• Trending
    • Certified Fresh & Verified Hot
    • TV Premier dates
    • New horror Movies
    • Best Movies of All Time
  • Movies
    • Movies In Theaters
    • Movies at Home
  • TV Shows
    • New TV
    • Most Popular TV
  • News
    • What to Watch
    • Guides
    • RT News
    • Awards
  • Games
    • Find Your Next Horror Watch
  • Video
  • Showtimes
  • Fanstore
  • About Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics
  • Download the App Now
  • Logout
Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Wolfen

Play trailer Poster for Wolfen R,  1981,  1h 55m,  Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 72% 29 Reviews Tomatometer 47% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
72% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 47% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
New York City police investigator Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney) is trying to solve a series of grisly deaths in which the victims have seemingly been maimed by feral animals. He teams up with expert criminologist Rebecca Neff (Diane Venora), and together they stumble upon a band of inner-city Native Americans, led by the streetwise Eddie Holt (Edward James Olmos), who warns Wilson and Neff about a wolf-like, mythical creature that could offer a shocking solution to this disturbing case.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

Wolfen

Stream

Rent Wolfen on Fandango, or buy it on Fandango.

Wolfen

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Police procedural meets werewolf flick in Wolfen, a creepy creature feature with a surprisingly profound side.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Jul 3, 2005
C+
Some sort of mixed-up commentary on gentrification. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Oct 23, 2004
3.5/4
Love, thought, care and craftsmanship have gone into this film. Go to Full Review
JoAnn Rhetts Charlotte Observer Mar 18, 2026
"Wolfen" takes it self much too seriously. Go to Full Review
Richard Freedman Newark Star-Ledger Jan 7, 2026
it is so technically adept and genuinely scary that you can easily ignore the tepid, undeveloped love affair between Dewey and Rebecca. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Nov 30, 2023
4/5
...a big, meaty studio movie with lots to say about how the worship of money turns us against each other…Wolfen is a great, neglected, intellectual horror film that should be a must on any fan’s wish-list….’ Go to Full Review
Phil Edwards Starburst Jul 27, 2022
Wolfen is not a werewolf movie. Exactly what it is I'm not sure, but don't let my uncertainty put you off what is, for the most part, an enjoyable film. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Poe S Feb 2, 2019 Thought it was great movie and story for it's time. I first saw it when it came out and I was young. Shape shifting wolves is what it's all about. It's real and terrifying in the Native country and I could actually envision this happening into the future as our society devolves via recession and fall into 3rd world status. If you combine this story with how they made The Grey, now that would pack a punch. Anyone who wasn't phased by the Grey, I guess they could do better in that circumstance. Yeah. right! They wouldn't last a day out in that and with those wolves. I don't care who you are. But these days people are so thick and callous in their senses. Watching people dye and suffer don't phase them unless it's them that get a little scratch or inconvenience. I give it 4 stars rather then 5 because of the quality and they don't elaborate somewhere confirming the wolves were actually shape shifted natives. It leaves you hanging on that and I detest cliff hangers. See more
Read all reviews
Wolfen

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Michael Wadleigh

Director

Albert Finney

Dewey Wilson

Diane Venora

Rebecca Neff

Gregory Hines

Whittington

Edward James Olmos

Whittington

Tom Noonan

Ferguson

More Like This

View All
DeepStar Six 17% 26% DeepStar Six Watchlist Monkey Shines 55% 41% Monkey Shines Watchlist Needful Things 33% 44% Needful Things Watchlist Missing in Action 19% 43% Missing in Action Watchlist Army of One 51% Army of One Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All
View All

Wolfen

Wolfen (1981) Wolfen (1981) Wolfen (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis New York City police investigator Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney) is trying to solve a series of grisly deaths in which the victims have seemingly been maimed by feral animals. He teams up with expert criminologist Rebecca Neff (Diane Venora), and together they stumble upon a band of inner-city Native Americans, led by the streetwise Eddie Holt (Edward James Olmos), who warns Wilson and Neff about a wolf-like, mythical creature that could offer a shocking solution to this disturbing case.
Director
Michael Wadleigh
Production Co
Orion Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 1981, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 29, 2012
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Surround
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings