The Teen Wolf television series, which aired from 2011 to 2017, became a defining supernatural drama for a generation of fans. It blended relatable coming-of-age stories with dark mythological themes and developed a cult following that remained loyal long after the final episode aired. When Teen Wolf: The Movie was announced in 2023, anticipation ran high among fans who hoped to revisit Beacon Hills and its beloved characters. However, instead of a triumphant return, the film met with widespread disappointment and criticism, reflected in its low 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its nostalgic potential, the Teen Wolf movie ultimately flopped. The absence of key characters, notably Dylan O’Brien as Stiles Stilinski, the weak and regurgitated Nogitsune storyline, awkward character relationships, and poor production quality all contributed to its failure.
1. Dylan O’ Brien’s Absence
The most immediate and damaging blow to the movie was the absence of Dylan O’Brien, whose character Stiles Stilinski had been central to the success of the series. Stiles was more than comic relief, he was the emotional anchor of the story and the heart of Scott McCall’s journey. O’Brien’s chemistry with Tyler Posey, who portrayed Scott, created one of the most memorable friendships in modern teen television. Without Stiles, the movie lacked the warmth, humour, and balance that grounded the supernatural chaos of the original series.
O’Brien himself revealed that his decision not to return stemmed from the rushed nature of the production, explaining that the project “happened very fast” and that he felt Stiles’s story was already complete (Republic World). This reasoning may have been understandable, but the absence left a noticeable void. TV Guide noted, “Yes, O’Brien’s absence can be felt. That spark between O’Brien and Posey, one that was foundational to the show… is obviously missing” (TV Guide). Fans echoed this sentiment across online platforms. One Reddit user wrote, “The movie was terrible. Plain and simple … Missing key actors, major plot holes and stupid writing choices…” (Reddit).
Without Stiles, Teen Wolf: The Movie lost its emotional compass. Scott’s development as a leader and friend felt incomplete without his counterpart. The emotional stakes that once drove the story disappeared, and what remained was a hollow echo of a once-powerful narrative.
2. Repetitive Storyline and Major Plot Holes
Even if fans were willing to forgive the absence of key characters, the film suffered from significant storytelling and production issues. The plot, which attempted to resurrect the Nogitsune, a major antagonist from the show’s third season simply felt recycled and uninspired. Rather than building on years of mythology, the script seemed to rehash old conflicts with less emotional payoff. As one critic put it, “It feels like a really well-written fanfic by someone who has never seen the show but watched clips on YouTube” (The Celeb Post). Derek Hale also reappears with a son, a character they fail to develop. The son’s mother is mysteriously out of the picture without any explanation. The actors have no chemistry and it seemed that the only reason Derek had a son was so that the directors had a teenage character to shovel angst onto. Derek’s death is also entirely nonsensical as he is the only character with a dependent and yet chooses to die, simultaneously orphaning his son.
2. Bad Production Quality That Looked Nothing Like the Original Show
The film also struggled with pacing and coherence. The time jump, intended to show a more mature cast, instead created a tonal disconnection from the show’s earlier seasons as the characters seemed unfamiliar with each other and their personalities resembled the actors more than the show’s characters . The new type of filmography created a brighter, clearer image which made characters appeared aged, tired, and in some cases unrecognizable from their earlier portrayals. The cinematography and lighting—often criticized as “terrible” in fan discussions—failed to evoke the dark, moody atmosphere that once defined Teen Wolf’s style.
3. Relationships That Make No Sense
Perhaps the most bewildering choice was the romantic subplot between Malia Tate and Jordan Parrish. The relationship, which had no real basis in the series, confused fans and raised questions about the characters’ age difference and lack of previous connection. As one fan observed, “Malia has had no character growth at all… putting her into relationships or flings … continued in the movie” (Reddit).
Rather than enriching the characters, these choices undermined their past development and made the narrative feel both disjointed and shallow. The romance was added as complete fanservice and added a sleazy element to the characters that did more detriment to their characters than anything. Every relationship in the show was built on history, complexity or love. Malia and Parrish were built on directors who liked steamy scenes.
Scott and Malia, who had ended the show as a couple, were suddenly separated with little explanation. Their break-up, combined with the arbitrary new pairings, alienated many who had invested years in these storylines.
4. Using the Show’s Lore as a Cop Out
A crucial reason behind the movie’s failure lies in its treatment of the series’ established lore. Over six seasons, Teen Wolf built a complex supernatural world with consistent mythology. The film, however, seemed to disregard much of it. By reintroducing the Nogitsune without offering fresh context or motivation, it cheapened one of the series’ most powerful story arcs. Fans described the plot as “disregarding a lot of lore already put in place” (Startefacts).
When reviving a beloved franchise, nostalgia alone is not enough. Fans expect respect for continuity and meaningful storytelling. Teen Wolf: The Movie failed on both fronts, turning what could have been a heartfelt reunion into a shallow imitation.
5. Bad and Entitled Marketing
The early announcement of the film before securing major cast members like O’Brien and Arden Cho, who declined to return, led many fans to believe that the production prioritized marketing over storytelling. Considering these actors played roles that were directly attached to the Nogitsune, its ridiculous that neither of them appeared. Announcing the movie without confirming with the actors (especially when you based the plot of the movie on them) is borderline stupid and gives off ‘entitled directors’. Actors can be signed for other roles, have previous engagements, contracts or deals.
You can’t include them in a marketing campaign without sending them their movie contract. It all felt like they were trying to make a quick buck rather than add anything of worth to the franchise. One Reddit user remarked, “They’re so dumb for announcing a movie and getting all the fans super excited without even starting to make contracts with the actors returning!” (Reddit).
The evidence of the film’s failure is overwhelming. The 32% Rotten Tomatoes score captures the general consensus among critics and audiences alike (Rotten Tomatoes). Fan discussions online reveal widespread rejection, with many declaring the film “non-canon” in their personal understanding of the Teen Wolf universe (Startefacts). The quality drop from the original show to the film was so sharp that viewers questioned whether the creators understood what made the series special in the first place.
Ultimately, the film’s problem was not just that it was bad—it was that it betrayed the heart of what made Teen Wolf great. Instead of feeling like a continuation of beloved stories, it felt like a cynical attempt to monetize nostalgia.
An Opportunity For Redemption?
Despite the backlash, Teen Wolf may not be finished. Tyler Posey, who both starred in and assisted in the production of the film, has confirmed that he has written a sequel and hopes to continue the story (Hiru News). Reports indicate that there is a three-movie deal planned for the franchise revival, suggesting that two more installments could still be produced (People). Posey has stated that he intends to “spearhead” the new projects and has “some people already on board.”
Without Dylan O’Brien’s return or significant improvements in writing and direction, fans remain skeptical. As O’Brien’s absence proved critical to the first film’s failure, his potential involvement could make or break any sequel. According to his earlier statements, O’Brien has no current plans to return (Teen Vogue). Unless production slows down to focus on character depth and continuity, a second film risks repeating the same mistakes.
This author, has little hope for any improvement. Posey has no real production experience or evidence of success and the Teen Wolf show had a very distinct style, feel and dialogue. To be able to replicate that when you haven’t been on the previous production team is insanely hard and may be out of his skill-set. Still, lets cross out fingers.
Let’s Lament a Litte
Teen Wolf: The Movie was an unfortunate case of missed opportunity. The revival had everything going for it—a passionate fan base, nostalgic appeal, and a rich universe to expand upon. Yet, it stumbled under the weight of its own expectations. By sidelining essential characters like Stiles, rehashing old storylines, and failing to capture the tone and intimacy of the original series, it alienated the very audience it sought to please.
The film’s failure should serve as a warning for future reboots and continuations: nostalgia cannot replace good storytelling. Fans do not simply want to revisit the past—they want a story that honours it. If Tyler Posey and his team proceed with another installment, they will need to rebuild trust, restore the emotional depth that once defined Teen Wolf, and, ideally, bring back Dylan O’Brien to restore the heart that made Beacon Hills worth visiting in the first place.
If you disagree with this take and absolutely loved the movie, please leave a comment bashing out opinions below and tell us what on earth you found in this movie that was decent. If you hated it as much as this author, congratulations you have taste. Tell us why you hate it below.
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