Pet Sematary (1989)

Kernel Score: 69% · 2,478 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Horror

Released: 1989-04-21

Runtime: 103 minutes

Is Pet Sematary worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A famous Stephen King story about grief and a burial ground that brings things back wrong. The ideas are creepy and iconic, but the acting and pacing feel dated. Viewers rate it decent, not great.

Watch it if you

  • like classic 80s horror with a grim premise
  • enjoy Stephen King stories
  • want horror built on loss and dread

Skip it if you

  • need polished acting and tight pacing
  • are sensitive to a child's death on screen

Best for: Classic horror night

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

Where to watch Pet Sematary

  • Stream: Paramount+, Philo, AMC+
  • Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, YouTube Free, Tubi
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

After the Creed family's cat is accidentally killed, a friendly neighbor advises its burial in a mysterious nearby cemetery.

Movies like Pet Sematary

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

  • The Shining (1980) — 95%: Another Stephen King story about a family unraveling in a haunted place.
  • Poltergeist (1982) — 80%: Classic 80s family-in-peril horror with a supernatural threat at home.
  • Rosemary's Baby (1968) — 88%: Slow-building horror where domestic life turns sinister.
  • The Thing (1982) — 93%: Eighties horror with practical effects and heavy, bleak dread.
  • Hereditary (2018) — 84%: Modern horror about family grief that spirals into the supernatural.
  • Alien (1979) — 96%: Landmark horror that builds suspense patiently before it strikes.

Director

Mary Lambert

Cast

  • Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed
  • Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall
  • Denise Crosby as Rachel Creed
  • Brad Greenquist as Victor Pascow
  • Michael Lombard as Irwin Goldman
  • Miko Hughes as Gage Creed
  • Blaze Berdahl as Ellie Creed
  • Susan Blommaert as Missy Dandridge
  • Mara Clark as Marcy Charlton
  • Kavi Raz as Steve Masterton

Pet Sematary FAQ

Is Pet Sematary worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A famous Stephen King story about grief and a burial ground that brings things back wrong. The ideas are creepy and iconic, but the acting and pacing feel dated. Viewers rate it decent, not great.

Where can I watch Pet Sematary?

In the US you can stream Pet Sematary on Paramount+, Philo and AMC+, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, YouTube Free and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

What is Pet Sematary rated?

Pet Sematary is rated R.

What movies are like Pet Sematary?

If you liked Pet Sematary, try The Shining, Poltergeist, Rosemary's Baby and The Thing.