The Orphanage

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1:58

The Orphanage

R

2008

1h 45m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

178 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Laura (Belén Rueda) has happy memories of her childhood in an orphanage. She convinces her husband to buy the place and help her convert it into a home for sick children. One day, her own adopted son, Simón (Roger Príncep), disappears. Simon is critically ill, and when he is still missing several months later, he is presumed dead. Grief-stricken Laura believes she hears spirits, who may or may not be trying to help her find the boy.

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Critics Consensus

Deeply unnerving and surprisingly poignant, The Orphanage is an atmospheric, beautifully crafted haunted house horror film that earns scares with a minimum of blood.

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Tasha Robinson

Polygon

Oct 20, 2021

A skillfully made heartbreaker.

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Katey Rich

CinemaBlend

Oct 14, 2014

Though The Orphanage sticks fairly closely to a genre fomat, and the plot twists become a little predictable, the film packs surprises all the way to the end.

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Eric Kohn

New York Press

Oct 14, 2014

Let the anticipation of Bayona's next move begin.

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Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

Mar 21, 2026

3.5/4

There are a few gory make-up effects, but [Juan Antonio] Bayona mostly preys on our fear of the unknown to craft a first-rate fright fest.

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Oct 27, 2025

4.5/5

Initially terrifying yet ultimately touching (and tragic), The Orphanage is a strong debut for director J.A. Bayona.

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Oct 22, 2025

3.5/5

J. A. Bayona mines scares and tears in equal measure in this twisty ghost film that features an outstanding lead performance by Belén Rueda and several incredibly creepy children's games.

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Eye C

@ECinc Oct 24, 2026

Pues empieza bien, con un par de sobresaltos, pero poco a poco se va apagando y el terror va dando paso a una cosa romántica muy del estilo de Del Toro. Me gusta más el inicio que el fin.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 5, 2026

The Orphanage is a *4.5* star Movie!

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Carlos H

@carloshenriquec Apr 24, 2026

Eu achava que Os Outros, clássico estrelado por Nicole Kidman, era o filme definitivo sobre fantasmas... até assistir a este filme. O Orfanato é, junto com Os Outros, o melhor filme sobre casas mal-assombradas já feito. A criatividade por trás deste filme pode ser notada desde os créditos iniciais e estende-se para o seu roteiro incrível, direção ágil e trilha sonora envolventes. O elenco é primoroso (eu realmente fiquei boquiaberto ao ver Edgar Vivar aqui). Belén Rueda é uma atriz excepcional e Geraldine Chaplin, por mais que tenha pouco tempo de tela, rouba a cena, como sempre. A história é extremamente envolvente, a atmosfera, angustiante, e o final, devastador e estranhamente "bonito", ao mesmo tempo. Sem dúvidas, um dos melhores filmes que já assisti. Uma experiência única, que merece ser revisitada várias e várias vezes. CLÁSSICO INSTANTÂNEO!!!

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inta K

@intuciic Apr 8, 2026

sad story of mother trying to find her lost kid in the orphanage where she grew up. mix of reality and realm beyond. her own doing in the matter.

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love H.

@horrorfan123 Mar 1, 2026

This film was very good but the ending was Medicore.

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francesco t

@RT64445094 Nov 1, 2025

Starts intrestingly confusing yet all comes to an end way to fast and in a quite predictable way

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J. A. Bayona

Director

Belén Rueda

Laura

Fernando Cayo

Carlos

Geraldine Chaplin

Aurora

Montserrat Carulla

Benigna

Mabel Rivera

Pilar

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Synopsis

Laura (Belén Rueda) has happy memories of her childhood in an orphanage. She convinces her husband to buy the place and help her convert it into a home for sick children. One day, her own adopted son, Simón (Roger Príncep), disappears. Simon is critically ill, and when he is still missing several months later, he is presumed dead. Grief-stricken Laura believes she hears spirits, who may or may not be trying to help her find the boy.

Director: J. A. Bayona
Producer: Mar Targarona, Joaquín Padro, Álvaro Augustin
Screenwriter: Sergio G. Sánchez
Distributor: Picturehouse
Production Co: Telecinco Cinema, Rodar y Rodar Cine y Television
Rating: R (Some Disturbing Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror, Drama
Original Language: European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 11, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.2M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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