Overview
A chilling tale where a seemingly perfect family harbors a dark secret.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- brooding
- foreboding
- ominous
- late night horror marathon
- classic horror night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the taut direction, strong performances, chilling score, memorable set pieces, and polished craftsmanship, while many found the premise contrived and the narrative overly expository or silly.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The plot connects Damien's identity to prophecy, the Antichrist, Satan, and a coming supernatural catastrophe.
Richard Donner's controlled direction, solemn performances, striking photography, and Jerry Goldsmith's score heighten the film's mainstream sophistication.
Robert and Katherine's adoption of Damien turns parental longing into the source of an increasingly terrifying threat.
Priestly warnings, ominous events, photographic evidence, and fatal incidents progressively deepen Robert's suspicion.
Films like The Omen, and why
The Exorcist
shared satanic horror, religious dread, family vulnerability, and escalating supernatural terror
Rosemary's Baby
shared occult conspiracy, apocalyptic prophecy, investigative mystery, and ominous atmosphere
The Good Son
shared supernatural child menace, parental fear, and disturbing domestic horror
The Wicker Man
shared polished mainstream horror craft, biblical evil, and relentless fatalistic suspense
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard Donner
- Release Date
- 1976-06-25
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (2518)
Cast
- Gregory Peck
- Lee Remick
- David Warner
- Billie Whitelaw
- Harvey Stephens
- Patrick Troughton
- Martin Benson
- Robert Rietti
- Tommy Duggan
- John Stride
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Omen about?
- A grieving ambassador’s adopted son becomes the center of a polished, prophecy-driven descent into Satanic terror.
- What is The Omen like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Omen as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Omen violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Omen as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Omen?
- Critics broadly praised the taut direction, strong performances, chilling score, memorable set pieces, and polished craftsmanship, while many found the premise contrived and the narrative overly expository or silly.
- Which films are like The Omen?
- Films with a similar feel include The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, The Good Son, and The Wicker Man.
- How long is The Omen?
- The Omen runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Omen?
- In United States, The Omen is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
