The Bad Seed (1956)
Kernel Score: 79% · 256 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Thriller, Drama, Horror
Released: 1956-09-12
Runtime: 129 minutes
Where to watch The Bad Seed
- Stream: TCM
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Philo
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Air Force Colonel Kenneth Penmark and his wife, Christine, adore their daughter Rhoda, despite her secret tendency for selfishness. Christine keeps her knowledge of her daughter's darker side to herself, but when a schoolmate of Rhoda's dies mysteriously, her self-deception unravels.
The Bad Seed parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Bad Seed is a 1956 psychological thriller about a seemingly perfect child who may be a murderer, dealing with dark, disturbing themes.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Involves a child's death and implied murder by a young girl; tense, foreboding atmosphere throughout rather than graphic gore.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Bad Seed
If you liked The Bad Seed, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Peeping Tom (1960) — 86%
- I Confess (1953) — 79%
- The Bad Seed (2018) — 79%
- Dark Waters (2019) — 84%
- Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) — 82%
- Legend (2015) — 80%
- Hotel Rwanda (2004) — 86%
- A Brighter Tomorrow (2023) — 79%
Director
Cast
- Patty McCormack as Rhoda Penmark
- Nancy Kelly as Christine Penmark
- Henry Jones as Leroy Jessup
- Eileen Heckart as Hortense Daigle
- Evelyn Varden as Monica Breedlove
- William Hopper as Col. Kenneth Penmark
- Paul Fix as Richard Bravo
- Jesse White as Emory Wages
- Gage Clarke as Reginald "Reggie" Tasker
- Joan Croydon as Claudia Fern
The Bad Seed FAQ
Is The Bad Seed good?
The Bad Seed has a 79% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 256 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Bad Seed?
In the US you can stream The Bad Seed on TCM, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Philo and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Bad Seed OK for kids?
The Bad Seed is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Bad Seed is a 1956 psychological thriller about a seemingly perfect child who may be a murderer, dealing with dark, disturbing themes.
What movies are like The Bad Seed?
If you liked The Bad Seed, try Peeping Tom, I Confess, The Bad Seed and Dark Waters.