An American Werewolf in London
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Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
Rick Baker's transformation won the first Academy Award ever given for makeup, and it still works because Landis stages it in bright light with no cutaways — bones stretching under skin while a cheerful oldie plays. The whiplash between slapstick and genuine cruelty is the point, and the ending is brutally abrupt about it.
An American Werewolf in London (1981) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | No MPAA certificate (released outside the US system) |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 97 minutes |
| Jump scares | 4/5 — genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares |
| Gore | 4/5 — heavy gore |
| Dread | 2/5 — a mild unease that fades quickly |
| Themes | monster attacks; graphic bodily transformation |
An American Werewolf in London carries no MPAA certificate. We score it 4/5 for jump scares, 4/5 for gore and 2/5 for lingering dread, over 97 minutes. Weigh the gore first: heavy gore. Older teens and adults, mostly on the strength of what it shows.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is An American Werewolf in London?
- On our intensity scale, An American Werewolf in London rates 8/10 for jump scares and 4/10 for dread. It is genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares.
- How gory is An American Werewolf in London?
- An American Werewolf in London rates 8/10 for gore — expect heavy gore.
- How long is An American Werewolf in London?
- An American Werewolf in London runs 97 minutes (1h 37m).
- What is An American Werewolf in London rated?
- An American Werewolf in London has no MPAA certificate — common for films released outside the US. On our scale it rates 8/10 for jump scares, 8/10 for gore and 4/10 for dread.
- Where to watch An American Werewolf in London (1981)?
- An American Werewolf in London is not on major US subscription streamers right now — look for it on digital rental or purchase (Apple TV, Prime Video, or your usual store).
