The Orphanage (2007)
Kernel Score: 82% · 3,073 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Horror, Drama, Thriller
Released: 2007-05-20
Runtime: 105 minutes
Is The Orphanage worth watching?
Worth watching. A mother returns to her childhood orphanage, and her son starts talking to an unseen friend. It's a classy Spanish ghost story that's more sad than scary, with a strong ending.
Watch it if you
- like atmospheric, emotional ghost stories
- are fine with subtitles
Skip it if you
- want gore and jump scares
- dislike sad endings
Best for: Dark solo night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Orphanage
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage, intent on reopening it. Before long, her son starts to communicate with a new invisible friend.
The Orphanage parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Orphanage is an R-rated Spanish horror film centered on a haunted former orphanage and a missing child.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Ghost-story horror involving a missing child and a haunted house setting, R-rated for scares.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Orphanage
If you liked The Orphanage, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Devil's Backbone (2001) — 82%: Del Toro-produced ghost story of a haunted orphanage
- Marrowbone (2017) — 82%: Haunted house story with a sad family at its centre
- The Changeling (1980) — 76%: Classic ghost story with a grieving father
- A Monster Calls (2016) — 82%: Same director's emotional fantasy of a boy and grief
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) — 88%: Slow-building horror about motherhood and dread
- Poltergeist (1982) — 80%: Haunted-house classic about a family
Director
Cast
- Belén Rueda as Laura
- Fernando Cayo as Carlos
- Roger Príncep as Simón
- Mabel Rivera as Pilar
- Montserrat Carulla as Benigna
- Andrés Gertrúdix as Enrique
- Edgar Vivar as Balaban
- Óscar Casas as Tomás
- Geraldine Chaplin as Aurora
- Carmen López as Alicia
The Orphanage FAQ
Is The Orphanage worth watching?
Worth watching. A mother returns to her childhood orphanage, and her son starts talking to an unseen friend. It's a classy Spanish ghost story that's more sad than scary, with a strong ending.
Where can I watch The Orphanage?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Orphanage OK for kids?
The Orphanage is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Orphanage is an R-rated Spanish horror film centered on a haunted former orphanage and a missing child.
What movies are like The Orphanage?
If you liked The Orphanage, try The Devil's Backbone, Marrowbone, The Changeling and A Monster Calls.