Let Me In
Performance & Direction: Let Me In Review
Last updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Let Me In (2010) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Let Me In features a noteworthy lineup led by Kodi Smit-McPhee . Supported by the likes of Chloë Grace Moretz and Richard Jenkins , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Let Me In (2010) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.8/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Let Me In
Quick Plot Summary: Let Me In is a Drama, Horror, Mystery film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian. A remake of the movie “Let The Right One In” which was an adaptation of a book. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Ending Explained: Let Me In
Ending Breakdown: Let Me In concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Let Me In reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Let Me In?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: Let Me In
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $20.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $24.1M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Let Me In Budget
The estimated production budget for Let Me In is $20.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Let Me In
All Cast & Crew →









Where to Watch Let Me In Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Starz Apple TV Channel
Starz Roku Premium Channel
Starz
Starz Amazon Channel
MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel
Bloodstream🎟️ Rent on
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home🏷️ Buy on
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeLet Me In Parents Guide & Age Rating
2010 AdvisoryWondering about Let Me In age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Let Me In is 116 minutes (1h 56m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.8/10, and global collection metrics, Let Me In stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2010 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Let Me In worth watching?
Let Me In is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Let Me In parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Let Me In identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Let Me In?
The total duration of Let Me In is 116 minutes, which is approximately 1h 56m long.
Best Movies to Watch if you liked Let Me In
How Let Me In Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Let Me In
See the original, not this one.
**1.** In the official promotional trailer for the film, Abby appears in some scenes violently shuddering or convulsing through a computer-generated visual effect before attacking one of her victims, and also when she entered Owen's apartment without being invited in. However, this computer-generated visual effect of this trembling or convulsion has been removed from the film's scenes and cannot be found within the movie. Therefore, one star out of ten will be deducted. **2.** Actor Richard Jenkins, who plays the character believed to be Abby's father or guardian, pours a corrosive substance on his face to conceal his identity from the police for an unclear reason. If he wanted to die rather than be imprisoned, he could have simply shot himself. If he wanted to both conceal his identity and die so that the police couldn't identify him after death, he could have detonated a hand grenade on himself instead of pouring a corrosive substance on his face, as it would erase his features without notable suffering. I don't believe he wanted to hide his identity and live disfigured for the rest of his life, as imprisonment without disfigurement compared to the torture of disfigurement by a corrosive substance would be a better option. Therefore, he had two better alternatives than suffering disfigurement by a corrosive substance until death: the first option being imprisonment without disfigurement if he was willing to have his identity revealed, or the second option of detonating a hand grenade on himself if he was unwilling to have his identity revealed. Nevertheless, he chose the worst, illogical, unrealistic option which the film failed to justify. Why to such an extent did he not want his identity discovered? If that would endanger Abby, then why didn't the film clarify that? Even if we assume the film did clarify that, the hand grenade option would still be better for concealing identity and dying together. Don't tell me he didn't want to die when he used the corrosive substance or that he didn't know it would torture him to death. He undoubtedly knew. So why die in agony when he could die without notable suffering? Nothing can explain this except that he wanted to punish himself for his sins of killing many innocent people. But since the film didn't clarify this, I cannot rely on this justification nor can it be considered valid. He should have said something before pouring the corrosive substance, such as "Let this be atonement for my sins," for this justification to be valid and for me to accept it. Since that didn't happen, another star out of ten will be deducted. **3.** When Owen sneaked out to Abby's house, he had left his home while his mother was sleeping on the couch in the living room. No scenes were filmed showing his arrival at Abby's house, her welcoming him, what they did that night, and how he ended up lying and sleeping on the floor of Abby's house despite the existence of better places to sleep. For example, he could have slept on the couch in Abby's living room, but he didn't. Why not? The reason was never clarified! **4.** After the police officer played by actor Elias Koteas entered the bathroom where Abby was sleeping in the bathtub, Abby killed him, and in a later scene, we find that the police officer's body was hidden in a hole in the wall of an apartment frequented by a boy who used to live in the building, named Tommy. This boy appears to be Owen's friend, otherwise Owen wouldn't have known about his secret hideout where he goes to drink and smoke with his high school companions. Or perhaps Owen simply discovered this information by chance because he often loiters outside and voyeuristically watches people through his binoculars in his room. So one way or another, Owen was able to know about this place. But the problem doesn't lie here; it lies in the fact that the police officer's body was hidden in this place in an absurdly ridiculous manner. It wasn't shown who did this, but it was likely done by Abby or with Abby's participation. It's inconceivable that Abby, who is accustomed to killing, would hide the body without covering the hole with anything, whether through cement, plaster, a piece of wood, or an amount of pillow stuffing and fabric. Leaving the body exposed in this way was illogical for a character accustomed to killing because there was simply no benefit to hiding the body in this manner. They went through the trouble of hiding it without any purpose; the smell would emanate from it in a short period and spread throughout the neighborhood, and neighbors would soon smell it and bring the police. I know that Abby and Owen escaped at the end of the film, but their escape won't last as long as the body will be discovered within a few days of their escape. The body will be linked to their escape along with the recent rumors circulated by investigators, and it will be easy to find a connection between them even if it doesn't seem logical for children of their age. Their escape will create a question mark that forces investigators to discover what lies behind it. Therefore, it was mentally unacceptable for Abby, who is accustomed to killing, to bury the police officer's body in this way, which would expose her escape operation with Owen to discovery and then destroy their future together.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.











