In various aspects, the present invention provides substantially monolayer thick molecular films with photoresponsive wettability, the molecules of said films comprising a photochromic molecule coordinated to a metal atom, which is coordinated to an organic tethering molecule, surface coupling group, or both, having a group for attachment to a surface of a substrate. In various aspects, the present inventions also provide photochromic articles comprising said films, methods of forming said films, and methods of manufacturing photochromic articles using said films. In various embodiments, provided are molecular films where the photoconversion between configurations of the photochromic molecule is substantially reversible by irradiation with light. In various embodiments, provided are films where the photoconversion is substantially irreversible by irradiation with light.