25 Years Have Passed, but This $210M Horror Remains a True Gem With the Most Shocking Finale
Twenty-five years later, this film has lost none of its power.
Alejandro Amenábar's The Others is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. In all these years, the movie has solidified its cult status and regularly tops lists of films with the most shocking endings.
However, the power of this movie, which features one of Nicole Kidman's finest performances, extends far beyond the final twist.
What Is 'The Others' About?
The story takes place in 1945 on a remote island. Grace is a single mother raising two children, Anne and Nicholas. They suffer from a rare condition: a complete intolerance to sunlight.
While awaiting their father's return from the war, Grace keeps their gloomy mansion in strict order: all doors must be locked, and the curtains must be tightly drawn.
After the previous servants mysteriously departed, three new helpers arrived, and with them, unexplained phenomena began to occur: footsteps, disappearing curtains, voices, and music from empty rooms.
'The Others' Became a Pinnacle of Alejandro Amenábar's Career, and Tom Cruise Helped Make It Happen
Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar, known for his earlier work Open Your Eyes, caught the attention of Tom Cruise. Cruise acquired the rights to an American remake of the movie, titled Vanilla Sky.
Impressed by Amenábar's talent, Cruise produced his next project and cast his wife at the time, Nicole Kidman, in the lead role – it was a fateful decision. The Others marked Amenábar's English-language debut as director, screenwriter, and composer.
Made on a modest budget of $17 million, the movie grossed $210 million worldwide. At the time, it became the highest-grossing film in Spanish cinema history and one of Cruise's most successful producing efforts.
'The Others' Isn't Only a Great Horror With a Shocking Twist, but Also a Masterful Thriller With Brilliant Cinematography
Yes, the plot's climactic twist has entered the annals of film history, but Amenábar begins building tension long before the finale.
The Others pays homage to Hitchcock classics – it's no coincidence that the main character is named Grace, after Grace Kelly – and offers a masterful lesson in slow-motion suspense.
At a time when horror movies increasingly relied on primitive jump scares, Amenábar opted for a more subtle approach, playing with the audience's psychology.
He manipulates the atmosphere masterfully, using the confined space of the mansion, thick fog, and impenetrable darkness as agents of anxiety.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Others'?
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The Others has 84% from critics and 77% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.6/10.
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On Letterboxd, The Others scored 3.8/5.0.
Where to Watch 'The Others'?
The Others is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.
