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The Exorcist

Play trailer Poster for The Exorcist R 1973 2h 2m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
78% Tomatometer 178 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
One of the most profitable horror movies ever made, this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events. When young Regan (Linda Blair) starts acting odd -- levitating, speaking in tongues -- her worried mother (Ellen Burstyn) seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. A local priest (Jason Miller), however, thinks the girl may be seized by the devil. The priest makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow) to help with the difficult job.
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The Exorcist

The Exorcist

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Critics Consensus

The Exorcist rides its supernatural theme to magical effect, with remarkable special effects and an eerie atmosphere, resulting in one of the scariest films of all time.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Huddleston Time Out Dec 12, 2024
5/5
It remains genuinely unnerving to this day -- ridiculous in places, faintly despicable in others, but gorgeous to look at and possessed with a sense of absolute, ruthless gravity. Go to Full Review Adam Nayman The Ringer Oct 6, 2023
Perhaps the most influential American horror movie ever made, The Exorcist was a Rorschach test when it came out. Fifty years later, it still sticks with us. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times Sep 30, 2023
The scariest movie ever made... Go to Full Review Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk Sep 18, 2025
10/10
Some of the themes and scenes from this movie are still genuinely disturbing nearly 50 years after it’s release. It deals with a lot of conscience and subconscious fears about life, reality, and little girls. Go to Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times Jul 9, 2024
5/5
The macabre, obscene demonstrations of manifest evil still retain their power to startle and nauseate, particularly Linda Blair's "head-turning" antics as the possessed child. Go to Full Review James Baldwin The Devil Finds Work May 1, 2024
The mindless and hysterical banality of the evil presented in The Exorcist is the most terrifying thing about the film. The Americans should cer­tainly know more about evil than that; if they pre­tend otherwise, they are lying. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ari Jun 20, 2026 Classic for a reason See more Brandon N Oct 19, 2025 Well paced and expertly built. Not just a horror film, but a story of faith, humanity, the will of man, and mental anguish. See more Hayley Oct 19, 2025 I loved it! Please release this more often so I can take my dad!!!! The theatre was packed! Scariest movie of all time! See more Steven M Oct 31, 2024 Still freaks you out decades later. See more Bryan D Oct 31, 2024 The Exorcist is a timeless horror film that still captivates and scares today after 50 years , recommend highly. See more Gabriel W Oct 27, 2024 Best Horror movie of all time!! See more Read all reviews
The Exorcist

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Cast & Crew

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William Friedkin

Director

Ellen Burstyn

Chris MacNeil

Linda Blair

Regan Teresa MacNeil

Max von Sydow

Father Lankester Merrin

Lee J. Cobb

Lieutenant William Kinderman

Kitty Winn

Sharon Spencer

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The Exorcist

Linda Blair. Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn. Jason Miller and Max Von Sydow. Max Von Sydow and Linda Blair. Poster Art The Exorcist (1973) The Exorcist (1973) The Exorcist (1973) The Exorcist (1973) The Exorcist (1973) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis One of the most profitable horror movies ever made, this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events. When young Regan (Linda Blair) starts acting odd -- levitating, speaking in tongues -- her worried mother (Ellen Burstyn) seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. A local priest (Jason Miller), however, thinks the girl may be seized by the devil. The priest makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow) to help with the difficult job.
Director
William Friedkin
Producer
William Peter Blatty
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers, Hoya Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 26, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 24, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$441.4M
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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