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Celluloid
HorrorDrama San Sebastián 2007 · Official Selection

The Orphanage

Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona · 2007 ·

Short answer

Is The Orphanage worth watching?

Yes. The Orphanage (2007) earns a 79% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (86%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (73%). See the 4 inputs.

79%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

86% Editorial Rating
73% Audience snapshot · excluded
78 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.8
7.4 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 45m
Age rating
R (US) · 15 (UK) · MA15+ (Australia) · 18A (Canada) · 15 (South Korea)
Cast
Belén Rueda , Fernando Cayo , Roger Príncep
Country
Spain
Language
Spanish

Also known as El orfanato L'Orphelinat Das Waisenhaus O Orfanato 永遠のこどもたち 오퍼나지: 비밀의계단 孤堡惊情 靈異孤兒院

🏆 1 award win · 1 nomination — Won Best Director Newcomer, Goya Awards 2008

Where to watch

We do not have a confirmed subscription streaming listing. Check services in your country; rental, purchase and cinema options may differ.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Spectrum On Demand

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (86/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (73%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (78/100).
  • Celluloid Score 79% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded horror, drama pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Orphanage worth watching?

    Yes — The Orphanage earns a 79% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded horror, drama pick. Read our full review (4/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Bayona's debut delivers old-school ghost-story scares with genuine maternal grief at its core.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics (86%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (73%).

    What is The Orphanage about?

    A woman reopening the orphanage where she grew up searches for her missing son as supernatural echoes of the past close in.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Orphanage

    The Orphanage (2007) Review: A Ghost Story Built on Grief

    The Orphanage is J.A. Bayona's Spanish ghost story about a mother searching for her missing son, a classically crafted chiller with a devastating emotional core.

    Yes. It is an elegant, genuinely frightening haunted-house film for viewers who like atmosphere and emotion over gore, though some of its scares follow familiar lines.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Orphanage stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Orphanage production still 1
    The Orphanage production still 2
    The Orphanage production still 3
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    The Orphanage production still 5
    The Orphanage production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

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    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Orphanage: frequently asked questions

    Is The Orphanage worth watching?

    Yes. The Orphanage (2007) has a Celluloid Score of 79%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    How long is The Orphanage?

    The Orphanage runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

    What is The Orphanage rated?

    The Orphanage is rated R in the United States, 15 in the UK, MA15+ in Australia, 18A in Canada and 15 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Orphanage?

    The Orphanage is directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and stars Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep.

    What is the Metascore for The Orphanage?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Orphanage is 78 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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