The Exorcist

Play trailer

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Tom Huddleston

Time Out

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.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 12, 2024

Full Review

Adam Nayman

The Ringer

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.

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

The scariest movie ever made...

Sep 30, 2023

Full Review

Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

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.

Rated: 10/10

Sep 18, 2025

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

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.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 9, 2024

Full Review

James Baldwin

The Devil Finds Work

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.

May 1, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Brandon N

Well paced and expertly built. Not just a horror film, but a story of faith, humanity, the will of man, and mental anguish.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

Full Review

Hayley

I loved it! Please release this more often so I can take my dad!!!! The theatre was packed! Scariest movie of all time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

Full Review

Steven M

Still freaks you out decades later.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Bryan D

The Exorcist is a timeless horror film that still captivates and scares today after 50 years , recommend highly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Gabriel W

Best Horror movie of all time!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

Full Review

Spencer Nielsen

“There are no experts.”

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Exorcist II: The Heretic

10%

13%

Exorcist II: The Heretic

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Exorcist II: The Heretic

And Now the Screaming Starts

40%

44%

And Now the Screaming Starts

Watchlist

The Blood on Satan's Claw

73%

59%

The Blood on Satan's Claw

Watchlist

The Dunwich Horror

29%

28%

The Dunwich Horror

Watchlist

Horror Express

80%

54%

Horror Express

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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
Screenwriter: 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)

Most Popular at Home Now