The Howling poster

The Howling

Imagine your worst fear a reality.

6.6(940)19811h 31m6

After a bizarre and near fatal encounter with a serial killer, a newswoman is sent to a rehabilitation center whose inhabitants may not be what they seem.

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Status
Released
Budget
$1M
Box office
$18M
Language
English
Part of The Howling Collection · 8 films
  • adultery
  • based on novel or book
  • shapeshifting
  • secret society
  • woods
  • murder
  • serial killer
  • cabin
  • werewolf
  • psychiatrist
  • hunting
  • newswoman

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Joe Dante

Produced in

United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • TheatricalR13 Mar 1981
    • PhysicalRVHS, Betamax17 Feb 1982
    • PhysicalRDVD28 Aug 2001
    • PhysicalRDVD, Blu-ray18 Jun 2013
    • PhysicalR4K Ultra HD Blu-ray15 Feb 2022
  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical1814 May 1981
    • PhysicalBlu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray25 Oct 2021
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical20 Apr 1981
  • FinlandFI

    • TheatricalK-1821 Jan 1981
  • FranceFR

    • Theatrical1221 Jan 1981
    • PhysicalVHS9 Jun 1999
    • Physical12DVD25 Oct 2004
    • Digital / OTT12VOD11 May 2010
    • Physical12Blu-Ray11 May 2010
    • Physical124K UHD27 Oct 2021
    • Theatrical (limited)4K pre(re)release31 Oct 2021
    • Theatrical4K Re-release15 Dec 2021
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1630 Jul 1981
  • PortugalPT

    • TheatricalM/1815 Oct 1981
  • SpainES

    • Theatrical1622 Jun 1981
  • SwedenSE

    • Theatrical1521 Jan 1981

Frequently asked questions

The Howling was released on 21 January 1981.

Audience reviews

4
  • J

    John Chard

    11/2/2015

    10/10

    A secret society exists, and is living among all of us. They are neither people nor animals, but something in-between. In the name of good television, newswoman Karen White (Dee Wallace) forms a bond with serial killer Eddie Quist (Robert Picardo). But when the meeting of the two arrives, it nearly proves fatal and damages Karen psychologically. Her psychologist recommends that she spend some time with her husband…

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    11/9/2022

    6/10

    "Karen" (Dee Wallace) is an investigative reporter with a local television channel who is focussed on a local serial killer. When the police corner and kill this man, it has a curiously profound effect on the woman and she loses her memory. Needing a change of scenery, she heads to the remote "Colony" where rest and recuperation are the order of the day. Initially welcoming her, though, she soon becomes suspicious th…

  • T

    The Movie Mob

    1/2/2023

    4/10

    **The Howling was groundbreaking for its time but isn’t the timeless classic I hoped it would be.** The Howling is a definitive werewolf horror film that introduced new ideas to the genre and broke new ground for special effects. The hidden secret werewolf community with opposing ideologies and opinions on how to either hunt or hide from humanity brought more to werewolf lore than a simple crazed monster. The Howl…

  • W

    Wuchak

    8/17/2025

    8/10

    **_The first time cinema audiences saw werewolves like this!_** After a news anchor in Los Angeles (Dee Wallace) has a traumatic experience on the sleazy side of town, her therapist (Patrick Macnee) sends her and her hubby (Christopher Stone) to his secluded resort near the coast for treatment. When frightening things happen at the sylvan colony, she contacts her friend to come out (Belinda Balaski), not to mentio…

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