Hereditary (2018)

Kernel Score: 84% · 8,392 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Released: 2018-06-07

Runtime: 128 minutes

Is Hereditary worth watching?

Depends on your taste. Ari Aster's family horror starts as a study of grief and becomes truly disturbing. It's unusually well made, with a superb Toni Collette, but it's slow, bleak and upsetting, and not a fun scare.

Watch it if you

  • like serious, slow-building horror
  • want a film about grief with a supernatural turn
  • can handle disturbing imagery

Skip it if you

  • want jump scares and a comfortable ending
  • are sensitive to child death or family trauma

Best for: Solo night in

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Hereditary

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

Following the death of the Leigh family matriarch, Annie and her children uncover disturbing secrets about their heritage. Their daily lives are not only impacted, but they also become entangled in a chilling fate from which they cannot escape, driving them to the brink of madness.

Hereditary parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Hereditary is an intense horror film involving family trauma, occult ritual, and disturbing imagery.

  • Violence & scariness: Intense — Contains disturbing horror imagery, death, and ritualistic violence consistent with its R rating.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Hereditary

If you liked Hereditary, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Midsommar (2019) — 80%: Ari Aster's next film, another bleak and unsettling story.
  • Get Out (2017) — 88%: Horror with real ideas and a bold approach.
  • The Others (2001) — 84%: A quiet, atmospheric haunted-house story with a twist.
  • Psycho (1960) — 91%: Hitchcock's classic about a disturbed family.
  • Carrie (1976) — 84%: Horror about a troubled family and a disturbing mother.
  • The Conjuring (2013) — 90%: Haunted-house horror with real tension.

Director

Ari Aster

Cast

  • Toni Collette as Annie Graham
  • Alex Wolff as Peter Graham
  • Gabriel Byrne as Steve Graham
  • Milly Shapiro as Charlie Graham
  • Ann Dowd as Joan
  • Mallory Bechtel as Bridget
  • Brock McKinney as Aaron
  • Jake Brown as Brendan
  • Morgan Lund as Mr. Davis
  • Christy Summerhays as Charlie's Teacher

Hereditary FAQ

Is Hereditary worth watching?

Depends on your taste. Ari Aster's family horror starts as a study of grief and becomes truly disturbing. It's unusually well made, with a superb Toni Collette, but it's slow, bleak and upsetting, and not a fun scare.

Where can I watch Hereditary?

In the US you can stream Hereditary on Prime Video, Hulu and HBO Max, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home, YouTube Free and Xumo Play and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Hereditary OK for kids?

Hereditary is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Hereditary is an intense horror film involving family trauma, occult ritual, and disturbing imagery.

What movies are like Hereditary?

If you liked Hereditary, try Midsommar, Get Out, The Others and Psycho.