
The Omen
1976, Horror, 1h 51m
50 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Robert Thorn
Kathy Thorn
Keith Jennings
Mrs. Baylock
Carl Bugenhagen (uncredited)

Damien
News & Interviews for The Omen
Critic Reviews for The Omen
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (7)
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Gregory Peck takes everything pitch-perfect seriously. This is one of his best performances.
October 21, 2019 | Rating: A- | Full Review… -
The Omen contains some of the most memorable untimely deaths in cinema history.
December 29, 2014 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review… -
Richard Donner directs more for speed than mood, but there are a few good shocks.
October 9, 2012 | Full Review… -
It was the performance of Harvey Stephens as the young Damien that invested the film with the chill of genuine credibility.
October 9, 2012 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Richard Donner's direction is taut. Players all are strong.
March 26, 2009 | Full Review… -
A bald-faced lamprey hitching its razor-tipped maw on the chassis of The Exorcist, The Omen's Sunday school parable of gothic Cathsploitation comes twice as thick and thrice as pious.
June 21, 2006 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Omen
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Apr 03, 2015An all time classic horror movie. Along side The Exorcist, it inspired much of what we know of the genre today. Filled with iconic imagery, The Omen, its lead character Damien and many of its brilliantly filmed scenes have cemented themselves a place in cinema for a VERY long time.Gimly M Super Reviewer
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Sep 07, 2014Classic horror film. Solid acting and pretty good effects for the mid-70s, What more can I say? Check it out.Stephen S Super Reviewer
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May 02, 2014"Sanguis Bibimus." The '70s horror classic The Omen is a provocative and chilling tale. After the mysterious death of his nanny, Robert Thorn is warned by a priest that his son is the Antichrist and that his family is in danger. The pacing is rather slow, but it also creates tension and suspense. And, the directing does an impressive job at developing an air of mystery that's quite compelling. Additionally, the score is remarkably effective at setting a dark and foreboding tone. Though it's aged a bit, The Omen delivers a terrifying vision of Biblical prophecy.Dann M Super Reviewer
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Sep 01, 2013Filled with numerous iconic horror film moments, "The Omen" will always be a classic, despite several huge flaws and misguided plot twists. The memorable demonic tale of a family bringing home a child who isn't theirs only to find that he is possessed by the devil, "The Omen" brings to life horror staples that will present themselves in countless films to follow. Straddling a tone between 1968's "Rosemary's Baby" and the flawed tone of "B" horror films to follow, the film is sometimes eerie, sometimes hokey, depending on where the story lies. To be clear, every scene involving Damien (Harvey Stephens) is completely successful, whether its the long drive to the Cathedral where Damien becomes animalistic or the cold stare as his nanny commits suicide, all of these encapsulate what a 70's horror film should be. But when the film ventures off into Robert (Gregory Peck) and Jennings (David Warner) hunting down where the baby was born and what "666" means, the film loses its horror demeanor and becomes more of a thriller, becoming less and less subtle as the film goes on. Had the film stuck to moments around Damien, it could have been a much stronger film. Instead, it equals its moments of genius with misplaced tangents. With performances on par with similar horror films and tones reminiscent from "The Exorcist" and "Rosemary's Baby", "The Omen" will always be remembered as a staple of classic horror even if it does flounder from time to time.Christopher H Super Reviewer
The Omen Quotes
Robert: | : [ignoring Brennan's warnings about Damien] ... Now, I've heard you. I want you to hear me: I *never* want to see you again. |
Father Brennan: | ...You'll see me in *hell*, Mr. Thorn. There, we will share out our sentence. |
Mrs. Baylock: | It's all for you, Damien! It's all for you! |
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