One of horror’s most confusing franchises began with The Howling in 1981 – which makes it imperative fans understand how to watch The Howling movies in order. It all began when Joe Dante’s iconic werewolf horror movie changed the genre alongside An American Werewolf in London which was released the same year. It also put him on the path for 1984’s Gremlins which further made waves in the genre with similar films including Ghoulies. While Dante’s career escalated, however, The Howling seemed to move in every other direction with each sequel. Now fans can see how to watch The Howling movies in order – and the guide may be surprising for those unfamiliar with the property.
The Howling was a box office success when it was released, earning between $17.9 and $20 million at the box office with a $1.7 million budget. Profits were mostly taken by Avco Embassy Pictures, however, prompting producer Steven Lane to get a sequel off the ground in order to have his money’s worth. This sequel, Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf, changed the franchise’s trajectory forever. It was followed by a string of sequels and while the average fan may not see any rhyme or reason, there certainly is a continuity that can be followed. (For the most part.)
We’ll tackle the release order of The Howling and its sequels first. Next, we’ll discuss the main two continuities of the franchise. Interestingly enough, only Howling III: The Marsupials and The Howling: Reborn are stand-alone films. As such, they’ll be excluded from the two different continuities discussed below.
The Howling Movies in Order (Release)
- The Howling (1981)
- The Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1985)
- Howling III: The Marsupials (1987)
- Howling IV: The Original Nightmare (1988)
- Howling V: The Rebirth (1989)
- Howling VI: The Freaks (1991)
- Howling: New Moon Rising (1995)
- The Howling: Reborn (2011)
Now we can discuss how to watch The Howling movies in order depending on which continuity you choose. As far as the original goes, only The Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf continues the story, so that’s an easy way to wrap up the narrative. It’s worth noting Phillippe Mora, who directing Howling II, did return to direct Howling III: The Marsupials. Although this third installment has no shared continuity and it should be acknowledged as its own stand-alone take on werewolf mythology.
The Howling Movies in Order (Original Continuity)
- The Howling (1981)
- The Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1985)
Next up is the much larger sequel continuity which excludes 2011’s The Howling: Reborn. This continuity is interesting because it marks an early attempt at a reboot in the horror genre before such terminology became popular. Despite the number in its title, Howling IV: The Original Nightmare is essentially a remake of the original or, rather, a new adaptation of Gary Brandner’s original book that inspired the series. It resets the continuity, then, to make room for its own. What’s even more interesting is that the fifth and six films feel like stand-alone entries, but Howling: New Moon Rising makes use of archival footage to tie them together. This seventh installment is extremely low-budget but it certainly has a vision for creating a grander werewolf mythology, thanks to star and writer Clive Turner who directed this installment following his scripting duties on the fourth and fifth installments. Turner also made a cameo in the forth film, one that he retconned into setting up his starring role in New Moon Rising.
The Howling Movies in Order (Sequel Continuity)
- Howling IV: The Original Nightmare (1988)
- Howling V: The Rebirth (1989)
- Howling VI: The Freaks (1991)
- Howling: New Moon Rising (1995)
With a total of eight entries, it can be overwhelming for newcomers to watch The Howling movies in order, but it’s a relatively simple franchise to follow when you break it down. A new movie is also in development. The film is expected to be a remake of the original or at the very least, yet another adaptation of Brandner’s original novel. In case eight movies based on The Howling weren’t enough for your werewolf-sized cravings. If fans want another interesting horror continuity to follow, they can check out this guide on the Sleepaway Camp franchise.
