Cover American filmmaker Robert Eggers, director of ‘The Witch’ and ‘Nosferatu’, has announced that his next project is to be the werewolf movie tentatively titled ’Werwulf’ (photo: G L Askew II for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
American filmmaker Robert Eggers, director of ‘The Witch’ and ‘Nosferatu’, has announced that his next project is to be the werewolf movie tentatively titled ’Werwulf’ (photo: G L Askew II for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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These werewolf movies go beyond horror classics. They’re rich in metaphor, mythology, emotion and even laughs
Whether through gothic opuses or teen romances, the entertainment industry has always fed viewers’ unending fascination with mythological creatures. From the old-world seduction of Lestat and Louis in Interview with a Vampire to the contemporary sparkle of the Cullens in the Twilight series of films, vampires beguiled us with their careful grace and perfect faces for decades.
After that, the undead shuffled into the scene, offering post-apocalyptic dread in The Walking Dead to the wit of The Santa Clarita Diet and iZombie. Somewhere in between, witches pushed through, from Bewitched to Sabrina and Harry Potter.
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But what about the werewolf? These lycan beings are often part of the lore—the third party in a love triangle, an evil breed of beings meant to be wiped out or a soft-spoken teacher ready with advice—but they seldom take the spotlight. While the occasional film or show has featured these creatures, they’ve yet to have, as Gen Z would say, their own era.
That may soon change, however. Robert Eggers, celebrated director of The Witch and Nosferatu, is set to put the werewolf on top of the cinematic food chain. He recently announced a werewolf-centric project, titled Werwulf, to explore the lycanthrope legend.
While waiting for what may be a genre-defining werewolf movie, here are six films that showcase this underrepresented horror genre.
1. ‘The Wolf Man’ (1941)
The Wolf Man is not the first attempt at a werewolf film. That honour goes to the 18-minute short The Werewolf, which was made in 1913 and lost in a warehouse fire. Another movie, Werewolf of London, made in 1935, was generally better reviewed but failed at the box office.
Because of its success, The Wolf Man is considered the grandfather of all werewolf movies. Lon Chaney Jr’s portrayal of Larry Talbot, cursed to transform under the full moon, did what Count Dracula did for vampires. It defined the genre and set a timeless standard for the man-versus-beast trope. Over 80 years later, it remains a moody, tragic masterpiece and was recently rebooted. The 2025 Wolf Man stars Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner.
2. ‘An American Werewolf in London’ (1981)
An American Werewolf in London and its sequel, An American Werewolf in Paris (1997), took their cue from the undervalued Werewolf of London but added a touch of satire. The story is about two friends who are attacked by a werewolf and must find a way to end the disastrous events that follow.
This darkly comedic gem redefined the genre with its mix of sharp humour, haunting atmosphere and Rick Baker’s Oscar-winning transformation effects. Equal parts terrifying and hilarious, it’s a bona fide classic.
3. ‘The Howling’ (1981)
Released in the same year as An American Werewolf in London, this eerie take offers a deeper examination into the daily lives of these hair-raising creatures. After a traumatic event, TV journalist Karen White retreats to a mountain resort, which turns out to be a lycan haven. As she unravels the truth about the other residents, she finds herself trapped in a deadly game of survival against the pack. With groundbreaking special effects and a chilling narrative, The Howling redefined the werewolf genre and remains a cult horror classic.
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4. ‘Ginger Snaps’ (2000)
This horror film is reinforced by the coming-of-age story of two sisters. Siblings and best friends Ginger and Brigitte’s idyllic lives get disrupted when Ginger is bitten by a mysterious creature and begins transforming into a werewolf. The Canadian indie uses the curse as a metaphor for puberty, with Ginger’s transformation representing the physical and emotional changes of adolescence.
Ginger Snaps’ draw lies in how it shifts the werewolf lore to the female experience, portraying the transformation as both a loss of control and a form of empowerment. It’s no Twilight but it has a loyal cult following and has spawned several sequels.
5. ‘Dog Soldiers’ (2002)
Do you like British wit and horror? Dog Soldiers puts together both—plus a bit of action. This Neil Marshall-directed horror film features a group of British soldiers on a training exercise in the Scottish Highlands who find themselves stranded in a remote cabin after a deadly ambush. They soon realise they are being hunted by a pack of vicious werewolves. As they battle for survival, the soldiers struggle to outwit and outlast the creatures, facing the harsh environment and their fears. It has relentless action, more than enough gore and lots of laughs in between.
6. ‘The Company of Wolves’ (1984)
Neil Jordan’s fantasy werewolf movie is based on Angela Carter’s short stories. Set in a gothic, dreamlike world, the story follows a young girl, Rosaleen, as she drifts into a series of strange, fairytale-like dreams. In one, she witnesses a world where werewolves are real, embarking on a journey that explores themes of sexuality, fear and transformation.
The film incorporates horror, fantasy and dark fairytale elements with Rosaleen grappling with her coming of age. Jordan effectively uses werewolves as metaphors for societal and personal dangers lurking beneath innocence.
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