Is An American Werewolf in London scary?

Yes, properly. An American Werewolf in London is the real thing without being an endurance test.

How gory is An American Werewolf in London?

Graphic gore and strong violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.

What is An American Werewolf in London rated, and is it OK for kids?

No. It is rated R, with real scares, several jump scares, and moderate sex and nudity.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Film · 1h 37m · Rated R

Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

American tourists face gruesome changes and dark humor after a savage attack on the Yorkshire Moors.

Campy and suspenseful, with dark satire. A late-night trip at a measured pace. Emotionally it carries some weight.

Streaming on Prime Video, AMC+, Kanopy (free), Hoopla (free) and Tubi (free).

Five more like this Get the app

An American Werewolf in London parents guide

Real scares and several jump scares, about what an R should carry.

Scare: Properly scary; Frightening, not just tense.
Jump scares: Several; More than a couple of sudden jolts.
Gore: Graphic gore; Blood and wounds shown clearly.
Violence: Strong violence; Violence is frequent or intense.
Sex and nudity: Moderate; Moderate means a sex scene or nudity on screen, even brief, or sexual violence that is described or implied but never shown.
Language: Moderate; Some strong profanity, a few f-words.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Three questions

Is An American Werewolf in London scary?: Yes, properly. An American Werewolf in London is the real thing without being an endurance test.
How gory is An American Werewolf in London?: Graphic gore and strong violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
What is An American Werewolf in London rated, and is it OK for kids?: No. It is rated R, with real scares, several jump scares, and moderate sex and nudity.

What is An American Werewolf in London about?

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.

Does it have a happy ending? (spoiler-safe)

No. Brace yourself.