It started as a secret experiment... It ended up as a new breed of terror.
A boy takes in a stray dog, later finding out that it's an ultra-intelligent runaway from a genetic research lab. Unbeknownst to him, the dog is being stalked by another escaped creature that's not quite so friendly.
Watchers (1988) is a horror, science fiction and thriller film directed by Jon Hess, released on December 2, 1988 with a runtime of 1h 31m. It stars Corey Haim, Michael Ironside, Barbara Williams and Lala Sloatman. Viewers rate it 5.4 out of 10 across 107 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Watchers before you stream it.
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for Watchers.
Trailer
Trailer
Corey Haim
as Travis Cornell
Michael Ironside
as Lem Johnson
Barbara Williams
as Nora Cornell
Lala Sloatman
as Tracey
Dale Wilson
as Bill Keeshan
Blu Mankuma
as Cliff
Duncan Fraser
as Sheriff Walt Gaines
Colleen Winton
as Deputy Porter
Christopher Cary
as TV Newscaster
Don S. Davis
as Veterinarian
Graeme Campbell
as Man On Boat
Dan O'Dowd
as First TV Reporter
Directed by Jon Hess, written by Bill Freed, Dean R. Koontz and Damian Lee, produced by Damian Lee and David Mitchell.
Average viewer score of 5.4/10 from 107 ratings.
**_A boy & his dog… and the savage creature chasing them_** This was loosely based on Dean Koontz’ 1987 novel. As usual, readers complain about the changes and how the book is vastly superior. So, what else is new? How much more so if the book’s 512 pages and the movie runs only 1h 31m? It’s an adventure/sci-fi/horror in the tradition of “Terminator” and “Predator,” just with a teenage boy protagonist, played by…
Reviewed on May 21, 2026
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Watchers (1988) is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Night Flight Plus and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
The main cast of Watchers (1988) includes Corey Haim, Michael Ironside, Barbara Williams, Lala Sloatman and Dale Wilson. The film was directed by Jon Hess. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Watchers was released on December 2, 1988 and runs for 1h 31m.
Watchers (1988) holds an average rating of 5.4 out of 10 from 107 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy horror, science fiction and thriller films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Watchers trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
