The Wicker Man

Play trailer

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

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

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

Zahara B

My new favorite movie. I love pagan/culty/nature folk horror. This is so well made and beautiful

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/08/25

Full Review

Lau S

I love this horror movie! Damn great!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

Film Critic F

This is literally the scariest movie I've ever seen. Watch it now.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas de terror são bacaninhas, a história é bacaninha, o elenco é mais ou menos, e alguns ajudam a melhorar o filme, os personagens são mais ou menos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, mas o final deu uma salvada no filme.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

John G

The Wicker Man laid a foundation for future film of this genre.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

Full Review

Shaun R

Overrated nonsense. Nothing about this film deserves classic status.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Robin Hardy

Director

Edward Woodward

Sergeant Neil Howie

Christopher Lee

Lord Summerisle

Britt Ekland

Willow

Diane Cilento

Miss Rose

Lindsay Kemp

Alder MacGreagor

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

View more photos

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