Hellraiser

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1:27

Hellraiser

R

1987

1h 33m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Sexual deviant Frank (Sean Chapman) inadvertently opens a portal to hell when he tinkers with a box he bought while abroad. The act unleashes gruesome beings called Cenobites, who tear Frank's body apart. When Frank's brother (Andrew Robinson) and his wife, Julia (Clare Higgins), move into Frank's old house, they accidentally bring what is left of Frank back to life. Frank then convinces Julia, his one-time lover, to lure men back to the house so he can use their blood to reconstruct himself.

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Critics Consensus

Elevated by writer-director Clive Barker's fiendishly unique vision, Hellraiser offers a disquieting - and sadistically smart - alternative to mindless gore.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Oct 14, 2019

B+

The reason the movie works as well as it does is because of its human characters.

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William Thomas

Empire Magazine

Nov 13, 2017

4/5

Horror is at its best when it's relentless. Clive Barker knows this, and his debut feature as director is so gleefully vicious, so relentlessly grim that it's going to be very hard for fans of the genre not to like it.

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Bob McCabe

Empire Magazine

Nov 13, 2017

4/5

With Hellraiser, Clive Barker created one of the most genuinely disturbing movies of the last 20 years.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

1 day ago

The performances are strong. The story is original and effective. The horrific elements are hugely memorable.

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David Elliott

Copley News Service

Dec 14, 2025

If you like strong terror and visceral weirdness, you've found your movie.

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Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

Sep 18, 2025

9/10

This film is Clive Barker’s best film, and it is a unique mix of family dysfunction, sex, sadism, and gore. At times it feels like a 50’s melodrama, other times like a nightmare, and sometimes like torture porn.

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Robert P

@Superbad 1 day ago

Full of Gore I loved it!

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Brendan B

@filmzone Sep 3, 2026

Though the concepts and narrative are complex, it’s pretty easy to enjoy this one. Extra points when then the humans are the bad guys, not the demons.

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Jasmine W

@jasniquejewels Aug 31, 2026

a bloody gory cinematic masterpiece hellraiser is awesome and this horror film is truly one that I won't ever stop thinking about.

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Beckham S

@beckhamstephenson Aug 24, 2026

By far one of the best horror films I've ever consumed. Hellraiser gets your heart pumping; it's not terrifying, it's not scary, it is sensual and raw. Hellraiser makes you feel so alive. It exists on atmosphere and your interpretation of it, but manages to squeeze in horror with a bit of body horror and gore. It slowly progresses into a world you cannot get enough of. The undertones of self-discovery and sensuality are so real, you start to see the character arcs and the messaging through small lines and gestures in the movie. The script was extremely well thought out, and the small details were on point. The cinematography was smart, humorous and well-thought. The movie gives you small, sweet scares before berating you with quick emotions, you barely get on your feet. It's a rush, and, suddenly, the movie is over before you know it. It's a wonderful and extremely well thought-out film, and I will definitely be watching it again in the future. Totally would recommend it.

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dr. R

@Yes123456 Aug 24, 2026

THE QUEEREST HORROR MOVIE EVER. MAKES EVERYTHING ELSE LOOK RELATIVELY HETERONORMATIVE. IT HAS EVERYTHING A MOVIE NEEDS. GREAT. CLASSIC. 1,000,000,000/10.

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Xiuxiuin Z

@Xiuxiuin Aug 22, 2026

Great classic, best of the series.

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Clive Barker

Director

Andrew Robinson

Larry Cotton

Clare Higgins

Julia Cotton

Ashley Laurence

Kirsty Cotton

Sean Chapman

Frank Cotton

Oliver Smith

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Synopsis

Sexual deviant Frank (Sean Chapman) inadvertently opens a portal to hell when he tinkers with a box he bought while abroad. The act unleashes gruesome beings called Cenobites, who tear Frank's body apart. When Frank's brother (Andrew Robinson) and his wife, Julia (Clare Higgins), move into Frank's old house, they accidentally bring what is left of Frank back to life. Frank then convinces Julia, his one-time lover, to lure men back to the house so he can use their blood to reconstruct himself.

Director: Clive Barker
Producer: Christopher Figg
Screenwriter: Clive Barker
Distributor: New World Pictures, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Rivdel Films
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 1987, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 25, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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