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The Omen

Play trailer 2:16 Poster for The Omen R 1976 1h 51m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
American diplomat Robert (Gregory Peck) adopts Damien (Harvey Stephens) when his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick), delivers a stillborn child. After Damien's first nanny hangs herself, Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton) warns Robert that Damien will kill Katherine's unborn child. Shortly thereafter, Brennan dies and Katherine miscarries when Damien pushes her off a balcony. As more people around Damien die, Robert investigates Damien's background and realizes his adopted son may be the Antichrist.
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The Omen

The Omen

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com 10/21/2019
A-
Gregory Peck takes everything pitch-perfect seriously. This is one of his best performances. Go to Full Review
Anna Baddeley Daily Telegraph (UK) 12/29/2014
5/5
The Omen contains some of the most memorable untimely deaths in cinema history. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 10/09/2012
Richard Donner directs more for speed than mood, but there are a few good shocks. Go to Full Review
Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk Sep 23
9/10
While there aren’t a lot of “scares”, this is a taut and well paced thriller with plenty of dread and Ominousness. It’s a well constructed and acted movie, with a couple set pieces that really stick in your mind. Go to Full Review
Alan Jones Radio Times Sep 19
4/5
This big-budget horror blockbuster is given class by a distinguished cast and an unsettling atmosphere created by director Richard Donner. Go to Full Review
Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 12
5/5
The dramatic tone and committed performances are compelling in their own right, with the supernatural components only elevating this to an all-new level. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Mania I. @TheMania510 Nov 2 Expertly directed by Richard Donner this is a very suspenseful and clever film. Wonderfully acted and well written this movie kept me on edge and gave me an eerie feeling from start to finish. I first saw this movie when I was 9 years old and it stayed with me a lifetime. Now that I am 60 years old it's even scarier. Watch it with the lights off if you dare. The best movie in the franchise in my opinion. It was remade in 2006 and spawned three sequels and then a legacy sequel a couple years back. This is by far the best of them all. See more Zeferino P. @Z6fP6ral6s Nov 2 I don’t see what others are seeing in this movie It definitely didn’t age well Totally my opinion though Im sure someone believes this belongs on a top list but not me See more Damian M Aug 13 Absolute Cinema, Amazing acting, and the way the tension builds throughout, must watch. See more Claudio C Jul 21 The Omen (1976) A Timeless Film That Has Not Aged After Almost Fifty Years (11,843 – 28 Jul 2000 / 20 Jul 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) In early 70's, in Rome, American Ambassador Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) is informed in the hospital that his wife Katherine Thorn (Lee Remick) lost the baby in the delivery. However, Father Spiletto (Martin Benson) offers Robert a baby that was born at the same time and lost his mother and Robert accepts the changeling and does not tell Katherine. On the fifth birthday, Damien (Harvey Stephens) loses his nanny who commits suicide. Immediately after, Mrs. Baylock (Billie Whitelaw) arrives at their house and says that the agency sent her to replace the previous nanny. Soon, Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton) visits Robert at the Embassy and warns him that evil is coming. When mysterious deaths and accidents happen, Robert teams up with photographer Jennings (David Warner) to investigate the origins of Damien. “The Omen” (1976) is a timeless film that has not aged after almost fifty years. Directed by Richard Donner and with names such Gregory Peck, Lee Remick and David Warner in the cast, “The Omen” is a masterpiece of the horror, thriller and mystery. After watching the recent “The First Omen” (2024), rewatching “The Omen” is mandatory to see that both movies are well tied up. My vote is nine. Title (Brazil): “A Profecia” (“The Omen”) My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/ See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 14 Success in 1 hour and 51 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Carlos I May 4 "The Omen" is an absolute classic that continues to resonate with horror fans for its chilling atmosphere and groundbreaking storytelling. Featuring one of Gregory Peck's standout performances, the film expertly blends unsettling grimness with shocking kills that leave a lasting impression. At this point, it’s hard to find new words to describe its mastery of suspense and the pervasive sense of dread that permeates each scene. "The Omen" remains an essential viewing experience that's not only a benchmark for horror films but also a profound exploration of the battle between good and evil. See more Read all reviews
The Omen

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Movie Info

Synopsis American diplomat Robert (Gregory Peck) adopts Damien (Harvey Stephens) when his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick), delivers a stillborn child. After Damien's first nanny hangs herself, Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton) warns Robert that Damien will kill Katherine's unborn child. Shortly thereafter, Brennan dies and Katherine miscarries when Damien pushes her off a balcony. As more people around Damien die, Robert investigates Damien's background and realizes his adopted son may be the Antichrist.
Director
Richard Donner
Producer
Harvey Bernhard
Screenwriter
David Seltzer
Distributor
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, CBS/Fox, Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 25, 1976, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2017
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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