Teen Wolf

Teen Wolf is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy film

Teen Wolf
directed by Rod Daniel and written by Jeph Loeb and Matthew
Weisman. Michael J. Fox stars as the title character, a high school
student whose ordinary life is changed when he discovers that he
is a werewolf. James Hampton, Scott Paulin, Susan Ursitti, Jerry
Levine, Matt Adler, and Jay Tarses appear in supporting roles.
Filming took place from November to December 1984.

Teen Wolf was released on August 23, 1985, by Atlantic Releasing

Corporation. It received mixed reviews, but was a commercial
success, grossing over $30 million on a $4 million budget.[4] The
film's success spawned a titular franchise, including an animated
series adaptation in 1986, a sequel film in 1987, the supernatural
live action drama series that aired on MTV from 2011 to 2017, its
continuation film in 2022, and the standalone spin-off drama series
that followed.

Plot
Scott Howard, a 17-year-old high school student, is tired of just Theatrical release poster
being average. Living in a small town in Nebraska, his only claim Directed by Rod Daniel
to popularity is playing for the Beavers, his school's unsuccessful
basketball team. Scott fawns after Pamela Wells even though she Written by Jeph Loeb
is dating his rival Mick who plays for the Dragons, an opposing Matthew
team that bullies him on the court. Completely oblivious to the Weisman
affections of his best friend Boof, Scott constantly rebuffs her
advances due to their history together. Produced by Thomas
Coleman
After startling changes such as long hair suddenly sprouting on his Mark Levinson
hands, he decides to quit the team, but his coach, Finstock,
changes his mind. Scoring a keg with his friend Stiles for a party, George W.
Scott and Boof end up alone in a closet and Scott gets rough when Perkins
they begin making out, accidentally clawing her back. When he Michael
returns home, he undergoes a strange transformation, discovering Rosenblatt
he is a werewolf. His father Harold reveals he is one too, and that
Scott M.
he had hoped Scott would not inherit the curse because
'sometimes it skips a generation'. Rosenfelt
Starring Michael J. Fox
Scott reveals his secret to Stiles, who agrees to keep it a secret.
But, when Scott becomes stressed on the court, he becomes the James Hampton
wolf and helps win their first game in three years. This has an Scott Paulin
unexpected result of fame and popularity as the high school is Susan Ursitti
overwhelmed with 'Wolf Fever'. Scott is alienated from Boof and
Jerry Levine
his teammates as he begins to hog the ball during games.
Jay Tarses
Stiles merchandises "Teen Wolf" paraphernalia and Pamela finally Cinematography Tim Suhrstedt
begins paying attention to Scott. After he gets a role as a
Edited by Lois Freeman-
"werewolf cavalryman" in the school play alongside her, she
Fox
comes onto him in the dressing room and they have sex. Later,
after a date set up to make Mick jealous, Pamela tells Scott that Music by Miles Goodman
she is not interested in him as a boyfriend, much to his Production Atlantic
disappointment. Harold tells Scott he is responsible for vice companies Releasing
principal Rusty Thorne breathing down his neck due to a scare he
Corporation
had given him when he was in high school. He advises Scott to be
himself. Wolfkill
Productions
Boof agrees to go with Scott to the upcoming Spring Dance, but
only if he goes as himself. Scott goes alone as the Wolf instead. Distributed by Atlantic
She takes him into the hallway and they kiss, which turns Scott Releasing
back into himself. When they return to the dance, Scott garners Corporation
everyone's attention, including Pamela. A jealous Mick punches Release date August 23, 1985
him in the face, then proceeds to insult Boof and taunt Scott until
the Wolf angrily attacks. Scott runs out of the hall right into Running time 92 minutes[1]
Thorne, who threatens expulsion. Harold defends his son before Country United States
going on to intimidate Thorne by growling in his face, causing the
Language English
vice principal to wet himself.
Budget $4 million[2]
Scott renounces using the Wolf and quits the basketball team. Box office $30 million[3]
During the championship game, he arrives to rally his teammates
to play without the Wolf. Despite the odds, the team begins to
work together and they make ground against the Dragons. During the final quarter, behind by one point,
Scott is fouled by Mick at the buzzer. He makes both free throws, winning the championship. Brushing
past Pamela, he kisses Boof as his father embraces them both. Mick tells Pamela that they should leave, but
she tells him to "drop dead" and storms off while everyone else celebrates the victory.

Cast
Michael J. Fox as Scott Howard
James Hampton as Harold Howard
Susan Ursitti as Boof
Jerry Levine as Stiles
Matt Adler as Lewis
Lorie Griffin as Pamela
Jim McKrell as Mr. Thorne
Mark Arnold as Mick
Jay Tarses as Coach Finstock
Mark Holton as Chubby
Scott Paulin as Kirk Lolley

Production
Teen Wolf was one of the first scripts written by Jeph Loeb.[5] Loeb was hired to write it because the studio,
after the surprising success of the film Valley Girl, wanted to make a comedy that would cost almost
nothing and take very little time to film. The project came together when Michael J. Fox accepted the lead
role and his Family Ties co-star Meredith Baxter-Birney became pregnant, which created a delay in the
sitcom's filming that allowed Fox time to complete filming and then return to his sitcom.[6]

On a production budget of $4 million, principal photography for Teen Wolf began in November 1984 and
concluded the next month.[2] James Hampton originally auditioned for the role of Coach Bobby Finstock
but was later cast as Harold Howard.[7] The beaver mascot logo used in the film was the Oregon State
University Beavers logo, in use by the university at that time.[8]

Release
Atlantic Releasing spent $4 million on advertising for Teen Wolf.[9] Released in the U.S. on August 23,
1985, Teen Wolf debuted at No. 2 in its opening weekend, behind Back to the Future (also starring Michael
J. Fox).[10] After its initial run, the film grossed $33,086,661 domestically,[11][12] with a worldwide gross
of about $80 million.[3]

Teen Wolf was first released on DVD via MGM in a "Double Feature" pack with its sequel Teen Wolf Too
on August 27, 2002. The film was later released on Blu-ray on March 29, 2011.[13] The only special
feature available on any of the releases is the film's theatrical trailer. The film was reissued on Blu-ray Disc
on August 8, 2017, by Scream! Factory, with a remastered transfer and a new "making of" featurette.[14]

Critical response
The film's critical reception was at best mixed.[15] Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 42% of
33 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 5.1 out of 10. The consensus
summarizes: "Though Michael J. Fox is as charismatic as ever, Teen Wolf's coming-of-age themes can't
help but feel a little stale and formulaic."[16] On Metacritic, the film has a 25 out of 100 rating based on 5
critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[17]

Vincent Canby of The New York Times gave the film a negative review calling it "aggressively boring". He
went on to say that "the film is overacted by everybody except Mr. Fox, who is seen to far better advantage
in Back to the Future."[18]

Colin Greenland reviewed Teen Wolf for White Dwarf #75, and stated that "Anxious that their movie
should be perfectly wholesome, clean and bloodless, writers and director forgot Scott was supposed to be a
werewolf, and made him a basketball star instead."[19]

Soundtrack
Teen Wolf: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
No. Title Contributing artists Length
1. "Flesh on Fire" James House 4:05
2. "Big Bad Wolf" The Wolf Sisters 2:36
3. "Win in the End" Mark Safan 4:41
4. "Shootin' for the Moon" Amy Holland 2:45
5. "Silhouette" David Palmer 3:54
6. "Way to Go" Mark Vieha 3:45
7. "Good News" David Morgan 2:56
8. "Transformation (Instrumental)" Miles Goodman 2:29
9. "Boof (Instrumental)" Miles Goodman 1:54
 Total length: 29:05

Legacy

Animated television series

An animated series adaptation aired on CBS for two seasons from 1986 to 1987. Townsend Coleman
voiced the lead role of Scott Howard, with James Hampton reprising his role as Harold Howard. The series
retained the basic premise and most of the characters from the film, but made changes to the story, such as
Scott attempting to keep his werewolf identity secret from the general public. It also featured new
characters, including Scott's grandparents (voiced by Stacy Keach Sr. and June Foray) and younger sister
Lupe.

Sequels

A sequel entitled Teen Wolf Too was released in 1987 and starred Jason Bateman as Todd Howard, Scott
Howard's cousin. Only James Hampton and Mark Holton returned from the original film, with the sequel
focusing mostly on new characters led by Todd. Teen Wolf Too received negative reviews and failed to
match the success of its predecessor, grossing $7.9 million on a $3 million budget. A second sequel starring
Alyssa Milano was planned, but never filmed.[20] Another female version of Teen Wolf was in the works
that later developed into 1989's Teen Witch.

Live-action television series

MTV greenlit a television series adaptation in 2009 that was developed by Jeff Davis. While also centered
on a high school student who becomes a werewolf, the story was reimagined as a supernatural teen drama
with elements of action and horror.[21] Tyler Posey portrayed the title character, whose name was changed
to Scott McCall for the series. It aired for six seasons from 2011 to 2017. A film continuation, Teen Wolf:
The Movie, was released on January 26, 2023.[22]

See also
List of basketball films
I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), an earlier horror film about a high school teenage
werewolf
Full Moon High (1981), an earlier comedy-horror film about a high school teenage werewolf
Big Wolf on Campus (1999), a Canadian TV series on Fox Family, produced by Saban
Entertainment about a high-school senior boy who has been bitten by a werewolf, becoming
one himself.

References
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External links
Teen Wolf (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090142/) at IMDb
Teen Wolf (https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=teenwolf.htm) at Box Office Mojo
Teen Wolf (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/teen_wolf) at Rotten Tomatoes
Teen Wolf (https://www.metacritic.com/movie/teen-wolf) at Metacritic

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