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Orphan

Orphan

There's something wrong with Esther.

2009123 minRMidcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Director
Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring
Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder

After losing their baby, a married couple adopt 9-year old Esther, who may not be as innocent as she seems.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Orphan?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Orphan streaming on HBO Max and The Roku Channel (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Orphan?

Orphan earns 9 badges, led by Top 5% in Horror and Guilty pleasure.

Show 1 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Orphan worth watching?

Orphan's Midcredits score is the 78th percentile of all films, from 932K ratings across 6 sources. 71% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

78th percentile

Better received than 78% of films

97th percentile among Horror76th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)74th
Approval (how many liked it)80th

68 /100

74th percentile of all films

96th percentile among Horror73rd percentile among 2000s

Critics 42 · Audience 70

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.1 — solid but not unanimous.

71% liked it

80th percentile of all films

95th percentile among Horror78th percentile among 2000s
71% rated it 7–1029% rated it 1–6

Critics 59% · Audience 63%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 7 noms overall

82nd percentile

931K ratings across platforms

82nd percentile among Horror75th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 2% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$20M
Opening weekend$13M
Domestic gross$42M
Worldwide gross$78M

Returned 3.9× its budget — 93rd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Orphan is a formulaic evil-child thriller elevated by a strong lead performance and a memorably absurd twist ending.

Fans praised

  • Isabelle Fuhrman's chilling and convincing performance
  • Strong family drama and character development
  • Effective suspense and atmosphere

Detractors panned

  • Illogical and frustratingly stupid adult characters, especially the father
  • Relies on predictable clichés and cheap jump scares

What stands out

Acting78

Isabelle Fuhrman's standout, Vera Farmiga strong, child cast natural

AtmosphereDivisive72

Wintry setting and oppressive tone effectively create unease

EndingDivisive70

Twist landing reported as satisfying and shocking, final chase seen as clichéd

TensionDivisive68

Strong suspense and dread in first half, undermined by overuse of jump scares

OriginalityDivisive55

Familiar evil-child tropes but the climactic twist is described as shockingly unique

Plot and storyDivisive50

Formulaic premise and implausible adoption setup, twist recontextualizes story

PacingDivisive45

Slow build divided opinion; some found it too long, others praised measured tension

CharactersDivisive35

Husband written as infuriatingly oblivious, family backstories layered but inconsistent

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 10 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 6 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s even
  • Critics vs users 8 points apart

Watch experience

What is Orphan like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Scary: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want to be scared.

It is intense and leaves you unsettled. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Scary.

The answer rests on this: Moods
DreadTenseCold
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Brutal · 7% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its material straight with a serious, unflinching tone, building dread through naturalistic performances and a relentlessly dark atmosphere.
The rideA sustained atmosphere of menace and suspicion builds to a brutal, violent climax in the third act.
StructureThe story unfolds in a classic three-act structure: adoption, escalating horror, and a climactic confrontation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

UnsettlingCathartic · 6% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a lingering unease from its shocking violence and the disturbing revelation about Esther, while the mother's final victory offers a tense release.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% (this title) · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA couple adopts a seemingly angelic child who turns out to be a violent adult, forcing the mother to fight for her family's survival.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsFamily bondsDeception · 9% of films
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores how a monstrous entity hides its true nature behind a child's facade, and how a family's trust is exploited.
StanceThe film warns that evil can hide behind a charming, innocent facade, and that a parent's unconditional trust can be dangerously misplaced.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanDomesticWildernessRealistic
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · John Ottman
Settinga snowy Connecticut suburb, centering on the Coleman family home and its surrounding woods and pond
MusicThe score uses dissonant strings and piano to underscore the growing dread.

Content guide

Is Orphan okay for kids?

R

Orphan is rated R: “Rated R for disturbing violent content, some sexuality and language” (MPAA). As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (89/100), sexual content at intense (68/100), language at intense (65/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (42/100) and frightening material at severe (88/100). Overall it is heavier than 85% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 20 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Ireland18
  • South Korea18
  • Brazil18
  • Belgium18
  • Czechia18+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-18
  • Hungary18
  • ItalyVM14
  • LTN-16
  • MexicoB-15
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • Poland18
  • PortugalM/18
  • Sweden15
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 91% of all filmsHeavier than 85% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 82%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 85%
Profanity
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 46%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 55%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 91%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Heavy almost across the board: violence, frightening material, sexual content, and language. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Orphan have?

MovieCove's classifier found 12 depicted content warnings in Orphan: Animal cruelty (severe), Animal death (severe), Pregnancy loss (severe), Child abuse (moderate), Domestic violence (moderate), Medical procedures (moderate), Addiction or relapse (mild), plus 5 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. 1 more is mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: Death of a child. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereAnimal crueltyAnimal deathPregnancy loss
ModerateChild abuseDomestic violenceMedical procedures
MildAddiction or relapse
MentionedDeath of a child

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in Orphan?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Vera Farmiga
as Kate
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Peter Sarsgaard
as John
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Isabelle Fuhrman
as Esther
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
CCH Pounder
as Sister Abigail
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jimmy Bennett
as Daniel
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Margo Martindale
as Dr. Browning
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Karel Roden
as Dr. Varava
Aryana Engineer
as Max
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Rosemary Dunsmore
as Grandma Barbara
Jamie Young
as Brenda
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Orphan?

Movies like Orphan include Orphan: First Kill (2022), The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) and The Conjuring (2013). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, and most are psychological horror films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

5 of these 12 share its world: suburban middle class. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Orphan?

2.8K other films share the rarest tag below, premise: infiltration. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.