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Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans ... see more see more... , Ralph Bellamy , Patsy Kelly , Elisha Cook Jr. , Hanna Landy , Emmaline Henry , Marianne Gordon , Phil Leeds , Charles Grodin , Hope Summers , Wende Wagner , Bill Baldwin , Walter S. Baldwin , Roy Barcroft , Charlotte Boerner , Carol Brewster , Sebastian Brooks , Gordon Connell , Patricia Ann Conway , Paul Denton , John Halloran , Ernest Harada , Marilyn Harvey , Jean Innes , Natalie Masters , Patricia O'Neal , Robert Osterloh , Josh Peine , Joan T. Reilly , George Savalas , Almira Sessions , Michael Shillo , Clay Tanner , Angela Dorian , William Castle , Tony Curtis , D'Urville Martin , Floyd Mutrux , Mona Knox , Elmer Modlin , Gail Bonney , Joyce Davis , Frank White , Bruno Sidar

In Roman Polanski's first American film, adapted from Ira Levin's horror bestseller, a young wife comes to believe that her offspring is not of this world. Waifish Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and ... read more read more...her struggling actor husband, Guy (John Cassavetes), move into the Bramford, an old New York City apartment building with an ominous reputation and only elderly residents. Neighbors Roman and Minnie Castevet (Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon) soon come nosing around to welcome the Woodhouses to the building; despite Rosemary's reservations about their eccentricity and the weird noises that she keeps hearing, Guy starts spending time with the Castevets. Shortly after Guy lands a plum Broadway role, Minnie starts showing up with homemade chocolate mousse for Rosemary. When Rosemary becomes pregnant after a mousse-provoked nightmare of being raped by a beast, the Castevets take a special interest in her welfare. As the sickened Rosemary becomes increasingly isolated, she begins to suspect that the Castevets' circle is not what it seems. The diabolical truth is revealed only after Rosemary gives birth, and the baby is taken away from her. Polanski's camerawork and Richard Sylbert's production design transform the realistic setting (shot on-location in Manhattan's Dakota apartment building) into a sinister projection of Rosemary's fears, chillingly locating supernatural horror in the familiar by leaving the most grotesque frights to the viewer's imagination. This apocalyptic yet darkly comic paranoia about the hallowed institution of childbirth touched a nerve with late-'60s audiences feeling uneasy about traditional norms. Produced by B-horror maestro William Castle, Rosemary's Baby became a critically praised hit, winning Gordon an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Inspiring a wave of satanic horror from The Exorcist (1973) to The Omen (1976), Rosemary's Baby helped usher in the genre's modern era by combining a supernatural story with Alfred Hitchcock's propensity for finding normality horrific. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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60 critics

R, 2 hr. 16 min.

Directed by: Roman Polanski

Release Date: June 12, 1968

Keywords: horror, scary, creepy, scariest

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DVD Release Date: October 3, 2000

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Stats: 4,164 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,164)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    March 25, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Rosemary's Baby is one of most memorable horror classics ever filmed. Roman Polanski's film is the film responsible for many of the films dealing with the devil, most notably The Exorcist and The Omen. The first time I watched this film, I thought it was overhyped. I didn't unde... read morerstand why this film had gotten the praise it received . I needed to watch this film a second time to make a more definitive opinion on this film. Watching this a second time around I loved it a lot more, and thought it deserved the classic status it has received. This is a must watch for every serious horror fan. This is a film that delivers the chills that is expected. Rosemary's Baby is a powerful horror film that truly redefined the genre. The film has a terrific cast, and amazing story. The mood is tense, and atmospheric, almost surrealistic. There are only hints that there's an evil presence lurking in Rosemary's shadow, and you feel uneasy when the horror starts. This film may not appeal to everyone, but if you loved The Exorcist and The Omen, give this one a look. Roman Polanski has crafted a great film, and with a second viewing, I thought it was a definite classic of horror. Some may find this one a tad too long, but the payoff is worth it. I think that Rosemary's Baby is one of those films that you need to give at least a few viewings to really enjoy. Rosemary's Baby took a few viewings for me to really get into. What makes this film such a classic of horror is the strong elements of tense atmosphere to a memorable climax, something that is missing from today's horror films.
  • cosmo313
    March 25, 2012
    cosmo313
    I'm giving this a really good review, and a really high rating, but honestly, this film is a tad bit overrated, and not without it's flaws/nitpicks (one of them rather important).

    This is the best Hitchcockian thriller Hitchcock never made. One of the reasons it works so well i... read mores because it makes the fears, paranoia, and experiences of Rosemary real and relatable to the audience, especially the women, by making the central plot point about the fears and worries of a first time mother. Subtle clues are given throughout the film as to what's going on, but, until the end, they really have it set up to where you constantly question reality, and if Rosemary's paranoia and suspicions are real, or all in her head. While there are a few shock moments throughout, they are used sparingly, letting tension boil slowly. This is the type of stuff that rarely happens in movies these days, and I really get bothered by this sometimes.

    The camera work and set design are terrific. Aside from a few specific details, this film really holds up after all these years. The music is quite nice, and the performances are just terrific. Farrow got robbed, and Gordon, while she did a good job, seemed a little tamer than I expected her to be. Did she deserve her Oscar? Sure, because the subtlety and nuance is what counts, but it would have been nice to see her go off the rails a bit, even if people expect it. The other performances aren't too bad either

    The writing is mostly good, but I wasn't always convinced by Cassavetes. Mostly the issues I have with it are the pacing. I like that things unfold gradually, but even then, a few scenes could have been tightened up here and there. The biggest issue I have is with the climax. It could have been handled much better, It seems a tad anticlimatic, and that kind of bothers me. Still though, it's not bad, just underwhelming. I feel a little weird saying this, but I kind of wished they would have had an ending that you'd see in this day and age, if that makes any sense.

    Because so much is done right though, I can't feel justified in giving it a lower grade. I think this film should be seen by everyone, but I know that a lot of people would have issues with this movie, mainly because of the pacing and subtlety. Maybe I'm just a bit too cynical about that, though. Do I want this to be remade? No- because then they would make all of it like a modern day film, and not just the parts that need it.

    One thing I wasn't expecting was the creepy and subtle dark humor. The macabreness made things that much more surreal and eerie, and that's a good thing.
  • axadntpron
    March 14, 2012
    axadntpron
    Polanski, while a very divisive figure, sure knows how to make one hell of a movie about the paranoid. Much like his previous psychological horror film Repulsion, Polanski shows one woman's descent into unbridled madness. Yet, while the audience must wrestle with whether Rosemary... read more is suffering from a psychological disorder or really unearthing a plot to steal her precious newborn, one thing they do know for sure is that something is amiss in middle-class Manhattan.
  • fb1664868775
    October 23, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Polanski learned the use of tension from Hitchcock well. This landmark film takes the horror genre to the highest artistic level.
  • SirPant
    September 26, 2011
    SirPant
    There is much to love about Rosemary's baby, putting the great story, fantastic acting and the beautiful Mia Farrow to one side, I loved seeing 60's New York. I digress though, this is a brilliant horror/thriller that has stood the test of time. The very thought sends shivers dow... read moren the spine but there is so much more to it than its conclusion. The little things like not being able to trust your Husband, your Doctor or your neighbours is actually a terrifying thought. It's interesting too, the fact that the husband had sex with her while she was asleep wasn't depicted as being a good thing but the fact that it is actually rape was never raised, such was the feeling of that time. I can't help but think this may of highlighted certain feelings of the day, aside from it being what it was, a horror flick. I thought Mia Farrow was fantastic but I also really thought John Cassavetes did a great job, I've been a big fan of his directing for some time but this is the best I've seen him in an acting role out of his own work. The wonderful Ruth Gordon thoroughly deserved her best supporting role Oscar too, and the whole film deserves its reputation.
  • MrMarakai
    April 21, 2011
    MrMarakai
    Psychological torture and terror have been a consistant theme throughout director Roman Polanski's career but few, if any, have been executed as skillfully as this adaptation of Ira Levin's bestselling novel.
    Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes) move into a ... read morenew apartment with the hope of starting a family. Shortly after their arrival they meet their new neighbours, a very friendly elderly couple named Roman (Sidney Blackmer) and Minnie Castevet (Ruth Gordon). Not before long, odd things start to happen and Rosemary has strange dreams and hears strange noises while Guy becomes remote and distant and begins to spend a lot of time with the new neighbours. Then Rosemary falls pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbours are involved in the occult and have something to do with her poor health and her unborn child.
    As soon as the opening credits are rolling, Polanski already sets the eerie tone with simple use of a childlike lullaby and creepy music. He's a masterful director who's in complete control of his material and his use of surreal, dreamlike imagery coupled with muffled voices through the wall is horror genius and deeply unsettling. It's a proficiently crafted horror with the story unravelling at it's own pace, as Rosemary's grip on reality and her sanity are in question. Polanski also keeps us guessing just like the conflicted protaganist, while cranking up the suspense and paranoia deliberately but assuredly, helped by excellent performances throughout, particularly Ruth Gordon (in an Oscar winning role) and Sidney Blackmer as the creepy interfering neighbours. What's even more fascinating is the spooky coincidences that followed the film; Polanski's pregnant wife Sharon Tate was murdered - a year after the film was made - in 1969 by Charles Manson and his followers, who titled their death spree "Helter Skelter" after the 1968 song by The Beatles and this bands prominent member John Lennon would later be murdered outside the very Manhattan apartment building where Rosemary's Baby was filmed. The history and association of this film is a story in itself.
    A restrained, deliberately paced and intelligent psychological horror of the finest kind. It doesn't stoop to cheap shock tactics but simply chips away at the psyche of it's character, not to mention, ours aswell.
  • romy861
    April 2, 2011
    romy861
    A rare case where I have actually upped my original rating of 4 stars to 4 and a half after a rewatch! This really is a creepy little film and well worth a watch even now.
    I did not previously appreciate how good Mia Farrow actually is in this. I really warmed to her 60's hous... read moreewife character - so glamourous, (well, until the awful haircut), and liked the overall kitschy feel this movie had. (Although I assume it would not have been kitschy at the time). I also felt that the 60's setting works well here - I could not imagine a woman of today, if this was to be remade, just putting up with a lot of what she did (if it was to be remade now it would be heavy handed and something along the lines of "Sleeping with the enemy" satan style I would imagine!). Mia Farrow really has a naivety and sweetness to her that works well with the character.
    This movie is more about what you don't see than what you do. It has an overall creepiness to it once the pregnancy begins. The entire cast are excellent here - the creepy neighbours and John Casavetes as the husband.
    An excellent suspense/horror film. Well worth a look!
  • hunterjt13
    March 13, 2011
    hunterjt13
    The original devil-baby movie, this film is a horror classic tells the story of a young woman who is manipulated and subjugated by her husband and ultra-creepy neighbors until she carries Satan's baby to term.
    I watched Rosemary's Baby in part because it is a canonical fil... read morem in the devil movie genre, and my analysis of this genre bleeds into my academic work. I will briefly repeat my thesis here: these films reinforce the concept that evil is inherently outside of us. It nameable, definable, and recognizable, rather than the ultimate result of human folly or stupidity. Within the sub-genre of devil-baby movies, these films demonize sex and science. All of these themes are present in this film.
    On a strictly film level, Roman Polanski is the master of realizing what to reveal and what to conceal. His myopic concentration on Rosemary throughout the film allows her doubts to be our doubts, her suspicions ours, and ultimately her horrors ours. The clues are so well-placed that we can't be entirely sure who to trust until the evidence overwhelms us in act two. This is masterful directing; it's too bad he's a dick.
    Ruth Gordon, dear sweet Maude, is creepy as shit. Her performance is incredible, as she embodies this character with a commitment that we rarely see these days.
    I read elsewhere that The Silence of the Lambs was "the most feminist movie I've ever seen." The way that Rosemary's Baby exposes male dominance over women's reproductive systems certainly puts it in that canon. And Mia Farrow's soft, high-pitched voice and vulnerable performance make her character's rape, both literally, physically, and emotionally, all the more disturbing.
    Overall, this is a fantastic film, but it culturally performs in dangerous and insidious ways.
  • fb619846742
    February 25, 2011
    fb619846742
    A searing, haunting story concerning a young woman (Mia Farrow) who becomes pregnant with child, and how her paranoid suspicions concerning her neighbors and husband start to drive her insane. This is, without question, one of the best horror films ever constructed, thanks to fir... read morem plotting and direction by director Roman Polanski (say what you want about his personal life, the guy knows how to make movies), and a completely convincing, shattering performance from Farrow. The last fifteen minutes especially make this movie a masterpiece, when the surreal lenses are finally taken off, and we see what Hell on Earth really is.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 12, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    disturbing, thought provoking, and incredibly well written, this is an example of horror done for the sake of story rather than a few simple scares. the final scene is one of the more disturbing in any film and there isnt a true hero, leaving the world in doubt which is rare for... read more a film like this. one of the more effective horror films ever made.

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Critic Reviews

October 19, 2010
TIME Magazine

Even readers of the book who know how Baby comes out are in for a pleasant surprise: the very real acting ability of Mia Farrow. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
October 30, 2008
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

One of the finest horror films ever made. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
October 29, 2008
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Having escaped the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust in Poland by the skin of his teeth, Mr. Polanski was well equipped psychologically to re-imagine what was, before Rosemary's Baby, a B-picture genre in... Full Review

Miranda Siegel
October 28, 2008
Miranda Siegel, New York Magazine

Get your fix of Mia Farrow looking terrified in Roman Polanski's iconic 1968 thriller Rosemary's Baby. Full Review

Variety Staff
September 19, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Several exhilarating milestones are achieved in Rosemary's Baby, an excellent film version of Ira Levin's diabolical chiller novel. Full Review

Ed Park
September 19, 2007
Ed Park, Village Voice

Superbly acted (especially by bone-thin Farrow and Ruth Gordon as the ultimate neighbor from hell), it's a satantango in the land of Is-this-real-or-am-I-crazy?, with a luridly literal ending that doe... Full Review

Dave Kehr
September 19, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

A very sophisticated, very effective piece of work spun from primal images, with an excellent cast. Full Review

June 4, 2005
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It should establish Mia Farrow as an actress of stature and Roman Polanski as a name which will be remembered. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is a creepy film and a crawly film, and a film filled with things that go bump in the night. It is very good. Full Review

Renata Adler
May 20, 2003
Renata Adler, New York Times

The movie -- although is it pleasant -- doesn't seem to work on any of its dark or powerful terms. Full Review

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    • Rosemary Woodhouse: What have you done to his eyes?
    • Rosemary Woodhouse: This isn't a dream! This is really happening!
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  • He directed Rosemary's Baby, starring his wife, and Death and the Maiden, just to name a couple, but can not come back to the U.S. as he will be arrested.  Answer »
  • Which movie has this tagline : " Pray for Rosemary's baby " ?  Answer »
  • Which director links the movies "Rosemary's Baby", "Repulsion", "The Ninth Gate", "Oliver Twist" and "Chinatown"?  Answer »
  • Mia Farrow actually ate raw liver for a scene in Rosemary's Baby   Answer »
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