The Omen

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2:16

The Omen

R

1976

1h 51m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

110 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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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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Tom Shales

Washington Post

Jun 15

Thriller audiences may be the most willing suspenders of disbelief, but "The Omen" repeatedly blows the good will with rank implausibilities, farfetched horrors (baboons attack Remick's car at a jungle park) and unintentional jokes.

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Joe Pollack

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jun 15

The elements of death are a bit more macabre, a touch more imaginative than in the standard horror film, and Donner's direction, at excellent pace, builds to a nifty twist at the end.

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Helen Frizell

Sydney Morning Herald

Jun 15

I thought the plot rubbishy, the coincidences impossible, and the suggestion that the father might have to kill Damien for the world's good distasteful.

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John Laycock

Windsor Star

Jun 15

Donner has been hiding in television, which is too bad; he clearly knows exactly what he is doing in the big screen. His techniques are fancy and effective; better still, he realizes that horror stories are even scarier told in a whisper.

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Victor Stanton

Waterloo Region Record

Jun 15

To the equal credit of writer Seltzer, director Richard Donner and an excellent cast, the movie succeeds in being something more than a Rosemary's Baby. And it doesn't become mired in a glut of slick sensationalism, as did The Exorcist.

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Ronald E. Butler

Tulsa World

Jun 15

[Richard Donner] has no sense of humor or irony, which is a pity. He has a propensity for explicit violence, which is inexcusable.

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Uld F

@RT10700606 4d

One of the best horror movies of all time!! It is a great cult horror classic.

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nick S

@Nick_S Jul 15

Some might not like the religious themes or dark elements. But as a piece of cinema it was first rate. The casting and acting couldn't have been better. The script was tight but flowed nicely. The character's actions had a reasonable level of logic. The story had good structure and the tension was palpable. One of the top horrors of all time.

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Steven C

@Slayersteven Jul 8

Absolutely brilliant. Nothing has come close to what this film did. The music alone was off the charts. This simply was and is a classic

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John K

@WQCMI May 24

It was going well for the first half, but the 2nd half of the film was very disappointing. Although, I like Gregory Peck and Patrick Troughton.

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Bret M.

@BretM-3 Apr 20

SPOILER ALERT I quite enjoyed this movie. It has the same dark, moody aesthetic of the movie The Changeling, but this movie didn’t feel as slow to me. Very early on, we’re already starting to see paranormal happenings. I also think this movie has some great kills. The priest kill is great and so is the Photographer’s. I also just love the premise of the film. The creepy demon child has been done before, but it still felt unique in a way I can’t describe. I also liked the ending. Not only the twist reveal that Damien lived, but also ending on a Bible Verse that is, essentially, what the whole movie is based on. So yeah, I like this movie quite a bit. Like previously stated, I REALLY enjoyed the dark, moody, gothic tone that the movie carries. Definitely worth watching!!

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matthias S

@Thescreenasvor Apr 2

Glad I finally checked out The Omen, one of those horror classics everyone talks about. The soundtrack is absolutely insane and does so much heavy lifting—super haunting and memorable. The imagery and atmosphere never lose you, and as a fan of Richard Donner, it’s no surprise he delivers something this polished. Sure, it’s pretty predictable by today’s standards, but that doesn’t take away from how well it’s made. It’s pure craftsmanship, from the pacing to the performances. Not the scariest anymore, but still deeply effective and iconic. Definitely worth the watch if you’re into classic horror with style and substance.

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Richard Donner

Director

Gregory Peck

Robert Thorn

Lee Remick

Kathy Thorn

David Warner

Keith Jennings

Billie Whitelaw

Mrs. Baylock

Leo McKern

Carl Bugenhagen (uncredited)

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The Omen: Trailer 1

2:16

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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)