Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Kitty Winn, Lee J Cobb, Linda Blair ...( see more  see more... ) , Max von Sydow , Mercedes McCambridge , Peter Masterson

When a 12-year old girl is possessed by demons, a young priest takes it upon himself to selflessly save her at the behest of her famous movie-star mother.

Flixster Users

83% liked it

380,690 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

40 critics

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: William Friedkin

Release Date: December 26, 1973

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: December 1, 1998

Get It:

Stats: 22,699 reviews

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (22,699)


  • December 14, 2009
    The Exorcist is the best horror film ever made and there is one reason for this,the subject matter is treated with dignity and respect,too many "horror films" are made today that just don't try,it's as if they give up half way through and fall into self parody and amusement.the E...( read more)xorcist is an exception and one of the very few good horror films around.the film works on a number of levels and is one of the few films I know of to do this i.e subliminal imagery,multiple storylines. a lot has been written about this film drawing mainly on sensationalism surrounding the films release that it would be hard for someone who has not seen the film to not have any preconceptions,but if you have not seen the film do try to keep an open mind because it will scare the hell out of you.this is also one of the rare cases where a film could arguably be better than the book it was adapted from.in my opinion the film could not have been made any better,the cast throughout are superb, the locations and production are second to none,all the characters are totally believable and there are points in the film where you think all this could really happen and it is for that reason the film is frightening and continues to frighten people to this day....a true shocker and one that has not lost any of its impact over the years.
  • December 6, 2009
    SO creepy! It took me forever to see this (I had seen bits and pieces until now), but I'm glad I finally did.
  • December 5, 2009
    I think this was my very first Horror Movie. Timeless Classic you can watch over and over again.
    It was very funny to see Linda Blair playing in the spoof.
  • September 18, 2009
    Fuck me (Jesus), this is the scariest film ever made. Brilliant!
  • July 22, 2009
    I find it more than a little amusing when some young horror fan writes that he didn't find The Exorcist the least bit shocking or scary. Of course moviegoers today don't have the same visceral reaction, they're callused. And why are they callused? Because of groundbreaking...( read more) films like The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Shock, horror and fright are emotions that can't be sustained without an ever-increasing amount of stimulus. Genre fans are like crack addicts, the dosage has to be continually increased in order to maintain the same high. It's a phenomenon most of us can relate to. Kids of my generation really didn't find Tod Browning's Dracula or James Whale's Frankenstein all that scary. We were building up an immunity of sorts. A resistance. A tolerance. The Exorcist was our new drug. It did what horror films were supposed to do, it served as a catalyst for that fantastic, exhilarating euphoria of being scared. So go ahead kids, watch your Hostel (wince!) and your Wolf Creek (cringe!). I'm happy with my head-spinning, pea-soup-spitting, bed-levitating, she-did-WHAT-with-a-crucifix!? classic.
    I find it more than a little amusing when some young horror fan writes that he didn't find The Exorcist the least bit shocking or scary. Of course moviegoers today don't have the same visceral reaction, they're callused. And why are they callused? Because of groundbreaking films like The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

    Shock, horror and fright are emotions that can't be sustained without an ever-increasing amount of stimulus. Genre fans are like crack addicts, the dosage has to be continually increased in order to maintain the same high. It's a phenomenon most of us can relate to. Kids of my generation really didn't find Tod Browning's Dracula or James Whale's Frankenstein all that scary. We were building up an immunity of sorts. A resistance. A tolerance. The Exorcist was our new drug. It did what horror films were supposed to do, it served as a catalyst for that fantastic, exhilarating euphoria of being scared.

    So go ahead kids, watch your Hostel (wince!) and your Wolf Creek (cringe!). I'm happy with my head-spinning, pea-soup-spitting, bed-levitating, she-did-WHAT-with-a-crucifix!? classic.
  • February 9, 2010
    I first watched this movie when i was about 12 on my old mans pirated HBO. I was home alone so I knew I could get away with the R movie...20 some years later I can still picture the scenes that were burned into my brain, Linda Blair turning her head all the way around, puking bi...( read more)le like the pie eating contest winner on Stand By Me, firehosing everyone. The language and self mutiliation...and it scared the living crap out of me.

    This movie is the pinnacle of the horror genre. I watched all of the sequels and the prequel, but none of them hold a candle to the original. I have never really been enticed to watch much of the horror genre since, unless it was to scare a date into jumping into my lap.
  • February 7, 2010
    The greatest horror film ever made and the seminal masterpiece of it's genre, director William Friedkin's brilliant and well-mounted adaptation of William Peter Blatty's best-selling novel about a innocent 12 year old girl possessed by the Devil, the young girl changes into a vil...( read more)e unspeakable being spitting obscenities and blasphemies and using telekinetic powers to hurt others. Her anguished mother turns to a troubled young priest as a last resort. The young priest calls upon the church to bring in an experienced priest for an exorcism. They summon a aged exorcist/ archaeologist. A battle ensues for the body and soul of the young girl that is one the most horrific and unforgettable finals in cinematic history. Extremely well-acted by the entire cast with Max von Sydow a standout in an extraordinary performance as the aged exorcist. Oscar winner for Blatty's screenplay; vocal effects by Mercedes McCambridge. Superb make-up effects by Dick Smith and astonishing cinematography by Owen Roizman. Even after 37 years The Exorcist remains one of the most frightening films of all-time. Highly Recommended.
  • February 6, 2010
    tis is like, the bestest movie everrrrrrr, so scary
  • February 2, 2010
    I was thirteen when I saw this for the first time and I don't remember being scared and I've never had nightmares because of it like I had with Poltergeist. Frankly, I'm very unimpressed with it.
  • February 2, 2010
    This is a very scary horror movie. The film is one of the most famous horror movies evere made. It spawned many sequels and influenced other movies and genres. The basic story is about a young girl who gets possessed by a demon. Her mother gets a priest in to perform a exorcism o...( read more)n the child. For a movie made in the early 70's it stills holds up to other horror movies today. The F/X and make up are well done. The make up on the girl is very creepy. With a good story and solid acting this is a must see for any horror movie fan.

Critic Reviews


September 21, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

If movies are, among other things, opportunities for escapism, then The Exorcist is one of the most powerful ever made. full review

September 21, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

There's something elemental about The Exorcist. full review

View more The Exorcist reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • movieaddict15
    January 17, 2008
    this movie is defintely the scariest movie of all time.....i just seen this twice only and i don't want to watch it again..because it freaks me out..it scares me a lot!!!this movie will recognized forever as the most scariest movie of all time..."definitely two thumbs up"no other movie can bit this...
  • joen42
    October 26, 2007
    My dad had watched this movie before and he kept insisting that this is one movie I should never watch! Probably it scared the shit out of him then, All the more I yearn to watch it!!!
  • crAzySk8TerChiCk
    June 27, 2007
    my favorite movie i think that the exorcist look cool...if someone tells you that its scary they should just go watch finding nemo lol
  • jbrad175
    June 22, 2007
    very very funny, dont let old people tell you that its scary - its not.
    has some very funny lines in it - FUCK ME, your mother sucks cocks in hell.lol

    a great fun filled family comedy
  • lovemeforeverornotatall
    March 17, 2007
    hahahaa this movie is so funny but its brilliant
  • Auzin
    March 15, 2007
    My dad saw this 10 years ago and still won't talk about it, it scared him so much.
  • bmalone
    February 11, 2007
    Now this is what you call a horror movie. The movies these days are so crappy and not scary at all like "Black Christmas" WTF?? If u want to see a real horror movie then watch this (if u dare), you'll definitely will like.
    This deserves a spot on my "kick ass movie list" cuz its the scariest movie of all time!
  • luiggy142
    December 24, 2006
    is a to be a film of 1973 it have a lot of job, a very cool movie, reagan was wonderfull in the movie it is the most cool movie i have ever see i see it a lot of time, tnx to everybody that help to do this movie is a part of my life and a very big parto of cinema story
  • MiraBethy
    December 24, 2006
    i gotta say, after hearing so much hype and good stuff about this movie, it really wasnt THAT scary. once you get used to her face, its just whatever.
  • Spicecats
    October 4, 2006
    :oooooo
    ______________________________________________________________

    WOWIE!!!!!!!!1

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Covenant
    The Covenant (50%)
  • The Amityville Horror
    The Amityville Horror (60%)
  • The Amityville Horror
    The Amityville Horror (67%)
  • Stand by Me
    Stand by Me (38%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Exorcist : Watch Free on TV


The Exorcist Trivia


  • What is the highest grossing R-rated horror film of all time?  Answer »
  • Stanley Kubrick turned down making a sequel to this movie and instead went on to make 'The Shining', what movie sequel did he turn down?  Answer »
  • Which horror movie in the 1970's upset audiences so badly that it was pulled from dozens of theatres after it's release?  Answer »
  • Which movie is this quote from "Keep away. The sow is mine."  Answer »

Most Popular Skin