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Mystery thriller

The Boogeyman (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Boogeyman (2023) movie poster

The Boogeyman is a 2023 mystery thriller directed by Rob Savage, starring Sophie Thatcher as Sadie Harper, Vivien Lyra Blair and Chris Messina. It is partly based on Night Shift by Stephen King. It earned $67.3 million worldwide on a $35 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Younger Actor in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2024. Critics gave it 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.

IMDb rating
5.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
60%
worldwide gross
$67.3M
award nomination
1
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The Boogeyman (2023) movie poster
Released
Director
Rob Savage
Genres
Mystery , Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$35M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Boogeyman About?

The premise of The Boogeyman without spoilers, adapted from Night Shift by Stephen King. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Following the death of their mother, siblings Sadie and Sawyer Harper find their lives disrupted as they navigate their grief alongside their distraught father. Their fragile stability is further threatened when a troubled man arrives at their home, desperate for help. His presence unknowingly awakens a sinister entity that preys on their family's pain and grief, endangering their lives and forcing them to confront a terrifying supernatural threat.

The Boogeyman Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • boogeyman
  • teenage girl
  • monster
  • closet
  • sister sister relationship
  • monster attack
  • based on the works of stephen king
  • the boogeyman
  • bogeyman
  • father daughter relationship
  • nighttime
  • night
+38 more
  • sleep
  • nightmare
  • monster in the closet
  • traumatized protagonist
  • trauma
  • family trauma
  • counselor
  • therapist
  • therapy session
  • deceased mother
  • daughter misses her dead mother
  • mother daughter relationship
  • loss of family member
  • death of family member
  • dark house
  • friendship between girls
  • family relationships
  • emotional trauma
  • deceased child
  • afraid of a monster
  • child afraid of a monster
  • death of mother
  • death of child
  • based on short story
  • children
  • child
  • house
  • teenager
  • young
  • brother
  • secret
  • psychiatrist
  • grieving
  • under the bed
  • little girl
  • darkness
  • moon globe
  • hanging
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Cast & crew

The Boogeyman Cast & Characters

Sophie Thatcher leads the cast as Sadie Harper, with Vivien Lyra Blair as Sawyer Harper and Chris Messina as Will Harper. Directed by Rob Savage; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Boogeyman

· 7 more
From the director

More from Rob Savage

More films directed by Rob Savage, best-rated first: Dashcam, Other Mommy, Host and Dawn of the Deaf.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Boogeyman Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Boogeyman 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in sensory experience (62) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

55 /100

The Boogeyman Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Boogeyman offers a serviceable horror entry that falls short of standing out. Critics note that the film balances moments of effective tension with formulaic storytelling and uneven pacing, while some reviewers appreciate its occasional atmospheric flourishes and decent performances. Audience feedback echoes this split, praising the creature design and occasional scares but criticizing the lack of originality and limited replay value. Consequently, the movie lands in the middle of the rating spectrum.

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

  • Art & Craft 60

    ART: The film’s direction and production design convey a modestly effective horror atmosphere, highlighted by a well‑crafted creature and competent CGI. However, several critics cite stale editing and a dreary visual tone that undermine momentum. User comments similarly note average cinematography, with occasional praise for the creature's reveal but overall a lack of visual innovation.

  • Character & Emotion 58

    CHARACTER: Performances provide the film’s most consistent strength, with critics acknowledging solid acting and a star turn that lend emotional weight to the protagonists. Nonetheless, some reviews point out that character development remains thin, leaving the leads insufficiently compelling. User feedback mirrors this split, describing the acting as okay but noting limited chemistry and depth.

  • Story & Flow 50

    STORY: The narrative follows a familiar horror formula, which critics describe as conventional and occasionally formulaic, resulting in uneven pacing and a climax that disappoints. While some reviewers appreciate the self‑contained plot and occasional emotional moments, many note a lack of originality and a sluggish middle section. Audience comments reflect similar views, citing predictability and limited engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 62

    SENSORY: The film’s sound design and score are largely serviceable, supporting jump‑scares without standing out. Visual elements, such as the creature reveal and occasional atmospheric lighting, receive modest praise, though critics also describe the overall aesthetic as drab and the CGI merely adequate. Consequently, the sensory experience feels competent but lacks memorable impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    REWATCH: The movie’s limited novelty and predictable scares diminish its replay value, with several reviewers stating little incentive to view it again. Yet, a minority appreciate the occasional effective jump‑scare and the creature’s design, suggesting modest enjoyment on repeat viewings. Overall, the film is seen as a one‑time pop‑corn experience rather than a lasting favorite.

Plot

The Boogeyman Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Boogeyman 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 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Will Harper, a dedicated psychiatrist, resides in a cozy home with his two grieving daughters, Sadie and Sawyer. Since the tragic loss of their mother in a car accident, the family has been struggling with deep emotional scars. To help heal the children’s trauma, Dr. Weller serves as a lady psychiatrist, though Will remains distant from the therapy sessions.

Full summary

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

Read the full summary
Box office

The Boogeyman Box Office & Budget

The Boogeyman grossed $67.3 million worldwide on a $35 million budget, 1.9 times what it cost. $43.2 million came from the US and Canada and $24.1 million (36%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$67.3M

1.9× its budget

US & Canada
$43.2M
International
$24.1M
Budget
$35M
US & Canada 64% Rest of the world 36%
Awards

The Boogeyman Awards & Nominations

The Boogeyman earned 1 award nomination, including Best Younger Actor in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2024.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Boogeyman Trailers & Videos

27 videos: 4 trailers, 13 teasers, 7 clips and 3 featurettes.

All 27 videos
Teaser Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer [Audio Described]
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2 [Audio Described]
  • Teaser Light
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Boogeyman?

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 tragedy has recently befallen Will Harper's family?

Details

The Boogeyman Also Known As

29 alternative titles, including “Night Terror” and “เดอะ บูกี้แมน”.

Also known as
  • Night Terror
  • เดอะ บูกี้แมน
  • The Boogeyman: El hombre del saco
  • Boogeyman: El hombre de la bolsa
  • Bicho-Papão: O Conto
  • لولوخرخره
  • Karabasan
  • 부기맨
  • Boogeyman: Seu Medo é Real
  • Boogeyman: Tu miedo es real
  • Ông Kẹ
  • Le Croque-Mitaine
+17 more
  • Бугимен
  • Буґімен
  • Kostlivec
  • A mumus
  • 柜魔
  • Strašiak
  • 凶門惡煞
  • הבוגימן
  • 鬼出櫃
  • البعبع
  • Ο Μπαμπούλας
  • ブギーマン
  • Baubaul
  • Бабарога
  • Baubas
  • Črni mož
  • Торбалан, ბუგიმენი

Seen The Boogeyman?

FAQ

The Boogeyman FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of The Boogeyman, each answered in a sentence.

When was The Boogeyman released?

The Boogeyman was released on June 2, 2023.

Who directed The Boogeyman?

The Boogeyman was directed by Rob Savage.

More films by Rob Savage

Who is in the cast of The Boogeyman?

The Boogeyman stars Sophie Thatcher as Sadie Harper, Vivien Lyra Blair as Sawyer Harper and Chris Messina as Will Harper, among 11 credited actors.

How much did The Boogeyman make at the box office?

The Boogeyman grossed $67.3 million worldwide ($43.2 million domestic, $24.1 million international) on a budget of $35 million.

How is The Boogeyman rated?

The Boogeyman has 5.9/10 on IMDb, 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 55 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.

Is The Boogeyman based on a book?

Yes. The Boogeyman is partly adapted from Night Shift by Stephen King.

Was The Boogeyman nominated for any awards?

The Boogeyman received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does The Boogeyman have a post-credit scene?

No. The Boogeyman has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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