Sinister
“Once you see him, nothing can save you.”
Synopsis
True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.
Part of the Sinister Collection
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2012-06-14
Top Cast
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Ethan Hawke
Ellison Oswalt
Juliet Rylance
Tracy Oswalt
Vincent D'Onofrio
Professor Jonas
James Ransone
Deputy
Fred Thompson
Sheriff
Clare Foley
Ashley Oswalt
Michael Hall D'Addario
Trevor Oswalt
Victoria Leigh
Stephanie Stevenson
Blake Mizrahi
Christopher Miller
Cameron Ocasio
BBQ Son / Killer
Danielle Kotch
Lawn Girl
Ethan Haberfield
Pool Party Boy
Nicholas King
Bughuul / Mr. Boogie
Tavis Smiley
Anchor
Rachel Konstantin
Mrs. Stevenson (uncredited)
Chester the Chihuahua
Barking Dog (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Grimmfest International Festival of Fantastic Film
Festival / Special Debut
October 12, 2012
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 18, 2013
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$82.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
27.51x
+$79.5M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Scott Derrickson
- Screenplay & Story
- C. Robert Cargill, Scott Derrickson
- Original Score
- Christopher Young
- Original Title
- Sinister
- Country of Origin
- Canada, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Portuguese, French, Breton
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Production Budget
- $3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $82.5M
- Production Studios
- Automatik Entertainment, Blumhouse Productions, Alliance Films, IM Global, Summit Entertainment
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Scott Derrickson
C. Robert Cargill, Scott Derrickson
Christopher Young
Christopher Norr
Frédéric Thoraval
Scott Derrickson, Charles Layton, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Jason Blum
Department Leadership Roster
Rob King
Stunt Coordinator
Trampas Thompson
Stunt Coordinator
Manny Siverio
Stunt Coordinator
Christopher Young
Original Music Composer
Frédéric Thoraval
Editor
Brian Kavanaugh-Jones
Producer
Scott Derrickson
Director
Jason Blum
Producer
C. Robert Cargill
Screenplay
David Brisbin
Production Design
Abby O'Sullivan
Costume Design
Christopher Norr
Director of Photography
David Altenau
Visual Effects Supervisor
Scott Derrickson
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature Accompanied — Restricted to persons 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sinister.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sinister
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sinister about?
True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.
Who directed Sinister?
Sinister was directed by Scott Derrickson.
Who stars in Sinister?
The principal cast of Sinister includes Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Vincent D'Onofrio, James Ransone, Fred Thompson.
When was Sinister released and how long is it?
Sinister was released in 2012 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
What was the box office and production budget of Sinister?
Sinister had a reported production budget of $3M and grossed $82.5M at the worldwide box office (27.51 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Sinister?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sinister was composed by Christopher Young.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sinister?
Sinister holds official age classifications: AU: MA15+ (Mature Accompanied — Restricted to persons 15 and older.); CA: 14A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).