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Drama thriller

Hereditary (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Hereditary (2018) movie poster

Hereditary is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Ari Aster, starring Toni Collette as Annie, Gabriel Byrne and Alex Wolff. It runs 2 hours 7 minutes and earned $87.8 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. It won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Legion M Breakout Director at the Saturn Awards 2019. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 87 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
90%
worldwide gross
$87.8M
award won
1
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Hereditary (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 7m (127 min)
Director
Ari Aster
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
Studio
A24
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Hereditary About?

The premise of Hereditary without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Following the death of her secretive mother, Annie and her family begin to experience increasingly disturbing events. As they grapple with their grief, unsettling occurrences lead them to uncover a sinister hereditary curse. Drawn into a terrifying mystery, they confront dark family secrets and a malevolent force with a horrifying agenda, threatening to destroy everything they hold dear.

Hereditary Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • decapitation
  • psychological horror
  • anaphylaxis
  • miniature art
  • cult
  • support group
  • grief
  • husband wife relationship
  • mother daughter relationship
  • funeral
  • burned to death
  • car accident
+38 more
  • decapitated head
  • family tragedy
  • possession
  • anaphylactic shock
  • guilt
  • trauma
  • decomposed body
  • attic
  • violence
  • decapitated corpse
  • treehouse
  • nut allergy
  • nervous breakdown
  • seance
  • miniature model
  • miniature house
  • dead body
  • death
  • sleepwalking
  • secret society
  • paimon
  • headless body
  • reference to paimon
  • supernatural power
  • fear
  • manipulation
  • party
  • marijuana
  • bird
  • teen partying
  • broken nose
  • miniature
  • decapitated child
  • dysfunctional family
  • family trauma
  • tongue clicking
  • written by director
  • demon
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Cast & crew

Hereditary Cast & Characters

Toni Collette leads the cast as Annie, with Gabriel Byrne as Steve and Alex Wolff as Peter. Directed by Ari Aster; 19 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Ari Aster

More films directed by Ari Aster, best-rated first: Midsommar, Beau Is Afraid, Eddington and Basically.

Full filmography
Ratings

Hereditary Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Hereditary 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 87 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 86/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (70).

86 /100

Hereditary Echo Score Breakdown

Hereditary delivers a consistently powerful aesthetic experience marked by strong direction and compelling atmosphere. Across reviews, the film’s precise framing and deliberate pacing create an oppressive mood that many found genuinely unsettling. Performances, especially in the lead role, provide emotional depth that grounds the supernatural elements in familial tragedy. While its complex narrative twists divided some viewers on coherence, most responses highlight its originality and unforgettable impact. Overall, Hereditary establishes itself as a distinctive entry in contemporary horror that leaves a lasting impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of direction, cinematography and production design, Hereditary excels in establishing an oppressive visual tone. The film’s deliberate framing and measured editing support a moody atmosphere that critics praised for transporting viewers to unsettling terrain. Subtle set details accumulate to enhance dread without relying on jump scares. The net effect is a visually arresting style that sustains tension throughout.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    With regard to acting and emotional resonance, Hereditary hinges on a commanding lead performance that anchors the supernatural plot. Reviews frequently commend the nuanced portrayal of familial grief and the chemistry among supporting cast members. Character depth emerges through measured dialogue and restrained interactions. Overall, these performances imbue the story with genuine pathos that grounds its escalating horror.

  • Story & Flow 80

    Concerning plot coherence and pacing, Hereditary presents a layered narrative that unfolds through careful foreshadowing and unexpected shifts. While most found the twists engaging and original, some noted that the accumulation of events can feel overwhelming and occasionally uneven. Despite these divergences, the film maintains a persistent drive that sustains viewer interest. In sum, the story balances complexity with compelling momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    In terms of sensory experience, Hereditary leverages its score, sound design and subdued color palette to cultivate an unsettling mood. The soundtrack’s sparse cues and ambient effects contribute to an oppressive atmosphere free of conventional jump scares. Visual cohesion in set and costume design amplifies the emotional weight. The combined auditory and visual elements deliver a consistently haunting experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    When evaluating replay value, Hereditary’s intense tone and unsettling climax earned mixed responses. Some viewers appreciate repeated viewings for the intricate clues and mounting dread hidden in earlier scenes. Others find the traumatic content and nonlinear revelations inhibit willingness to revisit. Overall, the film’s depth in detail supports lasting appeal for dedicated fans, even as its disturbing nature may deter casual replays.

Plot

Hereditary Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Hereditary from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film opens with a captivating scene, as we gaze from a workshop window toward a treehouse, then zoom into a dollhouse bedroom within the workshop. The narrative follows Steve Graham as he wakes his teenage son, Peter, and 13-year-old daughter, Charlie, in preparation for their 78-year-old grandmother Ellen Taper Leigh’s funeral. Amidst this somber setting, Steve discovers Charlie still asleep in the treehouse.

Full summary

The whole story of Hereditary, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Hereditary Box Office & Budget

Hereditary grossed $87.8 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 8.8 times what it cost. $44.1 million came from the US and Canada and $43.7 million (50%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$87.8M

8.8× its budget

US & Canada
$44.1M
International
$43.7M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 50% Rest of the world 50%
Awards

Hereditary Awards & Nominations

Hereditary won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Legion M Breakout Director at the Saturn Awards 2019. Its biggest night was the Saturn Awards 2019, with 1 win from 3 nominations.

1 win7 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

Hereditary Trailers & Videos

20 videos: 2 trailers, 6 teasers, 3 clips and 9 featurettes.

All 20 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer #2
  • Teaser Happy Mother's Day!
  • Teaser Official Promo
  • Teaser UK TV Spot
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Hereditary?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the relationship between Peter and Charlie?

Cars

Cars in Hereditary

12 cars on screen, including the Volvo XC70 and the Volvo XC70.

All 12 cars
  • Volvo XC70 in Hereditary Volvo XC70 Important role
  • Volvo XC70 in Hereditary Volvo XC70 Important role
  • 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan in Hereditary 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan Background role
  • 2002 Ford Explorer in Hereditary 2002 Ford Explorer Background role
Details

Hereditary Also Known As

35 alternative titles, including “Hereditary: Das Vermächtnis” and “Ondskabens hus”.

Also known as
  • Hereditary: Das Vermächtnis
  • Ondskabens hus
  • Hereditary: le radici del male
  • Reinkarnācija
  • Hérédité
  • Héréditaire
  • 유전
  • Ayin
  • Dziedzictwo. Hereditary
  • Hereditary - Le radici del male
  • Реинкарнация
  • Η Διαδοχή
+23 more
  • Hereditário
  • Спадковість
  • Наслеђено зло
  • Hereditary - Das Vermächtnis
  • 遗传厄运
  • 宿怨
  • Děsivé dědictví
  • Örökség
  • Hereditary - pahan perintö
  • Prekliate dedičstvo
  • 祖孽
  • Moştenire diabolică
  • Наследствено
  • תורשתי
  • Paveldėtas
  • ヘレディタリー/継承
  • El legado del diablo
  • Di Truyền
  • กรรมพันธุ์นรก
  • Podedovano zlo
  • Naslijeđeno zlo
  • لعنة وراثية, რეინკარნაცია
  • Pärilik

Seen Hereditary?

FAQ

Hereditary FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Hereditary, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Hereditary?

Hereditary runs 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).

When was Hereditary released?

Hereditary was released on June 8, 2018.

Who directed Hereditary?

Hereditary was directed by Ari Aster.

More films by Ari Aster

Who is in the cast of Hereditary?

Hereditary stars Toni Collette as Annie, Gabriel Byrne as Steve and Alex Wolff as Peter, among 19 credited actors.

How much did Hereditary make at the box office?

Hereditary grossed $87.8 million worldwide ($44.1 million domestic, $43.7 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is Hereditary rated?

Hereditary has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 87 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.

What awards did Hereditary win?

Hereditary won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Legion M Breakout Director at the Saturn Awards 2019.

Does Hereditary have a post-credit scene?

No. Hereditary has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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