In the latest installment in The Omen franchise, The First Omen, viewers are taken on a journey that serves as a prequel to the original 1976 horror film classic. The film revolves around a young novitiate named Margaret Daino, played by Nell Tiger Free, who finds herself in Rome, uncovering a conspiracy around the birth of a new Antichrist. While the film does not contain an end credits scene, it sets the stage for a potential sequel by linking its story directly to the events of the first Omen film.
The First Omen offers a fresh take on the origins of the Antichrist, shedding light on the events that led up to the introduction of Damien Thorn in the 1976 film. Director Arkasha Stevenson’s aspirations to create a sequel are evident in the conclusion of the film, leaving audiences intrigued about the future of the franchise. However, the success of The First Omen as a potential franchise relies heavily on its box office performance, with projections estimating a $10 million to $15 million domestic opening weekend.
The original version of The Omen spawned several sequels, starting with Damien: Omen II in 1978, which followed the Antichrist as he approached his 13th birthday. Omen III: The Final Conflict in 1981 continued with the rise of the evil Damien, played by Sam Neill. In 1991, a television movie titled Omen IV: The Awakening introduced a female Antichrist character, Delia York. A remake of the original Omen was released in 2006, earning substantial revenue but not leading to any further sequels.
For The First Omen to pave the way for a successful franchise, it will need to attract audiences and recoup its production costs. With a relatively modest budget compared to other big-budget films, the film has the potential to break even and potentially lead to more sequels in the future. The positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and the anticipation surrounding the film’s release suggest that audiences may be willing to support the franchise’s continuation.
The absence of an end credits scene in The First Omen may leave some viewers disappointed, but the chilling film score and eerie chants that accompany the closing credits offer a haunting conclusion to the film. As the box office numbers start to roll in, it will become clearer whether The First Omen has done enough to warrant a sequel. The film’s ties to the original Omen story and the potential for expanding the narrative provide hope for fans eager for more tales of the Antichrist’s origins.
