Rosemary's Baby (franchise)

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Rosemary's Baby
Official franchise logo
Based onRosemary's Baby
by Ira Levin
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
1968–present
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Rosemary's Baby franchise consists of American horror installments including a theatrical film, its made-for-television sequel film, and a television miniseries. Based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Ira Levin, the plot follows a young married couple who after moving into a new apartment experience interactions with a Satanic cult that's determined to usher in the birth of the antichrist. Each installment details the disturbing events that follow their decision to take up residence there, despite the potential dangers.

The franchise has been met with mix success as a whole. The original movie though met initially with a mild critical reception,[1][2] was considered a box office success domestically.[3] Through the years that followed, it earned its status as a classic horror movie. Modern analysis has called it one of the all-time greatest in the genre,[4][5] a "masterpiece",[6] and writer-director Roman Polanski's "magnum opus";[7] while also praising its influence over the horror genre thereafter, with various filmmakers acknowledging it as an inspiration.[8] In cult-like manner, various legends of the production being a "cursed movie" have followed.[9] Conversely, its television movie sequel was met with near universal negative reception from critics and its viewers; with reviews calling it one of the "worst horror sequels" ever,[10] while some stated it has entertainment value.[11] The television miniseries adaptation likewise, was met with negative reception calling it inferior to the original; criticizing the plot changes, and its overall execution.[12][13]

The franchise will continue with a prequel film in post-production, from Paramount Pictures.[14][15]

Origin[edit]

Main articles: Rosemary's Baby (novel) and Son of Rosemary

The 1967 American horror novel, written by Ira Levin and printed by Random House publishing, Rosemary's Baby was a financial success earning its classification as the best-selling book in the genre during the 1960s. In subsequent years, it has been called the greatest horror novel published.[9] The literary piece serves as the basis for the film franchise that followed thereafter.[16]

The plot centers around Rosemary Woodhouse, a young woman who recently moved into a new apartment building with her husband named Guy. Warned of the disturbing history surrounding the building, the couple ignore the warnings considering them urban legends. Though Rosemary wants to begin a family, Guy is determined to have a successful career before they have children. As time passes, they befriend an elderly couple who regularly come to visit. Rosemary begins to question their real intentions, and whether the forewarnings were myth or factual. After the couple's sexual intercourse with intent to have a baby, Rosemary experiences a horrific nightmare where a demon took the place of her husband. Convinced that perhaps her dream was reality, she begins to wonder whether she is going to birth the Antichrist.[17][18]

Levin wrote and published a sequel novel titled Son of Rosemary, which was printed by Dutton Books in September 1997.[19][20] The plot centers around Rosemary, who awakens from a coma twenty-seven years after the ending of the original release. She becomes aware that her son Andy has risen to great influence, founding an organization that seeks to enlighten the world through spirituality. After reuniting with her son, he lets her know that he is aware of his parentage though he chooses to do good within society. When a series of suspicious events transpire however, she begins to question whether his fate is as evil as his conception.[21]

Films[edit]

Film U.S.
release date 		Director Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
Rosemary's Baby June 12, 1968 (1968-06-12) Roman Polanski William Castle
Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby October 29, 1976 (1976-10-29) Sam O'Steen Anthony Wilson
Apartment 7A Fall 2024 Natalie Erika James Natalie Erika James & Christian White
and Skylar James 		Skylar James John Krasinski, Allyson Seeger, Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller

Rosemary's Baby (1968)[edit]

Main article: Rosemary's Baby (film)

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, move to a new apartment complex with a shady history. Believing the ominous stories they have heard to be exaggerated and fictionalized, they move in with intent to start a family. Though Rosemary wants to immediately begin having children, Guy is determined to earn a successful acting career before they do. As he works tirelessly to find a major role in a production, she is left in the apartment as a housewife.[22][23][1][24][25]

Growing lonely, she turns to her neighbors for friendship including a young woman named Terry Gionoffrio who lives in Apartment 7A. One night returning to the building, the couple arrive to the scene of a crime; horrified to discover that Terry had seemingly thrown herself from the top floor of the building to her death. Confiding in an elderly couple named Roman and Minnie Castavet, they decide to continue their familial pursuits. As time goes on, Rosemary begins to question their intentions and grows weary suspecting foul-play in her friend's death. After experiencing a particularly frightening demonic encounter, she is lead to believe that it was a hallucination caused by medication. Discovering that she is pregnant, Rosemary believes that the violently sexual experience she had may have been reality, and suspects that the baby she is carrying may diabolically not be of this world.[22][23][1][24][25]

Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby (1976)[edit]

Main article: Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary Woodhouse tries to teach her young son Andrew, who the occultists have given the title-name of "Adrian", in secret to rebuke his lineage as the illegitimate son of Satan and to one day become a good man. Living alongside the pagan coven who orchestrated his conception, she decides to run away with him to escape their evil influences. Along the path to their destination, Andrew is abducted by a sex-worker who is a part of the same cult named Marjean. Raising the child as her own, she teaches him to follow his basic instincts of rebellion.[26][27][28][29]

Years later and now fully grown, Andrew has become the leader of a musical group and is popular in Los Angeles. Aware of his heritage, he is pursued by members of the Satanists from his childhood. Though his natural inclination is to behave wickedly, the words of his mother Rosemary inspire him to try to avoid their sway they are imposing on him. The devil worshippers who manipulated his mother prior to his birth, named Roman and Minnie move into close proximity, determined to have him embrace his destiny as the anitchrist. When their actions to convince him to use his demonic powers prove unsuccessful, the elderly couple send their young granddaughter named Ellen to seduce him into his unholy nature.[26][27][28][29]

Apartment 7A (2024)[edit]

Main article: Apartment 7A

In March 2021, it was announced that Natalie Erika James will serve as director of a psychological thriller film titled, Apartment 7A. James will also serve as co-screenwriter with Christian White, based on a previous draft of the script written by Skylar James; while the plot was kept a secret from public knowledge. John Krasinski, Allyson Seeger, Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller will produce the film. The project will be a joint-venture production between Paramount Players, Sunday Night Productions and Platinum Dunes. Following the success of the A Quiet Place movies, the project was among several scripts that the studio is developing with a similar tone. Apartment 7A was chosen from those projects to quickly entered pre-production.[30][31]

In January through March 2022, Julia Garner and Dianne Wiest joined the cast in as-of-yet unspecified starring roles, respectively.[32][33] By June 2022, it was announced that Marli Siu had been cast to co-star in the film. Principal photography had commenced in the United Kingdom previously at an undisclosed time, and had since wrapped production.[34][35][36] Later that month, Bloody Disgusting exclusively revealed that the film is secretly a prequel to Rosemary's Baby, with various actors cast to portray roles from the original movie.[15]

In August 2022, the Writers Guild of America determined the film's final writing credits, confirmed that it is based on the 1967 novel by Ira Levin.[37] In June 2023, test screenings confirmed the movie is intended to serve as a prequel to the 1968 film, receiving positive reception through its viewers.[14] This was elaborated when Paramount officially announced the film's release date, and a synopsis which stated the plot will follow the events taking place during 1965 in New York, and detail the events that chronologically transpired before Rosemary Woodhouse moved into the complex.[38] Apartment 7A will release exclusively on Paramount+, in the fall of 2024.[38]

Television[edit]

Main article: Rosemary's Baby (miniseries)
SeriesSeasonEpisodesOriginally releasedDirectorWritersExecutive producers
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
Rosemary's Baby12May 11, 2014 (2014-05-11)May 15, 2014 (2014-05-15)NBCAgnieszka HollandScott Abbott & James WongJoshua Maurer, Alixandre Witlin, David A. Stern, Zoe Saldaña, Cisely Saldaña, Mariel Saldaña, Tom Patricia and Robert Bernacchi

The television adaptation based on the original novel by Levin, began development in January 2014. Agnieszka Holland was announced to be directing from a screenplay co-written by Scott Abbott and James Wong, while Zoe Saldaña was cast in the lead role of Rosemary Woodhouse. While the plot followed the source material, changes were made to reimagine the 1968 film. The character of Rosemary is a professional ballerina dancer, who after a miscarriage moves to Paris with her husband to start a new life. When the couple finally conceives a child, they begin to discover its true sinister nature.

Joshua Maurer, Alixandre Witlin and David A. Stern served as executive producers; with Saldaña's production studio and associates also attached as executives. The project being a joint-venture production between Lionsgate Television, City Entertainment, KippSter Entertainment, and Cinestar Productions. The miniseries aired on National Broadcasting Company (NBC) between May 11 and May 15, 2014.[39]

The miniseries was met with a majority of negative critical reception, comparing it unfavorably to the original movie.[12][13]

Main cast and characters[edit]

Character Films Television
Rosemary's Baby Look What's Happened to
Rosemary's Baby 		Apartment 7A Rosemary's Baby
1968 1976 2024 2014
Rosemary Woodhouse Mia Farrow Patty Duke Astin Amy Leeson Zoe Saldana
Andrew "Adrian" Woodhouse Uncredited infant Stephen McHattie
Philip BoyerY 		Uncredited infant
Guy Woodhouse John Cassavetes George Maharis Scott Hume Patrick J. Adams
Roman Castevet
Steven Marcato 		Sidney Blackmer Ray Milland Kevin McNally Jason Isaacs
Marguax "Minnie" Castevet Ruth Gordon Dianne Wiest Carole Bouquet
Terry Gionoffrio Angela Dorian Julia Garner
Edward "Hutch" Hutchins Maurice Evans
Dr. Abraham Sapirstein Ralph Bellamy
Laura-Louise McBirney Patsy Kelly
Mr. Nicklas Elisha Cook
Elise Dunstan Emmaline Henry
Dr. Hill Charles Grodin Oisín Stack
the Devil
The Blue-Eyed Man 		Clay Tanner Stefano Cassetti
Ellen Castevet Donna Mills
The Daughter of Adrian Uncredited infant
Sheriff Holtzman Broderick Crawford
Laykin Lloyd Haynes
Peter Simon David Huffman
Marjean Dorn Tina Louise
TBA Jim Sturgess
Marli Siu
Rosy McEwen
Commissioner Fontaine Olivier Rabourdin
Julie Christina Cole
Jacques François Civil
Father Tekem Frédéric Pierrot
Monsieur Wees Wojciech Pszoniak

Additional crew and production details[edit]

Film Crew/Detail
Composer Cinematographer Editor(s) Production
companies 		Distributing
companies 		Running time
Rosemary's Baby Krzysztof Komeda William A. Fraker Sam O'Steen & Bob Wyman William Caste Productions Paramount Pictures 2hrs 16mins
Look What's Happened to
Rosemary's Baby 		Charles Bernstein John A. Alonzo Bob Wyman The Culzean Corporation,
Paramount Television 		Paramount Pictures Corporation,
American Broadcasting Company 		1hr 40mins
Rosemary's Baby
(TV series) 		Antoni Komasa-Lazarkiewicz Michel Amathieu Amy E. Duddleston & Brian Berdan City Entertainment,
KippSter Entertainment,
Liaison Films,
Federation Entertainment,
Cinestar Pictures 		National Broadcasting Company,
Lionsgate Home Entertainment 		2hrs 50mins
Apartment 7A Isobel Waller-Bridge Arnau Valls Colomer Andy Canny Paramount Players,
Sunday Night Productions,
Platinum Dunes,
Paramount+ Original Films 		Paramount+ TBA

Reception[edit]

For more details on the reception of each film, see the "Reception" section on each film's article.

Box office and financial performance[edit]

Film Box office gross Box office ranking Video
sales gross 		Worldwide total
gross income 		Budget Worldwide total
net income 		Ref.
North America Other territories Worldwide All time
North America 		All time
worldwide 		North America
Rosemary's Baby $33,395,426 $1,314 $33,396,740 #2,594 #22,181 $320,876 $33,717,616 $3,200,000 $30,517,616 [3]
Look What's Happened to
Rosemary's Baby 		— — — — — Information not publicly available Information not publicly available Information not publicly available Information not publicly available
Apartment 7A [to be determined] [to be determined] [to be determined] [to be determined] [to be determined] [to be determined] [to be determined] TBA [to be determined] —
Totals $33,395,426 $1,314 $33,396,740 x̄ #1,297 x̄ #11,091 >$320,876 >$33,717,616 >$3,200,000 >$30,517,616

Critical and public response[edit]

Title Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Rosemary's Baby 96%
(73 reviews)[40] 		93/100
(96 reviews)[41]
Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby TBD[42] —
Rosemary's Baby (TV series) 31%
(39 reviews)[43] 		51/100
(27 reviews)[44]
Apartment 7A [to be determined] [to be determined]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Alder, Renata (June 13, 1968). "The Screen: 'Rosemary's Baby,' a Story of Fantasy and Horror; John Cassavetes Stars With Mia Farrow". The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  2. ^ Eichelbaum, Stanley (June 25, 1968). "'Rosemary' - A Devilish Delight". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Rosemary's Baby". The Numbers. Nash Information Services LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Navarro, Meagan (June 12, 2018). "50 Years Later, 'Rosemary's Baby' Still Terrifies and Inspires Modern Horror Hits". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Billson, Anne (October 22, 2010). "Rosemary's Baby: No 2 best horror film of all time". The Guardian. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Taylor, Lauren (September 16, 2012). "Horror Education of the Week: 'Rosemary's Baby'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Jacobs, Matthew (June 22, 2021). "Why Today's Horror Filmmakers Can't Escape Rosemary's Baby". Vulture. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  8. ^ Murray, Noel (October 31, 2012). "Rosemary's Baby". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Counter, Rosemary (June 1, 2017). "The Most Cursed Hit Movie Ever Made". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Paultergeist, Patti (August 2, 2021). "WTF Review: Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby". Nightmare Nostalgia. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  11. ^ Fisher, Kiernan (March 8, 2020). "Look What Happened to The 'Rosemary's Baby' Sequel". Film School Rejects. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Lowry, Brian (May 7, 2014). "TV Review: 'Rosemary's Baby'". Variety. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Goodman, Tim (May 11, 2014). "Rosemary's Baby: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Nash, Anthony (June 26, 2023). "Rosemary's Baby Prequel Apartment 7A Gets First Details". Coming Soon. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Miska, Brad (June 29, 2022). "'Rosemary's Baby' – Is Paramount's 'Apartment 7A' a Secret Prequel?! [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  16. ^ Shultz, Christopher (July 9, 2014). "Book vs. Film vs. Mini-series: 'Rosemary's Baby'". Lit Reactor. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  17. ^ Levin, Ira (November 5, 2012). "Essays - "Stuck with Satan": Ira Levin on the Origins of Rosemary's Baby". Criterion. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  18. ^ Good Reads (2021). "Rosemary's Baby". Good Reads. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  19. ^ New York Media, LLC (8 September 1997). "New York Magazine". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC: 135–. ISSN 0028-7369.
  20. ^ Jacobs, Alexandra (September 5, 1997). "Son of Rosemary". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  21. ^ Publishers Weekly staff. "Son of Rosemary: the Sequel to Rosemary's Baby". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Variety Staff (December 31, 1967). "Rosemary's Baby". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Rosemary's Baby". RogerEbert.com. July 29, 1968. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Carroll, Kathleen (June 13, 1968). "'Rosemary's Baby' is horribly frightening: 1968 review". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Errigo, Angie (January 1, 2000). "Rosemary's Baby". Empire. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  26. ^ a b Kennedy, Michael (November 30, 2019). "Rosemary's Baby 2 Exists! What Happens in the Sequel". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Freer, Sloan (1976). "Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby". Radio Times. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Goodwin, Daniels (October 11, 2016). "Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby". Scream Horror Magazine. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  29. ^ a b Drebit, Scott (September 17, 2017). "It Came from the Tube: 'Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby' (1976)". Daily Dead. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  30. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 18, 2021). "Natalie Erika James To Direct Thriller Apartment 7A For Paramount, Sunday Night Productions And Platinum Dunes". Deadline. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  31. ^ Kit, Borys (March 18, 2021). "John Krasinski's Sunday Night Productions Reteams With Platinum Dunes for Apartment 7A". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  32. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 7, 2022). "Julia Garner To Star in Thriller Apartment 7A For Paramount Players, Sunday Night And Platinum Dunes". Deadline. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  33. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 14, 2022). "Dianne Wiest Joins Julia Garner In Paramount Thriller Apartment 7A". Deadline. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  34. ^ Miska, Brad (June 9, 2022). "'Apartment 7A' – Filming Wraps on 'Relic' Director's Next Starring "Ozark's" Julia Garner!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  35. ^ Dalton, Ben (June 9, 2022). "Production wraps on Paramount's 'Apartment 7A'; Marli Siu joins cast (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  36. ^ Hamman, Cody (June 9, 2022). "Apartment 7A: Marli Siu stars in recently wrapped Platinum Dunes thriller with Julia Garner". JoBlo. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  37. ^ "Apartment 7A". Writers Guild of America West. August 9, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  38. ^ a b Complex, Valerie (April 26, 2024). "Julia Garner's 'Rosemary's Baby' Prequel 'Apartment 7A' To Launch In Fall On Paramount+". Deadline. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  39. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (May 8, 2014). "'Rosemary's Baby' reboot has nothing on Polanski's masterpiece". New York Post. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  40. ^ "Rosemary's Baby". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  41. ^ "Rosemary's Baby (1968)". Metacritic. Fandom Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  42. ^ "Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  43. ^ "Rosemary's Baby (2014 - 2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  44. ^ "Rosemary's Baby". Metacritic. Fandom Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
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