The Omen was released in the US on 25 June 1976.
Producer Harvey Bernhard hired David Seltzer to write a screenplay about the Antichrist in 1973, which took a year to produce. Bernhard's first choice for the role of Robert Thorn was Gregory Peck, but the studio was reluctant and offered the part to a number of other actors, including Charlton Heston, William Holden (who would be cast in the 1978 sequel), and Dick Van Dyke before Peck was cast.
More than 500 children auditioned for the role of Damien, before 4-year-old Harvey Spencer Stephens was offered the part (Stephens' curly blonde hair had to be dyed and straightened, and wore colored contact lenses).
Despite mixed reviews, The Omen was a huge box office success and was nominated for 2 Academy Awards, including Best Original Song (Jerry Goldsmith). Goldsmith received the Oscar for Best Original Score. 2 years after its release, The Omen was included in Harry Dreyfuss's and Harry Medved's book The Fifty Worst Films of All Time.
