Much of what you think of Wolfs, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, depends on your view of the purpose of film. If you’re here for pure escapism, star power, and a sleek production — akin to cinematic yacht rock — Wolfs will do the trick. For those seeking something else, this latest offering from Apple TV+ will leave you unsated.
As part of the “fixer” subgenre, Wolfs naturally invites comparisons to the best of its kind. Clooney, of course, starred in Michael Clayton (2007), one of the finest films about the high-stakes, morally ambiguous world of clean-up artists. Wolfs doesn’t aim for that level of gravitas, but as a diversion, it’s serviceable. The film looks great — shot by Larkin Seiple, who also worked on Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), the camera revels in its handsome leads. Clooney and Pitt, now 63 and 60 respectively, seem to be having a blast, and the movie coasts on their charisma.
Wolfs opens with a Manhattan district attorney in a potentially career-nuking jam after a much younger man she met at a bar turns up dead in her hotel room. In her desperation, she calls in a fixer, Clooney, only for Pitt to arrive as well, hired by the hotel’s owner to safeguard its reputation. While both men are initially reluctant to collaborate, circumstances ultimately compel them to join forces. Their mission? Clean up the mess and return a stash of drugs to its rightful owners before everything spirals further out of control.
The simplicity of this setup isn’t the issue; rather, it’s the lack of action, particularly in the early scenes where we spend half an hour confined to a hotel room. Similarly, the jokes — mostly of the ball-busting variety — are initially amusing, but after a while, they start to feel a bit repetitive. Still, you cut Clooney and Pitt some slack because, well, it’s Clooney and Pitt. They’ve shared the screen in six films now, including the Ocean’s trilogy, and their effortless chemistry remains undeniable. Watching the two trade barbs, you’d swear they were born in their black leather jackets and descended directly from Mount Steve McQueen, exuding a swagger that was made for the big screen. Given the breezy plot, you might be glad you watched this one at home.
One of the most interesting details about the film is its title. The unusual spelling hints at the characters themselves: Both are consummate professionals who prefer to fly solo, and as one character remarks of them, they’re “basically the same guy.” This nod to their mirrored archetypes subtly pokes at the stoic fixer trope — the emotionally detached underworld operatives who clean up messes with unflinching finesse. While the film touches on this motif, unlike David Fincher’s The Killer (2023), it doesn’t really explore it further.
The team behind the film is clearly aware of its cinematic predecessors. Clooney and Pitt exude the kind of pizzazz that legendary pairings like Hepburn and Tracy, Lemmon and Matthau, and Belmondo and Delon brought to the screen. Producer Grant Heslov has likened them to the iconic Robert Redford and Paul Newman partnership, and in one key scene, Wolfs pays subtle homage to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).
Directed by Jon Watts, best known for his work on the Spider-Man franchise, Wolfs is a slick, enjoyable ride — perfect for a couple of hours of easy entertainment. Still, given their stature, one can’t help but hope that Pitt and Clooney would seek out projects with greater depth. Apple TV+, which co-produced Killers of the Flower Moon, has shown it can deliver ambitious storytelling, but here it opted for more lighthearted fare.
Watts’s dream-like portrayal of New York reinforces the film’s fleeting nature. Like the nameless fixers who arrive, clean up, and vanish, leaving behind only their work, the movie itself seems designed to fade from memory once the credits roll.
Audiences don’t seem to mind. The movie is reportedly the platform’s most-watched ever, with a sequel in the works. As a film about the quintessential cool guys, it’s fitting that Wolfs goes down like a craft cocktail — smooth, stylish, and refreshing. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it may leave you craving more.
