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The Order

Play trailer Poster for The Order R Released Sep 5, 2003 1h 42m Mystery & Thriller Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
10% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 38% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
For centuries, a secret Order has existed within the Church. Following a series of unexplained murders, a renegade priest (Heath Ledger) begins an investigation that hurls him into a maelstrom of unimaginable evil, murder, and the knowledge that there is a fate worse than death.
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The Order

The Order

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Critics Consensus

A religious thriller that's more lethargic and silly than thrilling.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media There's little reason to watch this mess. Rated: 1/5 Dec 28, 2010 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Devout Catholics will be appalled; everyone else will be asleep. Feb 28, 2007 Full Review Ed Gonzalez Slant Magazine Blood in. Blood out. Eye roll. Rated: .5/4 Nov 25, 2003 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault I didn’t mind "The Order"; somewhere in there is an intriguing idea. Rated: C Sep 19, 2022 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed An ordeal to sit through. Mar 17, 2014 Full Review Steve Newton Georgia Straight You'll be wishing you'd gotten your satanic-flick fix by staying home and renting The Omen. Rated: 1/5 Feb 9, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jake D Devout Catholics will understand. Everyone else will be entertained. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Emilliano Jr S Even my Catholic faith fell asleep into this boring, lame thriller. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 04/26/24 Full Review Shaun E Ok, let's start with a curiosity. The US name of this film is just odd, given the whole plot is about the sin eater. Nevermind. This film struggles to get going and it takes a while for its plot to start to make sense. The story does not play out in any traditional sense, and I suspect that is the reason that it has been so panned. The film also suffers from 'character explains plot to save time and complication' - one of film-making's weakest plot devices. There are some (aka plenty) of things that are just plain weird, such as the wannabe pope, without giving any plot spoilers, and the (I still have no idea why they were in the story) demonic children. Now, behind the story that is playing out on screen lies a whole philosophical undertow. Would you sacrifice yourself for someone you loved? Would you be willing to pay the price of immortality? What would you do if given god-like power? I enjoyed this film because I did find it thought provoking. Yes, it is plain weird in places, but any film invoking the supernatural does. This one perhaps struggles to make reality and the supernatural good visual bedfellows. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d Some good ideas but it never quite comes together. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review justin t I really liked the style. It looked really dark and yet really pretty. The only thing that I didn't like was the over-use of cross dissolves and pictures put on top of each other. The lighting looked fantastic. Really good sound nicely balanced. It feels so dark and moody and I loved it! The religious angle was interesting. I thought it worked really well and kept my attention. I didn't like Heath Ledger in the main role; I found him unconvincing which is a shame. Oozing with moody style and gothic noir. I loved it! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Liam D A whole bunch of nothing This Thriller is burdened with the biggest sin which is that the film is boring with this cast and the writer and director who I know who have done better than this Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/06/21 Full Review Read all reviews
The Order

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Cast & Crew

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Brian Helgeland

Director

Heath Ledger

Alex

Shannyn Sossamon

Mara

Benno Fürmann

William Eden

Mark Addy

Thomas

Peter Weller

Cardinal Driscoll

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The Order

(l-r) Thomas (Mark Addy), Mara (Shannyn Sossamon) and Alex (Heath Ledger) begin their investigation of unexplained murders and the mystery of The Order. Thomas (Mark Addy, left) and Alex's (Heath Ledger) investigation into an ancient Order takes them to a foreboding locale. Alex (Heath Ledger) helps an injured Thomas (Mark Addy) following their first encounter with The Order. Eden (Benno Fürmann) reveals to Alex (Heath Ledger) the disturbing truth behind The Order. Alex (Heath Ledger) stands alone in his battle against a paragon of evil known as The Order. Alex (Heath Ledger) closes in on an important clue in his pursuit of the truth behind a series of unexplained murders and the secrets of The Order. Two children (Mirko Casaburo, Giulia Lombardi) prepare to unleash some horrific powers. Eden (Benno Fürmann) prepares dying British aristocrat Burnham (Jon Laurimore) for the Sin Eating ritual. Alex (Heath Ledger) ponders the mystery behind an ancient and deadly Order. Heath Ledger investigates strange deaths at the hands of an ancient figure who plays God on earth, allowing great evil to go unpunished, in THE ORDER. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis For centuries, a secret Order has existed within the Church. Following a series of unexplained murders, a renegade priest (Heath Ledger) begins an investigation that hurls him into a maelstrom of unimaginable evil, murder, and the knowledge that there is a fate worse than death.
Director
Brian Helgeland
Producer
Brian Helgeland, Craig Baumgarten
Screenwriter
Brian Helgeland
Distributor
Gativideo, Art Port, 20th Century Fox, Gémini Films [fr]
Production Co
20th Century Fox, N1 European Film Produktions, Baumgarten Merims Productions
Rating
R (Sexuality|Language|Violent Images)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 5, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.7M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
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