Evil Never Dies — It Just Finds a New Face. Nearly fifty years after the first unsettling whisper of The Omen echoed through theaters, Damien Thorn’s story of unholy birth and predestined power still chills fans today. Revisiting this disturbing saga is like walking back into darkness you thought you’d left behind — only to find it staring back, smiling. With the franchise reborn through The First Omen (2024), audiences are once again questioning faith, fate, and fear itself. But here’s the question that divides die-hard fans: how do The Omen films truly stack up against one another? Get ready, because this ranking might ruffle some feathers... and raise a few devils.
The Omen (2006)
Let’s start at the bottom. Did we really need a shot-for-shot remake of the 1976 classic? John Moore’s The Omen (2006) seems to think so — but audiences and critics didn’t agree. Even though it features a capable cast, including Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles, the remake adds nothing fresh. Every camera angle, every line of dialogue, feels borrowed from Richard Donner’s original masterpiece. Without the haunting Jerry Goldsmith score and the powerhouse cast that gave the 1976 film its gravitas, this version falls spiritually flat. Moore’s lack of cinematic finesse compared to Donner is painfully obvious, despite David Seltzer’s returning screenplay credit. While Schreiber and Stiles try valiantly, they just don’t have the presence to sell this cosmic-scale horror. The result? A soulless copy that serves as a reminder: not all evil should be resurrected.
Omen IV: The Awakening (1991)
What do you do when your devil child is dead? Simple — bring in another. Omen IV: The Awakening takes the franchise’s infernal cycle literally, introducing Damien Thorn’s daughter, Delia, adopted by a politically driven family. She’s not the Antichrist, but she’s clearly preparing the way for his return. Faye Grant delivers a compelling turn as the adoptive mother who slowly realizes her daughter might be the devil’s next project. While this made-for-TV entry (debuting on Fox) lacks the cinematic polish of earlier installments, it offers a surprisingly eerie atmosphere and a few standout moments — like a private investigator’s brutal end courtesy of a wrecking ball. It’s essentially a reimagining of the first film’s formula, but with new twists and characters. Sure, it’s flawed, but it carries more originality and ambition than the 2006 remake — a reminder that sometimes even TV productions can show more creative daring than Hollywood reboots.
Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981)
By the time we reach Omen III: The Final Conflict, Damien has grown up — and so has the story. Sam Neill steps into the devil’s shoes with fire and charisma, portraying a confident, calculating Antichrist who now moves among the corridors of global power. Yet here’s where fans split: can an adult Antichrist ever be as frightening as a child who doesn’t know his own evil? The film struggles with this question. It replaces mystery with melodrama and trades slow-burning dread for grand religious spectacle. The decision to give the series a “happy” conclusion rather than continuing its dark tone was also controversial. Still, Neill’s performance elevates the film above mediocrity. He’s magnetic — seductive and terrifying, a devil who could really walk among us. The kills aren’t as shocking as those in the earlier entries, but The Final Conflict remains a fascinating, if uneven, finale to the original mythos.
The First Omen (2024)
When news broke that The Omen was getting a prequel, long-time fans groaned — post-remake trauma, anyone? But Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen turned out to be a rare modern horror surprise: tense, intelligent, and respectful of its roots. The film follows a young woman entangled in sinister Vatican secrets, leading to the birth of Damien himself. While it makes a controversial change to the Antichrist’s origin story, isn't it sometimes worth bending mythology for the sake of a truly unnerving twist? Many think so. Nell Tiger Free shines as the protagonist, grounding the story’s supernatural chaos in raw emotion. Though its box office performance was disappointingly modest, this prequel revived interest in the series and suggested that even ancient evil can find new life — if handled with care.
Damien: Omen II (1978)
Sequels to horror classics rarely escape comparison to their predecessors, and Omen II is no exception. Yet Don Taylor managed to craft a worthy continuation that deepens Damien’s character as he transitions from innocent child to dark heir. Some of its death scenes even rival the first film’s iconic kills — who could forget the terrifying elevator dismemberment or the frozen lake drowning? While William Holden’s performance lacks the gravitas Gregory Peck brought to the original, it’s fascinating knowing that Holden had once turned down the first Omen and later regretted it. The film also features a young Lance Henriksen and a morally conflicted youth performance by Jonathan Scott-Taylor. No, it doesn’t surpass The Omen, but it does something important — it proves the story didn’t have to end with Damien’s childhood. Evil, as it turns out, likes to grow up too.
The Omen (1976)
Finally, we arrive at the crown jewel of the series — The Omen (1976), the film that started it all. Directed by Richard Donner, this chilling masterpiece transformed what could’ve been a campy possession flick into a sophisticated, nerve-shattering thriller. Critics initially dismissed it as an Exorcist knockoff, but time has rewritten that judgment. The casting of Gregory Peck, Hollywood’s symbol of moral strength, as a father forced to doubt his child’s humanity, was nothing short of genius. His chemistry with Lee Remick brings emotional depth that makes every scene hurt — because the horror here isn’t just demonic, it’s deeply personal. Add in David Warner, Billie Whitelaw, and that eerie, operatic score, and you have a film that feels biblical in both tone and consequence. From the moment that voice cries, “Damien! It’s all for you!” cinematic evil was forever redefined.
So, what do you think? Is this ranking devilishly accurate or blasphemously wrong? Some fans insist The Final Conflict deserves more love, while others swear The First Omen breathes fresh life into the legend. Which side are you on — tradition or reinvention? Let your judgment be known in the comments. After all, we’re talking about the Antichrist... and every opinion has consequences.
