The Covenant

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The Covenant

PG-13

2006

1h 37m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

4%

Tomatometer

76 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In the 17th century, five families with supernatural powers make a pact of silence. Eventually one power-hungry family is banished. The descendants of those four remaining families are heirs to tremendous power. Known as the Sons of Ipswich, the boys attend elite Spencer Academy. When a student there is found dead after a party, unraveling secrets threaten to shatter the pact that has protected the boys' families for centuries.

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Critics Consensus

The Covenant plays out like a teen soap opera, full of pretty faces, wooden acting, laughable dialogue, and little suspense.

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Andrew Pulver

Guardian

Jan 27, 2007

2/5

... this falls well short of the Buffy-level resonances at which [Harlin] was presumably aiming.

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Nigel Floyd

Time Out

Dec 30, 2006

Flying scenes, frat-boy face-offs and pyrotechnic punch-ups are punctuated by excruciating expository dialogue.

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Jamie Russell

BBC.com

Dec 30, 2006

1/5

Director Renny Harlin helms like a bat out of hell, and obviously doesn't know a pentagram from a mammogram.

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Jan 22, 2024

1.5/5

It's mind-boggling to me that a movie this stupid resists the urge to be fun at every single turn.

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Emma Wolfe

SpookyAstronauts

May 7, 2021

2/10

These guys are like glorified Harry Potter characters.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 5, 2020

1.0/4.0

Only the modestly entertaining performances of Strait and Ramsey save this film from complete failure.

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B P

@Bradster69 3 days ago

Not Bad, but Not My Favorite

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Albino V

@RT35018051 May 27, 2026

A 4% rating on this movie shows how little critics actually know. They can eat a big ol 🍆. The covenant is 🔥🔥🔥

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Gononan B.

@biggononanotthelilone Mar 6, 2026

The Covenant (2006) is a mix of teen drama, supernatural action, and dark magic. Some parts feel slow or predictable with high school drama and romance, but the magical fights and powers are exciting and visually fun. The cast has good chemistry, and the soundtrack sets a moody vibe. At times, the rules of magic are confusing—why some characters suddenly get stronger or how powers work isn’t always clear—but the story still keeps you interested. The ending teases a bigger threat and a cliffhanger, leaving room for more adventures and darker challenges. Overall, it’s entertaining but uneven.

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Shastri A

@FilmProfHorrorFan Feb 23, 2026

This actually a fun, fast-paced, entertaining flick. The rating is needlessly harsh. Watch it for a good time with friends

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Elijah B

@Samson129 Feb 9, 2026

What a bunch of haters, the film realistically deserves like a 3* but saying it is 4% is ludicrous so I have to balance the score out.

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Patricia P

@Trish88 Feb 9, 2026

This movie has amazing quality graphics for its time and is one of my favorite movies. I was shocked to see its score and reviews. I say the plot is great as it is totally different than most witchy movies but plays on the history of witchcraft as well.

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Renny Harlin

Director

Steven Strait

Caleb Danvers

Toby Hemingway

Reid Garwin

Chace Crawford

Tyler Simms

Taylor Kitsch

Pogue Parry

Sebastian Stan

Chase Collins

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Synopsis

In the 17th century, five families with supernatural powers make a pact of silence. Eventually one power-hungry family is banished. The descendants of those four remaining families are heirs to tremendous power. Known as the Sons of Ipswich, the boys attend elite Spencer Academy. When a student there is found dead after a party, unraveling secrets threaten to shatter the pact that has protected the boys' families for centuries.

Director: Renny Harlin
Producer: Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg
Screenwriter: J.S. Cardone
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Screen Gems, Lakeshore Entertainment, Sandstorm Films
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Violence|Intense Sequences of Action|Some Disturbing Images|Language|Partial Nudity|Sexual Content)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.3M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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