‹ All movies

The Rewatchables ·

Teen Wolf

year 1985decade 80sdirector Rod Danielgenre Comedy
host Bill Simmonshost Kyle Brandt
All 15 categories

Most Rewatchable Scene · 24:49

The final basketball game is one choice

Bill Simmons: The failed beer purchase followed by Stiles van surfing establishes Stiles as a singular comic character.

Kyle Brandt: Scott's first home transformation and his werewolf father appearing in the doorway are praised as a funny theatrical surprise.

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie · 1:12:17

Mick’s threat about the Howard family stealing chickens

Kyle Brandt: Mick's threat that his family handled Scott's kind before and shot a chicken-stealing relative is praised as an extreme provocation.

The film

Teen Wolf (1985)

Directed by Rod Daniel · Comedy

92 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

24:49

Most Rewatchable Scene

The final basketball game is one choice; the high-school party, first beer run and van surfing, first home transforma...

The final basketball game is one choice; the high-school party, first beer run and van surfing, first home transformation, first wolf game, and Coach Finstock speeches are leading alternatives.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:49Read transcript
  • The failed beer purchase followed by Stiles van surfing establishes Stiles as a singular comic character. — Bill Simmons
  • Scott's first home transformation and his werewolf father appearing in the doorway are praised as a funny theatrical surprise. — Kyle Brandt
  • The first wolf basketball game, the crowd's quick acceptance, and the newspaper treating it as an ordinary sports story form one candidate sequence. — Bill Simmons
  • Coach Finstock's locker-room sayings and three rules for life are praised as the funniest short speech in the movie. — Bill Simmons
  • The prom confrontation is funny because Mick sucker-punches Scott, yet Scott takes the blame for tearing Mick's shirt. — Bill Simmons
  • The final game is selected by one participant for Scott's late arrival, team play, Chubby's long shot, the montage, and the winning free throws. — Bill Simmons
  • The high-school party is the other final choice because Stiles commands the crowd and Boof aggressively pursues Scott. — Kyle Brandt
Share this discussion More Most Rewatchable Scene answers
37:49

What’s Aged the Worst?

Basketball execution, the driveway scene, effects, representation, party material, romantic conventions, song lyrics,...

Basketball execution, the driveway scene, effects, representation, party material, romantic conventions, song lyrics, and soundtrack

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:37:49Read transcript
  • Michael J. Fox's basketball form and the unseen hour of discarded sports footage are the first answers. — Bill Simmons
  • Mr. Howard and Boof's strangely intimate driveway basketball scene is judged more inexplicable than the supernatural events. — Bill Simmons
  • Looped basketball edits and a shot in The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh are cited as examples of poor sports continuity. — Bill Simmons
  • Scott's mirror transformation closely resembles the prior year's Terminator mirror scene. — Kyle Brandt
  • The lead actors read substantially older than high-school students. — Bill Simmons
  • The only Black student's appearance is tied immediately to a break-dancing gag, a choice described as dated even for 1985. — Bill Simmons
  • The excessive claw marks on Boof are called hard to justify now. — Bill Simmons
  • The party's unexplained floor game is called hard to justify now. — Bill Simmons
  • The familiar 1980s plot in which a boy overlooks his loyal friend for a more glamorous girl is compared with several other teen movies. — Bill Simmons
  • The 'Win in the End' verses are read as unexpectedly bleak and suicidal beneath an upbeat sports montage. — Bill Simmons
  • The soundtrack is criticized for lacking the recognizable contemporary songs heard in other 1980s teen movies. — Kyle Brandt
Share this discussion More What’s Aged the Worst? answers
38:30

What’s Aged the Best?

The sex-scene howl, Coach Finstock, Stiles, straight-faced werewolf dialogue, and the accidental pants-down extra in ...

The sex-scene howl, Coach Finstock, Stiles, straight-faced werewolf dialogue, and the accidental pants-down extra in the closing shot

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:30Read transcript
  • The final-game sports montage is explicitly carried forward as something that aged well. — Bill Simmons
  • The wolf howl during Scott's encounter with Pamela is praised as a committed comic choice while the underlying species implications are questioned. — Kyle Brandt
  • Coach Finstock's straight-faced dialogue and Stiles's energy remain durable comic highlights. — Bill Simmons
  • The closing embrace accidentally preserves an extra standing with her pants down, an unedited background detail the panel considers a lasting oddity. — Bill Simmons
Share this discussion More What’s Aged the Best? answers
39:28

Picking Nits

Boof’s loyalty, missing media and recruiters, unclear setting, game mechanics, wolf height, a dog whistle, Lewis, dan...

Boof’s loyalty, missing media and recruiters, unclear setting, game mechanics, wolf height, a dog whistle, Lewis, dance attire, and absent police

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:39:28Read transcript
  • Rusty Thorne is nominated as the cheesiest character name. — Kyle Brandt
  • Boof continuing to like Scott after the clawing is questioned. — Bill Simmons
  • A real werewolf athlete would attract national media and major-college recruiters, yet the movie shows almost none. — Kyle Brandt
  • The setting is guessed as Nebraska because a Cornhuskers item appears in the Howard kitchen. — Bill Simmons
  • Mick standing beneath the basket during the free throws and the wolf's inconsistent height are questioned. — Bill Simmons
  • The hardware-store dog whistle affects Scott but not his werewolf father. — Bill Simmons
  • Lewis functions as a third friend early, turns on Scott, and then almost disappears. — Bill Simmons
  • Mick and Pamela's funeral-like dance clothes and Mick attending another school's events are questioned. — Kyle Brandt
  • The town has no police response to van surfing, property damage, an apparent robbery, or a huge party. — Kyle Brandt
Share this discussion More Picking Nits answers
40:01

Apex Mountain

Back to the Future is Fox’s apex; the movie is considered for most supporting actors, van surfing, werewolves, and hu...

Back to the Future is Fox’s apex; the movie is considered for most supporting actors, van surfing, werewolves, and human-wolf sex.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:40:01Read transcript
  • Bestiality is proposed as an apex because the wolf encounter is treated as human-wolf sex. — Kyle Brandt
  • Back to the Future decisively wins Michael J. Fox's apex despite the two movies arriving together. — Bill Simmons
  • Most other speaking actors are placed at or near their career apex here, with Doug Savant an exception. — Bill Simmons
  • Van surfing is proposed as peaking here before real-world danger curtailed the stunt. — Bill Simmons
  • A run of early-1980s werewolf movies, Thriller, and Teen Wolf supports the werewolf-apex case. — Bill Simmons
  • Twilight is the counterargument because of its large later werewolf audience. — Kyle Brandt
Share this discussion More Apex Mountain answers
52:36

Casting What-Ifs

James Hampton reading for Coach Finstock before Michael J. Fox suggested him for the father

James Hampton reading for Coach Finstock before Michael J. Fox suggested him for the father

This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:36Read transcript
Share this discussion More Casting What-Ifs answers
52:54

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Mark Holton as Chubby

Mark Holton as Chubby

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:54Read transcript
  • Doug Savant and Court McCown are identified through their later television and movie work. — Bill Simmons
  • Chubby wins once his Francis Buxton role and stadium line are recalled. — Bill Simmons
Share this discussion More The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award answers
54:16

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

The acting teacher

The acting teacher

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:16Read transcript
  • Stiles is the first answer because he dials it up a couple of times. — Kyle Brandt
  • Pamela's performance inside the school play is considered as a layered alternative. — Kyle Brandt
  • The acting teacher is ultimately selected. — Kyle Brandt
Share this discussion More The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award answers
54:56

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

The acting teacher

The acting teacher

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:56Read transcript
  • Coach Finstock's television-creator background and family history prompt a long contextual aside. — Bill Simmons
  • The acting teacher is offered as a lower-minute alternative whose every line commits fully to the character. — Kyle Brandt
  • Coach Finstock is ruled ineligible because he has too many minutes, leaving the acting teacher as the choice. — Kyle Brandt
Share this discussion More The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance answers
56:52

Recasting Couch

Lori Loughlin or Elisabeth Shue as Boof and Eric Stoltz as Scott

Lori Loughlin or Elisabeth Shue as Boof and Eric Stoltz as Scott

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:52Read transcript
  • Loughlin is proposed as a stronger Boof. — Bill Simmons
  • Shue is proposed as a stronger Boof, with darker hair separating her from Karate Kid. — Bill Simmons
  • Eric Stoltz replacing Fox as Scott is proposed as poetic compensation for losing the Marty McFly role. — Kyle Brandt
Share this discussion More Recasting Couch answers
58:11

Half-Assed Internet Research

The basketball double, Fox sequel reports, an IMDb hoax, cast careers, memorabilia, a deleted Carson appearance, and ...

The basketball double, Fox sequel reports, an IMDb hoax, cast careers, memorabilia, a deleted Carson appearance, and Stiles shirts

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:11Read transcript
  • Fox's basketball double is identified as Jeff Glosser, a college player who spent long days in wolf makeup during the short shoot. — Bill Simmons
  • Conflicting reports that Fox hated the movie are rejected after a later reunion account says he greeted the cast remotely. — Bill Simmons
  • A 2004 internet hoax falsely identified Mike Piazza as Mick and reached IMDb. — Bill Simmons
  • Jerry Levine reportedly remained recognizable as Stiles long after release. — Bill Simmons
  • Mark Arnold reportedly arranged for his soap character to die so he could promote Teen Wolf. — Bill Simmons
  • Wiesmeier, Linda, is identified as a July 1982 Playboy Playmate appearing in the party Jell-O gag. — Bill Simmons
  • Fox's jersey was sold to a Beverly Hills pawn shop for $30,000, with its later location unknown. — Bill Simmons
  • A scripted Tonight Show appearance for the wolf was cut for expense and convenience. — Bill Simmons
  • Stiles's five shirt slogans are catalogued as memorable artifacts. — Bill Simmons
Share this discussion More Half-Assed Internet Research answers
1:12:17

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie

Mick’s threat about the Howard family stealing chickens

Mick’s threat about the Howard family stealing chickens

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:17Read transcript
  • Mick's threat that his family handled Scott's kind before and shot a chicken-stealing relative is praised as an extreme provocation. — Kyle Brandt
Share this discussion More The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie answers
1:13:48

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A contemporary series with media, recruiting, tournaments, and multigenerational werewolves

A contemporary series with media, recruiting, tournaments, and multigenerational werewolves

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:13:48Read transcript
  • A modern pilot could explore the national response when a high-school player becomes a werewolf in a game. — Bill Simmons
  • The regional-final ending leaves the next tournament round available for a series. — Bill Simmons
  • Pamela's possible wolf children and a later generation inheriting the trait are proposed for a present-day continuation. — Bill Simmons
Share this discussion More Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake answers
1:16:23

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Disappearing wolf hair, Scott’s mother, historic sports events, comparable NBA games, an all-movie basketball team, a...

Disappearing wolf hair, Scott’s mother, historic sports events, comparable NBA games, an all-movie basketball team, and the regional-final box score

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:23Read transcript
  • The disappearance of hair and nails when a werewolf becomes human is questioned. — Kyle Brandt
  • An audience theory that Mick shot Scott's mother is examined and rejected as genetically inconsistent. — Bill Simmons
  • Scott's first transformation during a game is compared with other extraordinary fictional sports events. — Bill Simmons
  • Russell Westbrook is selected as the NBA player whose power-guard game most resembles the wolf's. — Bill Simmons
  • The wolf is placed on an all-time fictional movie-basketball team, though his outside shooting remains unknown. — Bill Simmons
  • A reconstructed final-game box score credits Scott with about fourteen points and six assists and number 45 with major defense and rebounding. — Bill Simmons
Share this discussion More Probably Unanswerable Questions answers
1:24:48

Who Won the Movie?

Jerry Levine as Stiles

Jerry Levine as Stiles

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:48Read transcript
  • Stiles wins because his shirts, humor, loyalty, and cultural memorability define the movie even as Fox moved to larger roles. — Kyle Brandt
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Jerry Levine / Stiles
Speaker not identified
Jerry Levine / Stiles
Share this discussion More Who Won the Movie? answers

More from the conversation

The episode reads the movie primarily as a sports story about a superstar learning to trust his teammates.
Approx. transcript time · 00:01:15Read transcript
The basketball performance and editing are compared with sports realism across many other movies.
Approx. transcript time · 00:04:12Read transcript
The final-game montage is placed in a Mount Rushmore of cheesy 1980s sports montages with Rocky IV, The Karate Kid, and Over the Top.
Approx. transcript time · 00:17:44Read transcript
The low-budget high-school comedy was shot for about $1.2 million and reportedly earned about $80 million after Fox became a major star.
Approx. transcript time · 00:20:28Read transcript
The production reportedly shot the entire movie in 21 days with extras, basketball, and wolf makeup.
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:07Read transcript