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Orphan

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Orphan R 2009 2h 3m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
60% Tomatometer 163 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Devastated by the loss of their unborn baby, Kate and John decide to adopt a child. At the orphanage, both feel drawn to a little girl named Esther and soon the couple take their new daughter home. But when a dangerous series of events unfolds, Kate begins to suspect that there is something evil lurking behind the child's angelic exterior.
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Orphan

Orphan

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Critics Consensus

While it has moments of dark humor and the requisite scares, Orphan fails to build on its interesting premise and degenerates into a formulaic, sleazy horror/thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Chuck Wilson Village Voice Decidedly amoral. Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Cliff Doerksen Chicago Reader Director Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax) endows this ugly mess with a slew of unintentional laughs, but not enough to repay the 123-minute time suck. Aug 20, 2009 Full Review David Stratton At the Movies (Australia) One of the good things about ORPHAN, which is directed by Jaume Collet-Sera, is that it takes itself quite seriously and manages to bring a surprising level of originality to the potentially familiar material. Rated: 3/5 Aug 12, 2009 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh The trio of leads make this a tense and uncomfortable watch, with the ultimate reveal only adding absurdity into the experience. Rated: 4/5 Sep 12, 2025 Full Review Joshua Ryan FandomWire It’s a film that has not only stood the test of time, but continues to evoke a visceral physical and emotional response. That is the sign of a fantastic horror film. Rated: 9/10 Oct 1, 2024 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy It’s The Bad Seed until it isn’t. It’s The Omen until it changes its mind. In other words, the twist ending alters everything to such a starling degree that it’s no wonder many folks dig this plot pirouette while just as many despise it. Rated: 2.5/4 May 20, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leaburn O A surprisingly good dark thriller with hints of horror thrown in. Plot is wacky but it’s enthralling throughout. Lots of plot holes but meh it stands up ok and has a decent ending all round. Watched on Amazon Prime. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/04/25 Full Review Gabe T. Great movie with an insane plot twist! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/31/25 Full Review Luiz Eduardo R A Orfã é uma mistura inteligente de vários subgêneros do terror, resultando em uma obra original e envolvente. A trama prende do início ao fim, com reviravoltas genuinamente inesperadas que elevam a experiência. As cenas de terror são bem construídas e mantêm um ótimo equilíbrio entre tensão psicológica e horror físico. O elenco está excelente, com destaque para as duas protagonistas, que entregam atuações intensas e realistas. No centro de tudo, Esther brilha como a melhor coisa do filme — uma personagem marcante, assustadora e fascinante. Em resumo, A Orfã é um clássico moderno do terror que combina suspense, emoção e um plot twist inesquecível. Nota 8/10. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/29/25 Full Review Wtf D. great portrayal of gaslighting Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/25/25 Full Review ChrisCSH H The film is many other different other types of horror films wrapped into one film with a pretty interesting plot twist. Overall the film is very creepy very disturbing and an entertaining couple of hours that do feel like they go on a little too long, but the performances from the entire cast is fantastic and the children in the movie do a excellent job. Overall orphan is a very creepy little horror film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/25/25 Full Review EJ G. As a longtime fan of the original Orphan, I approached Orphan: First Kill with both excitement and a hint of skepticism. On the plus side, the overall idea of the plot is compelling—essentially a battle of serial killers—which keeps you engaged and the twists are genuinely unexpected. I found myself genuinely surprised at moments, which is no small feat for a prequel in an established franchise. That said, the movie struggles with consistency. There are numerous plot holes and contradictions that clash with the original film, which can be distracting for fans who know the first movie inside and out. These inconsistencies make it harder to fully immerse oneself in the story, even though the central concept is strong. In the end, Orphan: First Kill is a thrilling ride with clever twists, but it’s a bit of a double-edged sword: its ambition is clear, but its execution doesn’t entirely live up to the legacy of its predecessor. Fans of the original may enjoy it, but be prepared to squint at a few glaring inconsistencies. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/01/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Orphan

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Movie Info

Synopsis Devastated by the loss of their unborn baby, Kate and John decide to adopt a child. At the orphanage, both feel drawn to a little girl named Esther and soon the couple take their new daughter home. But when a dangerous series of events unfolds, Kate begins to suspect that there is something evil lurking behind the child's angelic exterior.
Director
Jaume Collet-Serra
Producer
Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Erik Olsen, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Leonardo DiCaprio
Screenwriter
David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Appian Way, Dark Castle Entertainment
Rating
R (Language|Disturbing Violent Content|Some Sexuality)
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$41.6M
Runtime
2h 3m
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