classic.

This is the father of the werewolf movie, and still holds up today as a classic movie that all horror movie fans should watch. Aside from that, it stars the ever famous Lon Chaney, who was THE actor for horror films early on, and should be seen by every modern horror movie fan.

This was the grandfather of all werewolf horror films.

Brotherhood of the Wolf is a fantastic French horror movie

#3 Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001): IMDB (7.0 out of 10)

Called Pacte des Loups in France, where this movie was originally released, this movie may really be stretching the definition of a werewolf movie, but this movie was simply too good not to have on this list. Besides, how often do you have a chance to say "I watched an amazing French horror movie?"

First of all, this film proves that there's still room for new ideas in the horror genre. Ditto for werewolf movies. It is amazing how a little imagination and re-inventing can create some top notch movies.

This film takes place in an 18th century French province where people are being terrorized by a ferocious, seemingly supernatural, wolf and its demonic master (witnessed by only one very lucky survivor).

This movie is the perfection of what "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was trying to do, and this "werewolf" movie is a fantastic film that you will not regret seeing.

A werewolf movie like no other!

Ginger Snaps: You need to see all three, but this is a stunning werewolf trilogy

#2 Ginger Snaps (2000): IMDB (6.8 out of 10) This is part of a trilogy, and it's one of those rare ones where watching all three movies really paints a better picture (and the most werewolves are in the bizarre third movie).

This is a low budget Canadian trilogy of horror movies, but it is a brilliant werewolf film about two teenage sisters who are werewolves. This film is not only about the horror of werewolves, but it is also about the struggles and drama of teenage girls growing up with a mix of dark humor.

This is a dark humor movie that combines the horrors of werewolves with a strange coming of age for teenage girls. How does that come together, you ask? In an amazing fusion that makes this a must see movie for any horror fans, independent movie fans, or werewolf fans.

These characters are weird and original, the acting is amazing, and there's enough teenage angst that if you're looking for a horror movie that won't completely tick off a sensitive girlfriend (or boyfriend), this one is it! A great trilogy of films.

Find the werewolf movie here!

The modern all time classic werewolf movie

#1 An American Werewolf In London (1981): IMDB (7.5 out of 10)

Could the top choice for best werewolf film ever really be any other choice at the number one spot?

This is the highest rated popular werewolf film on the Internet Movie Data Base, with an impressive 7.5 rating. This film has one of the best transformation scenes of any werewolf movie, which is all the more impressive since there was no CGI when this movie was made.

This horror movie slash dark comedy revolves around not only the werewolf, but the zombie-like ghost warning the infected of his terrible fate (keeping in line with the plot from the original "The Wolf Man").

The two boys were Americans hiking the moors in Britain when they are attacked by a wolf. One is killed, the other bitten. Every victim of the werewolf comes back as the living dead to torment the cursed until their death.

Add in some great rock songs like "Bad Moon Rising," and you have the best werewolf movie of all time.

This is as good as werewolf movies get!

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