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Children of the Corn

Play trailer 1:20 Poster for Children of the Corn R 1984 1h 33m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
36% Tomatometer 33 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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Children of the Corn

Children of the Corn

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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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Critics Reviews

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Julian Singleton Cinapse Jul 12
A love-it-or-leave-it slice of 80’s horror with kernels of camp and creepy dispensed in equal measure. Go to Full Review
Grant Watson Fiction Machine 12/16/2024
4/10
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. Go to Full Review
Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh 09/20/2023
3/5
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. Go to Full Review
Walter Chaw Film Freak Central 03/02/2023
2.5/4
Well-directed if stolid... Go to Full Review
Stephanie Archer Film Inquiry 10/01/2022
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. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/19/2022
2.5/5
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch 4d Children of the Corn is a classic horror film that delivers genuinely unsettling moments and a disturbing concept that still holds weight. The idea of a rural town overtaken by violent, indoctrinated children is inherently creepy, and the film leans into that discomfort effectively. There are scenes that feel bold even by today’s standards, making you wonder how they were ever approved at the time. The direction and writing work well together, slowly revealing the madness beneath the surface. The cornfields become a symbol of danger, turning wide-open spaces into something claustrophobic and threatening. The children feel unhinged rather than exaggerated, which helps ground the horror and make it more effective. Over the years, the franchise has been diluted by countless sequels and remakes, making it harder for audiences to connect with the series. That only highlights how strong the original is. It’s dynamic and not perfect but fun. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 27 I really liked this one, despite it's terrible ratings. I found it really good. See more Ry N @RyGuy Oct 29 A couple find themselves in a small town ran by a satanic cult of kids. I enjoyed it up unitl the paranormal stuff. See more Andre L Sep 20 A classic with creepy kids and story. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Sep 3 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Jace T @CineChamber Aug 5 While the religious and cult like themes in Children of the Corn are moderately interesting, this film just does not hold up very well by todays standards. There is really nothing very scary about it, but maybe back in 1984, the premise alone was frightening enough. It is fun watching a bunch of kids be murderous, but the two main adults we follow who come to the town a pretty terrible. Isaac, the kid prophet, is the most interesting character in the whole movie. See more Read all reviews
Children of the Corn

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Movie Info

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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