One of the first big films premiering in 2025 is Wolf Man, a remake of the classic monster movie, but before audiences head out to see the new project, they should check out these movies first. Directed by Leigh Whannell, Wolf Man is a reboot of the 1941 horror movie, The Wolf Man. Although the films do not share the same premise, their end result is the same. A man in a new town gets attacked by a wolf and finds that he is changing into a horrifying beast. 2025’s Wolf Man stars Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner.
The development of Wolf Man has been fairly interesting. First announced in 2014, the movie was originally supposed to be part of a shared cinematic universe featuring Universal’s Monsters. However, after the failure of 2017’s The Mummy, this idea was abandoned. Fortunately, the remaking of Universal’s Monster flicks has not been totally forgotten, as Whannell successfully rebooted The Invisible Man in 2020. Thus, monster movie remakes are back on track and Wolf Man is the latest to be released. In the future, audiences will also get movies like Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein remake.
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The Wolf Man (1941)
The Movie That Started It All
Before heading out to see Wolf Man, viewers should consider watching the original movie, The Wolf Man. Unlike Whannell’s reboot, which focuses on a family man who gets into a grave accident, The Wolf Man centers on a man named Larry who travels to his hometown in Wales to mourn the death of his mother. While there, he falls in love with a woman, but during a late-night walk with her, he is attacked by a wolf. From there, Larry begins to slowly transform into a werewolf.
Without The Wolf Man, audiences might not be so familiar with werewolf lore.
Despite its age, The Wolf Man still stands up as a solid horror film. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Wolf Man boasts a Certified Fresh 91% critics score and an 80% audience score. Even without the advanced special effects technology of the modern day, the film still manages to create horrific visuals through practical effects. It also cannot be ignored that The Wolf Man helped cement the popular image of the werewolf. Without The Wolf Man, audiences might not be so familiar with werewolf lore.
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The Wolfman (2010)
The First Wolf Man Remake
Some may be surprised to learn that Wolf Man is not the first remake of 1941’s The Wolf Man. In 2010, Joe Johnston directed the film, The Wolfman, which is a slightly edited retelling of The Wolf Man story. The remake is set in 1890s England, and follows Lawrence Talbot, who returns home when his brother is brutally killed by a wolf. While visiting a Romani campsite, looking for answers, Lawrence is bitten by a wolf and begins his own transformation into a werewolf. The film stars Benicio Del Toro in the lead role, alongside Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt.
Unfortunately, The Wolfman was a critical and financial flop. Aside from earning less than the film’s $150 million budget, the movie was panned as lacking tension or terror. Critics acknowledged that the film had an impressive scope and a strong atmosphere, but its CGI effects were a complete turn-off, and ultimately, the movie simply didn’t meet expectations. This is fairly disappointing considering that The Wolfman attempts to expand on the Universal movie. Regardless, it may still be worth the watch to get the full Wolf Man experience.
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The Invisible Man (2020)
Proof Of Whannell’s Expertise
Though not an actual Wolf Man movie, another great flick to pick up before Wolf Man is The Invisible Man. This is the first Universal Monster movie that Whannell reimagined, and it is what eventually prompted Universal to start remaking its Monster movies once again. The Invisible Man is a remake of the 1933 film of the same name, and follows a crazed scientist who fakes his own death, but in actuality, becomes invisible. Drunk on his own power, the scientist begins stalking his girlfriend, who decides to take matters into her own hands.
Whannell’s The Invisible Man is a wonderful success story. The film earned a Certified Fresh 91% critics score and an 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Not only does Whannell recreate the magic of the original 1933 movie, but he also adds a new dimension by ramping up the creepiness of the situation. The Invisible Man is not just a horror movie, but a film about dangerous relationships and knowing those you love. With Elisabeth Moss in the lead role, The Invisible Man is a strong precursor to Wolf Man. Hopefully, the 2025 film can meet the same expectations.
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It Comes At Night (2017)
An Extra Project From Christopher Abbott
One final movie that audiences may want to take with them into Wolf Man is 2017’s It Comes At Night. This is yet another horror movie starring Christopher Abbott, who is best known for his roles in Girls, Poor Things, and Catch-22. It Comes At Night tells the story of two families who must share a home during a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly apocalypse. Despite their misgivings about one another, the families decide to stick together against the evil that lurks outside. Yet, they soon realize that the evil may come within the house as well.
It Comes At Night is certainly not mandatory watching before Wolf Man, but it will definitely set the tone for the 2025 film. The movie is haunting, eerie, and notably mind-boggling. With a Certified Fresh 87% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has earned praise for its unconventional storytelling and deep-seated symbolism. Alongside Joel Edgerton and Riley Keogh, Abbott proves himself to be a rising horror star. This makes him ideal for 2025’s Wolf Man.
