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Children of the Corn

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1:20

Children of the Corn

R

Released Mar 9, 1984

1h 33m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

As physician Burt Stanton (Peter Horton) and his girlfriend, Vicky (Linda Hamilton), drive across the Midwest to his new job, their trip comes to a sudden halt when they encounter the body of a murdered boy in the road. In trying to contact the authorities, Burt and Vicky wander into a small town populated only by children, followers of sinister young preacher Isaac Chroner (John Franklin). Soon the couple is fleeing the youthful fanatics, who want to sacrifice them to their demonic deity.

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Critics Consensus

Children of the Corn's strong premise and beginning gets shucked away for a kiddie thriller that runs in circles.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Any viewer seeking a provocative thriller about children collectively murdering their parents is honestly spoiled for choice, and almost all of them are probably better ones than this.

Rated: 4/10

Dec 16, 2024

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Descends into some hokey territory that feels quite a ways off from the original story, but the earlier chunks of the narrative manage to honor the source material and its commentaries on organized religion.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 20, 2023

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

Well-directed if stolid...

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 2, 2023

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Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

With today’s growing political environment and in its current form, the original is a terrifying depiction of real life, a timeless film that continually retains its relevance.

Oct 1, 2022

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Despite very much being a movie of its time, there is something about director Fritz Kiersch’s folk horror feature from 1984 that I still find enjoyable.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

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Alan Jones

Starburst

Tepid special effects and a really jarring twist ending go somewhat to ruin one's generally positive feelings for the overall film.

Aug 2, 2022

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Nolan R

This is hardly a thriller, but it’s fun and to say it’s unwatchable is ignorant to the entirety of its successors. “He wants you too, Malachi!”

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/25

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Jonathan O

First of childrens are very creepy in every horror and thriller movies but there's not a lot story of why does it happen on the people on Gatlin are being murdered by their children and what's with a giant like gopher from Caddyshack they didn't mention and they're real form and the ending felt nothing just that's it and roll the credits.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

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James B

It has a good cast with an ok storyline but superb acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

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Tyler B

One of the best opening scenes in horror films, children of the corn is a pioneer for small town horror.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

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Tom F

Except for the guy playing Isaac, everybody involved is just phoning it in in the least interesting way.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

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Jerod S

The OG Malachi goes for the outlanders as they try to figure out what’s going on in the god-forsaken town. 10/24

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/30/24

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Fritz Kiersch

Director

Peter Horton

Burton Stanton

Linda Hamilton

Vicky

R. G. Armstrong

Diehl

John Franklin

Isaac Chroner

Courtney Gains

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Children of the Corn: Trailer 1

1:20

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Synopsis

As physician Burt Stanton (Peter Horton) and his girlfriend, Vicky (Linda Hamilton), drive across the Midwest to his new job, their trip comes to a sudden halt when they encounter the body of a murdered boy in the road. In trying to contact the authorities, Burt and Vicky wander into a small town populated only by children, followers of sinister young preacher Isaac Chroner (John Franklin). Soon the couple is fleeing the youthful fanatics, who want to sacrifice them to their demonic deity.

Director: Fritz Kiersch
Producer: Terrence Kirby, Donald P. Borchers
Screenwriter: George Goldsmith, Stephen King
Distributor: Embassy Pictures, Starmaker Video, Image Entertainment Inc., New World Pictures, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Production Co: Hal Roach Studios Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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