The Omen

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2:16

The Omen

R,

1976,

1h 51m,

Horror/

Mystery & Thriller

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76%

110 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

110 Reviews

80%

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.

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, 2026

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, 2026

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, 2026

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, 2026

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, 2026

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, 2026

[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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Poe G

Mar 9, 2019

A very well-shot classic horror movie with memorable and creative death scenes.

Feb 2, 2019

The best thrilling movie ever made! With the best movie score ever composed!

Theodore G

Jan 27, 2019

The Omen is one of the most greatest horror classic movies

Ron W

Jan 17, 2019

Cool idea but it does near on the ridiculous. However, it nips along so quickly and is shot so well it doesn't really disappoint.

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Hagrid L

Jan 16, 2019

A creepy classic with simple but effective horror.

George S

Jan 1, 2019

Legendary when I was kid due to its dark thematic and german censorship. In retroperspective there is not much left of this magic. Poor acting (has to be Pecks worst movie), cheap effects and not frightening at all anymore.

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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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62%

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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: Fox, 20th Century Fox, CBS/Fox, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
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)

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