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The Omen

Play trailer 2:16 Poster for The Omen R 1976 1h 51m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
76% Tomatometer 110 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
American diplomat Robert (Gregory Peck) adopts Damien (Harvey Stephens) when his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick), delivers a stillborn child. After Damien's first nanny hangs herself, Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton) warns Robert that Damien will kill Katherine's unborn child. Shortly thereafter, Brennan dies and Katherine miscarries when Damien pushes her off a balcony. As more people around Damien die, Robert investigates Damien's background and realizes his adopted son may be the Antichrist.
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The Omen

The Omen

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Critics Consensus

The Omen eschews an excess of gore in favor of ramping up the suspense -- and creates an enduring, dread-soaked horror classic along the way.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Shales Washington Post 6d
Thriller audiences may be the most willing suspenders of disbelief, but "The Omen" repeatedly blows the good will with rank implausibilities, farfetched horrors (baboons attack Remick's car at a jungle park) and unintentional jokes. Go to Full Review
Joe Pollack St. Louis Post-Dispatch 6d
The elements of death are a bit more macabre, a touch more imaginative than in the standard horror film, and Donner's direction, at excellent pace, builds to a nifty twist at the end. Go to Full Review
Helen Frizell Sydney Morning Herald 6d
I thought the plot rubbishy, the coincidences impossible, and the suggestion that the father might have to kill Damien for the world's good distasteful. Go to Full Review
John Laycock Windsor Star 6d
Donner has been hiding in television, which is too bad; he clearly knows exactly what he is doing in the big screen. His techniques are fancy and effective; better still, he realizes that horror stories are even scarier told in a whisper. Go to Full Review
Victor Stanton Waterloo Region Record 6d
To the equal credit of writer Seltzer, director Richard Donner and an excellent cast, the movie succeeds in being something more than a Rosemary's Baby. And it doesn't become mired in a glut of slick sensationalism, as did The Exorcist. Go to Full Review
Ronald E. Butler Tulsa World 6d
[Richard Donner] has no sense of humor or irony, which is a pity. He has a propensity for explicit violence, which is inexcusable. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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John K @WQCMI May 24 It was going well for the first half, but the 2nd half of the film was very disappointing. Although, I like Gregory Peck and Patrick Troughton. See more Bret M. @BretM-3 Apr 20 SPOILER ALERT I quite enjoyed this movie. It has the same dark, moody aesthetic of the movie The Changeling, but this movie didn’t feel as slow to me. Very early on, we’re already starting to see paranormal happenings. I also think this movie has some great kills. The priest kill is great and so is the Photographer’s. I also just love the premise of the film. The creepy demon child has been done before, but it still felt unique in a way I can’t describe. I also liked the ending. Not only the twist reveal that Damien lived, but also ending on a Bible Verse that is, essentially, what the whole movie is based on. So yeah, I like this movie quite a bit. Like previously stated, I REALLY enjoyed the dark, moody, gothic tone that the movie carries. Definitely worth watching!! See more matthias S @Thescreenasvor Apr 2 Glad I finally checked out The Omen, one of those horror classics everyone talks about. The soundtrack is absolutely insane and does so much heavy lifting—super haunting and memorable. The imagery and atmosphere never lose you, and as a fan of Richard Donner, it’s no surprise he delivers something this polished. Sure, it’s pretty predictable by today’s standards, but that doesn’t take away from how well it’s made. It’s pure craftsmanship, from the pacing to the performances. Not the scariest anymore, but still deeply effective and iconic. Definitely worth the watch if you’re into classic horror with style and substance. See more Andrew J @andrewjun10r Jan 4 "The Omen" is a masterclass in slow-burn horror, building dread through atmosphere, score, and religious paranoia rather than cheap scares. Gregory Peck delivers a restrained yet powerful performance, while the film’s ominous tone and iconic music elevate its unsettling themes. Decades later, it remains a chilling and influential classic that proves true horror lies in what you fear, not what you see. See more Mania I. @TheMania510 Nov 2 Expertly directed by Richard Donner this is a very suspenseful and clever film. Wonderfully acted and well written this movie kept me on edge and gave me an eerie feeling from start to finish. I first saw this movie when I was 9 years old and it stayed with me a lifetime. Now that I am 60 years old it's even scarier. Watch it with the lights off if you dare. The best movie in the franchise in my opinion. It was remade in 2006 and spawned three sequels and then a legacy sequel a couple years back. This is by far the best of them all. See more Zeferino P. @Z6fP6ral6s Nov 2 I don’t see what others are seeing in this movie It definitely didn’t age well Totally my opinion though Im sure someone believes this belongs on a top list but not me See more Read all reviews
The Omen

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Movie Info

Synopsis American diplomat Robert (Gregory Peck) adopts Damien (Harvey Stephens) when his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick), delivers a stillborn child. After Damien's first nanny hangs herself, Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton) warns Robert that Damien will kill Katherine's unborn child. Shortly thereafter, Brennan dies and Katherine miscarries when Damien pushes her off a balcony. As more people around Damien die, Robert investigates Damien's background and realizes his adopted son may be the Antichrist.
Director
Richard Donner
Producer
Harvey Bernhard
Screenwriter
David Seltzer
Distributor
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, CBS/Fox, Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 25, 1976, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2017
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)