The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Kernel Score: 77% · 4,363 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Released: 2017-10-20
Runtime: 121 minutes
Is The Killing of a Sacred Deer worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A surgeon is forced into an impossible choice by a strange teenager. It's chilly, deadpan and deliberately weird, and it works if you like discomfort, but it's too cold and mannered for many viewers.
Watch it if you
- like cold, deadpan dark thrillers
- enjoy puzzling films that don't explain themselves
- are a fan of Yorgos Lanthimos
Skip it if you
- want warmth or clear answers
- dislike disturbing content involving children
Best for: Brave solo night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Killing of a Sacred Deer
- Stream: HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Dr. Steven Murphy is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon who presides over a spotless household with his wife and two children. Lurking at the margins of his idyllic suburban existence is Martin, a fatherless teen who insinuates himself into the doctor's life in gradually unsettling ways.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a disturbing psychological thriller involving blackmail, paralysis, and cruelty within a family.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Depicts psychological torment, hostage-like manipulation, and graphic bodily harm.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Killing of a Sacred Deer
If you liked The Killing of a Sacred Deer, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Lobster (2015) — 79%: Same director's strange, deadpan dystopian romance.
- Dogtooth (2009) — 78%: Same director's earlier unsettling family drama.
- Poor Things (2023) — 85%: Same director's wilder, funnier fable.
- The Favourite (2018) — 83%: Same director's sharp, cruel period comedy.
- Bugonia (2025) — 83%: Recent conspiracy thriller with the same director.
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999) — 88%: Cold, hypnotic thriller about desire and menace.
Director
Cast
- Colin Farrell as Steven Murphy
- Nicole Kidman as Anna Murphy
- Barry Keoghan as Martin Lang
- Raffey Cassidy as Kim Murphy
- Sunny Suljic as Bob Murphy
- Bill Camp as Matthew Williams
- Alicia Silverstone as Martin's Mother
- Herb Caillouet as Ed Thompson (Hospital Director)
- Barry G. Bernson as Dr. Larry Banks
- Denise Dal Vera as Mary Williams
The Killing of a Sacred Deer FAQ
Is The Killing of a Sacred Deer worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A surgeon is forced into an impossible choice by a strange teenager. It's chilly, deadpan and deliberately weird, and it works if you like discomfort, but it's too cold and mannered for many viewers.
Where can I watch The Killing of a Sacred Deer?
In the US you can stream The Killing of a Sacred Deer on HBO Max and Cinemax Apple TV channel and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Killing of a Sacred Deer OK for kids?
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a disturbing psychological thriller involving blackmail, paralysis, and cruelty within a family.
What movies are like The Killing of a Sacred Deer?
If you liked The Killing of a Sacred Deer, try The Lobster, Dogtooth, Poor Things and The Favourite.