Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Wicker Man

Play trailer Poster for The Wicker Man Released Aug 7, 1974 1h 42m Mystery & Thriller Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents' frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow (Britt Ekland), daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders' strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Wicker Man

The Wicker Man

What to Know

Critics Consensus

This intelligent horror film is subtle in its thrills and chills, with an ending that is both shocking and truly memorable.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (66) Critics Reviews
Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films The gothic ambiance and mood synonymous with the era's familiar tales of unholy menace is wholly absent. If there is evil here, it doesn't know it's evil. Rated: B- Oct 29, 2008 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Anthony Shaffer penned the screenplay which, for sheer imagination and near-terror, has seldom been equalled. Oct 7, 2008 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Robin Hardy's 1973 cult horror film passed through several distributors, several versions, and several bankruptcies, picking up a powerful reputation along the way. Oct 7, 2008 Full Review Chance Solem-Pfeifer Willamette Week It’s pure ritualistic spectacle with Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) presiding over some of the greatest cinematography in horror movie history. Jan 22, 2025 Full Review Chase Hutchinson The Stranger (Seattle, WA) It’s both deeply unsettling and consistently visually vibrant—a foundational work of folk horror that puts all other films about faith to absolute shame. Jul 25, 2024 Full Review Bianca Garner The Film Bee I think what makes The Wicker Man so disturbing is the way that the filmmakers depict the dangers of cult mentality and the horror of belonging to an isolated community. May 16, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Garry A This movie about the weird inhabitants on an island and their pagen rituals is strange, but interesting. It doesn't feel like a horror movie until the final 15 minutes. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/14/25 Full Review Vitor O The movie that arguably helped to start the folk horror movie the most, The Wicker Man is an excellent tale about the clash between a Christian cop searching for the missing of a child and a scottish community that believed in the old gods. This movie is excellent in its entirety. However, the ending will send chills down your spine. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/20/25 Full Review Thomas S The golden standard when it comes to folk horror. Plain and simple. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/04/25 Full Review Joana L Protagonist is an unlikable Bible-thumper but the unintentionally hilarious setting makes it fun to watch Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/04/25 Full Review Thomas S Excellent. What you’d expect a community stuck away in Nordic and Ancient Scots folklore Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/03/25 Full Review Tyler B Finally, I can understand a secular society and the so told revolutionary effects on that particular social evolutionary decline. All the while questioning one's morals within. From now until forever, I shall always be searching for the disappearance of Ruin Morissette. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/03/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Wicker Man

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
The Wicker Tree 20% 10% The Wicker Tree Watchlist Psycho 41% 28% Psycho Watchlist She Creature 38% 44% She Creature Watchlist The Hole 53% 53% The Hole Watchlist The Blair Witch Project 86% 57% The Blair Witch Project Watchlist TRAILER for The Blair Witch Project Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents' frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow (Britt Ekland), daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders' strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child.
Director
Robin Hardy
Producer
Peter Snell
Screenwriter
Anthony Shaffer
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
British Lion Film Corporation
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 7, 1974, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 7, 2023
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.8K
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.85:1)
Most Popular at Home Now