Werewolves, creatures who leave their human form at the sight of a full moon, are popular characters in movies.
If you enjoy vintage movie monsters and bloodlust on the big screen, you should watch one of these films when the next full moon comes around.
Common Things About Werewolf Pack Movies
Craving for more tidbits about werewolf pack movies? Here are common features of werewolf pack films:
The Werewolf Pack Social Structure
The werewolf pack structure puts wolves in their right place. Here’s the usual hierarchy in werewolf pack movies:
- Alpha – The Alpha is the wolfpack leader. He is the most powerful and influential. This is the highest rank a wolf may achieve.
- Beta – The Beta serves as second in command. He is the second most powerful and significant title a wolf may hold. Betas, like Alphas, are normally born into it. However, each new Alpha chooses his own Beta.
- Gamma – The Gamma is the third in command. He is the third most powerful. Being Gamma in a werewolf pack is also the third-highest rank a wolf may hold.
- Luna – The Alpha Female, also known as Luna, is the Alpha’s mate. She is the pack’s mother figure. She is there to help Alpha with his responsibilities. The Luna is a strong woman.
- Beta and Gamma Females – The Beta and Gamma Females are the Beta and Gamma’s mates. They support Beta and Gamma, but they are not allowed to work with the wolfpack.
- Pack Warrior – As the name implies, the pack warriors are the pack’s fighters.
- Omega – In a nutshell, Omegas are the servants and workers in the wolfpack house.
Recurrent Topics or Conflicts
Wondering what are the common themes of werewolf pack movies? Here they are:
- Forbidden Love – As its name suggests, these werewolf pack movies revolve around love that’s not allowed. It usually goes like this: an Alpha gets mated with a human or an Omega.
- Rank Conflict – In this type of werewolf pack movie, the Alpha gets challenged by someone. They then fight, often to death. A rank conflict theme also happens when a human challenges a werewolf.
- Werewolves vs Vampires – One of the most popular werewolf pack movies involves werewolves fighting vampires. Just think about it: the most famous vampire movies often have wolfpacks fighting them.
Top 5 Werewolf Pack Movies
Want to watch the best movies with werewolf packs? Here you go:
Van Helsing
Even though not everyone agrees with him, Van Helsing is in the world to get rid of evil. The Vatican sent the monster hunter and his companion Carl to Transylvania.
They were dispatched to bring down the mighty Count Dracula. While there, they join forces with Anna Valerious. Anna is a Gypsy Princess aiming to break an old curse on her family by killing the vampire. The thing is, only a werewolf can kill Dracula.
Rating: 8/10
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
After recovering from the vampire assault that almost killed her, Bella plans to spend her birthday with Edward and his family.
A slight mishap happens during the festivities. This leads to Bella’s blood being shed. This sight becomes too intense for the Cullens, so they decide to leave Forks. Initially distraught, Bella seeks solace in wild living and an even deeper bond with Jacob Black and his wolfpack.
Rating: 8/10
Watch The Twilight Saga: New Moon here.
Underworld
Selene is a lethally alluring vampire assassin and member of the elite “Death Dealers” squad. She has dedicated her existence to eradicating the earth’s scattered pockets of remaining werewolves
She goes against the backdrop of an unseen centuries-old war between the sophisticated Vampire clan and the brutish Lycans clan. The vampires’ victory appears to be nigh with the murder of the Lycans’ ultimate leader, Lucian.
Nevertheless, when their archenemy takes a special interest in the human doctor, Michael Corvin, Selene uncovers a long-standing plan. Treason, deception, and competing emotions now stand in the way of the truth, compelling Selene to violate convention for the benefit of vampires.
Rating: 8.5/10
The Howling
The police have tapped newswoman Karen White’s phone in a red light district. Meanwhile, they’re investigating the serial murderer Eddie Quist. He been assaulting her via phone conversations.
Karen becomes emotionally upset and loses her memory after police officers discover them in a peep-show cabin. They then shoot Eddie. In the hopes of conquering her inner demons, she travels to the Colony. It’s a secluded retreat where the creepy residents are all too ready to make her feel at home.
Rating: 7.5/10
Wolves
The Wolves features Cayden Richards’ coming-of-age narrative. Cayden is forced to travel when his parents are murdered. He travels aimlessly until he encounters a certifiable maniac named Wild Joe. Joe leads him to the foreboding village of Lupine Ridge in search of the realities of his past. But at the end, who is truly on the hunt?
Rating: 7/10
