Nightborn (2026): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Nightborn is a 2026 drama thriller directed by Hanna Bergholm, starring Rupert Grint as Jon, Seidi Haarla and Pamela Tola. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $314,786 worldwide on a $5.5 million budget. Critics gave it 60 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- Hanna Bergholm
- Original language
-
Finnish
- Studio
- BlueLight
- Budget
- $5.5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Nightborn About?
The premise of Nightborn without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Dreaming of a perfect family, Saga and her British husband Jon move to an isolated house in the Finnish forest where Saga grew up. When their baby is born, Saga feels something is terribly wrong despite others’ reassurances. Their marriage starts to crack as Jon struggles to protect his family while the forest’s eerie influence intensifies.
Nightborn Cast & Characters
Rupert Grint leads the cast as Jon, with Seidi Haarla as Saga and Pamela Tola as Taru. Directed by Hanna Bergholm; 20 actors are credited in all.
- Director Hanna Bergholm
-
Rupert Grint as Jon -
Seidi Haarla as Saga - Pamela Tola as Taru
- Mari Rantasila as Saga's Colleague
Also Starring in Nightborn
· 16 more- John Thomson Jon's Father
- Silvia Saloranta Anna
- Lotta Kaihua Midwife 1
- Satu Tuuli Karhu Saga's Colleague
- Pirkko Saisio Saga's Mother
- Amira Khalifa Saga's Colleague
- Pia Andersson Guest at the party
- Rebecca Lacey Jon's Mother
- Jaana Pesonen Maternity Clinic Nurse
- Marjo Lahti Guest at the party
- Kaisa El Ramly Doctor
- Johanna Kuuva Saga's Colleague
- Helena Rängman Saga's Colleague
- Katja Nugent Midwife 2
- Yuha Pihanen Bemused Guest
- Klaara Höglund Girl at the party
More from Hanna Bergholm
More films directed by Hanna Bergholm, best-rated first: Hatching and Puppet Master.
Nightborn Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Nightborn 60 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 56/100, strongest in character & emotion (74) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).
Nightborn Echo Score Breakdown
Nightborn presents a conceptually bold examination of postpartum distress, yet its execution divides opinion. Critics note its atmospheric ambition while users criticize relentless crying and language barriers, producing an overall mixed reception. Strengths emerge in acting and thematic intent, but visual and auditory choices often undermine clarity. The film offers intermittent insight into maternal alienation, though its uneven pacing and sensory overload limit broader appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 68
In terms of direction and visual craft, Nightborn exhibits a measured use of dreamlike imagery and distinctive makeup design. Critics acknowledge the film's unpretentious aesthetic, though they also cite a lack of dynamic scare set‑pieces. User comments focus more on dialogue clarity than on cinematography, implying a competent but not striking visual execution. Overall, the art and craft are solid yet unspectacular.
- Character & Emotion 74
When evaluating character work, the lead performance receives consistent praise for conveying a traumatized mother convincingly. Critics describe Sara as a compelling focal point, and several users label the acting as solid or great. Some reviewers note moments of artificiality in the infant prop, but these do not outweigh the emotional resonance achieved. Thus, character depth and performances are a clear strength of the film.
- Story & Flow 55
The narrative of Nightborn blends genre tropes with a study of maternal ambivalence, leading to mixed reactions. Critics mention an excellent screenplay undermined by overzealous execution, while users describe the plot as predictable and the ending as a misstep. Originality is noted, yet pacing suffers due to repetitive baby‑cry sequences. Consequently, the story’s coherence and originality hover in the middle of the rating range.
- Sensory Experience 45
Sensory experience is marked by an omnipresent crying baby that many viewers find intrusive, often drowning dialogue and creating irritation. Critics do not highlight sound design, focusing instead on visual ambience. While some users appreciate the horror’s visceral effect, the constant auditory strain diminishes overall enjoyment. The soundtrack and sound design therefore receive a lower evaluation relative to other aspects.
- Rewatch Factor 40
Rewatch potential is limited by repetitive auditory discomfort and language barriers that impede immersion. Although a few viewers commend the film’s courageous thematic approach and find it worth a single viewing, most users report turning it off early or disengaging after the initial impact. The lack of narrative payoff and sensory fatigue reduce its desirability for subsequent viewings.
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Metacritic 60 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic
Nightborn Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Nightborn 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 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the shadowed Finnish forest, Saga and Jon venture into a derelict house that once belonged to Saga’s late grandmother, a place steeped in memory and quiet foreboding. They discover a tree forcing its way through the floorboards of the bedroom [Saga] shared with her sister, Taru, a sight that feels almost sacred and terrifying all at once. Jon envisions rejuvenating the ruin into a warm family home where they can raise children together, a plan that promises continuity and belonging. Into the surrounding woods they go, and Saga reaches out to a tree whose trunk resembles a pregnant belly, a primal image that lingers as they share an intimate moment amidst the trees. The moment is charged with both tenderness and unease, as if the forest itself is listening.
Full summary
The whole story of Nightborn, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Nightborn Box Office & Budget
Nightborn grossed $314,786 worldwide on a $5.5 million budget, 6% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$314.8K
6% of its budget back
- International
- $314.8K
- Budget
- $5.5M
How Well Do You Know Nightborn?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the mother in the film?
Seen Nightborn?
Nightborn FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Nightborn, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Nightborn?
Nightborn runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was Nightborn released?
Nightborn was released on July 31, 2026.
Who directed Nightborn?
Nightborn was directed by Hanna Bergholm.
More films by Hanna Bergholm Who is in the cast of Nightborn?
Nightborn stars Rupert Grint as Jon, Seidi Haarla as Saga and Pamela Tola as Taru, among 20 credited actors.
How much did Nightborn make at the box office?
Nightborn grossed $314,786 worldwide on a budget of $5.5 million.
How is Nightborn rated?
Nightborn has 60 on Metacritic.
Does Nightborn have a post-credit scene?
No. Nightborn has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Nightborn in?
The original language of Nightborn is Finnish.
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