The Wolves

1971·Movie
2h 11min·NR
73
GoodGoodWatch score

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

The Wolves fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Brutally violent and tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Violence9
  • Tension8
  • Adrenaline7

Heart

Cathartic

  • Catharsis7
  • Melancholy6
  • Pathos5

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor4
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Physical Comedy1

World

History, crime, and mystery

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Narrative Structure8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You want to half-watch while scrollingGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

After going to prison for killing the boss of the Kanno gang, Seji Iwahashi (Tatsuya Nakadai) gets released early -- only to find that his former gang has merged with the Kannos. But with bitter resentments lingering on both sides, how long will it be before the bloodshed begins anew? Set in 1926 Japan, this serpentine crime thriller from director Hideo Gosha also stars Toshio Kurosawa and Isao Natsuyagi as Iwahashi's closest ally.
Japanese Crime ThrillerGang WarfareEarly 20th Century JapanYakuzaBetrayal and RevengeMasculine RivalryComplex NarrativeBrooding Atmosphere

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about The Wolves

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Wolves legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for The Wolves in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is The Wolves worth watching?

73
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 73/100 (IMDb 7.2 and Metacritic 80). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Wolves rated?

NRViolence

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How long is The Wolves?

2 h 11 min

The Wolves runs 2 h 11 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Wolves?

Critics80
Audiences72

Not quite. Critics rate The Wolves higher (80) than audiences (72). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is The Wolves in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.

In how many countries can I watch The Wolves?

2JPNL

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Wolves in 2 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

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