The Exorcist (1973) Horror
The Exorcist (1973) Movie Release Dates / Movie Details

- Our Score: ☆ 10/10
Read our The Exorcist Movie Review - Overall Score: ☆ 8.74/10
IMDB: ☆ 8.1/10
Metascore: ☆ 8.3/10
Tomatometer: ☆ 7.8/10 - Related: Discover more movies like The Exorcist
The Exorcist Plot Synopsis:
A visiting actress in Washington, D.C., notices dramatic and dangerous changes in the behavior and physical make-up of her 12-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, a young priest at nearby Georgetown University begins to doubt his faith while dealing with his mother's terminal sickness. And, book-ending the story, a frail, elderly priest recognizes the necessity for a show-down with an old demonic enemy.
Synopsis / Plot Summary: When a teenage girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.
Tagline: The movie you"ve been waiting for...without the wait.
What is the name of the horror movie released on Boxing Day in 1973? The Exorcist opened in movie theaters on Boxing Day of 1973, also called the day when the Devil possessed the box office.
Why Watch The Exorcist
The Exorcist from '73, ever seen it? It’s a classic. This girl, Regan, played by Linda Blair, starts acting super strange, and it turns out she’s possessed. Her mom’s freaked out, obviously, and they end up calling in these priests to try and handle it. The whole thing is set in Georgetown, and it’s got this super spooky vibe.
The way Regan changes and the stuff she does? Totally creepy. Linda Blair was amazing in it – she made the whole possessed thing feel real and super unsettling. And the special effects, for the time, were mind-blowing.
What’s wild about "The Exorcist" is it’s not just your typical horror flick. It’s really intense, and the whole possession thing is done in a way that’s kind of disturbing but really gripping. Plus, the whole battle between good and evil, faith and doubt, is super interesting.
I think it’s a must-watch because it’s not just about scaring you; it’s got this depth to it. It’s a bit heavy, sure, but it’s also super iconic in the horror genre.
So, if you're in the mood for a horror movie that’s got some real chills and a story that sticks with you, "The Exorcist" is the way to go. Just maybe not the best pick for a light, easy watch – it's pretty intense!
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The Exorcist Movie Information:
Type: MovieYear: 1973 (more 1973 movies)
Box Office: $233,005,644
Oscars: 2
Awards: 16
Nominations: 21
What is The Exorcist Streaming On?
The Exorcist is Streaming on Netflix, HBO MaxLanguage: English, Latin, Greek, French, German, Arabic
Country: United States
Release Dates: Movie Release Dates / The Exorcist Release Dates In Theaters: Dec 26, 1973, Netflix: Feb 01, 2022
Writers: William Peter Blatty
Producers: William Peter Blatty, Noel Marshall, David Salven
Cinematographers: Owen Roizman
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Check out more movies that start with T and movies from 1973. The Exorcist is part of the demon movies sub-genre(s), check out more movies like The Exorcist.
Check out movie quotes for The Exorcist here.
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(13) Movie Recommendations
Similar Movies to The Exorcist (1973)(Click to Expand)
- Jaws (1975) / (read Jaws (1975) review)
- The Conjuring (2013) / (read The Conjuring (2013) review)
- Saw (2004) / (read Saw (2004) review)
- Scream (1996) / (read Scream (1996) review)
- The Ring (2002) / (read The Ring (2002) review)
- Halloween (1978) / (read Halloween (1978) review)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street… / (read A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) review)
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) / (read Rosemary's Baby (1968) review)
- The Evil Dead (1981) / (read The Evil Dead (1981) review)
- Carrie (1976) / (read Carrie (1976) review)
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre… / (read The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) review)
- Poltergeist (1982) / (read Poltergeist (1982) review)
- The Omen (1976) / (read The Omen (1976) review)
The Exorcist (1973) Cast (Click to Expand)
The Exorcist Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | Character(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ellen Burstyn | ... | Chris MacNeil |
| Max von Sydow | ... | Father Merrin |
| Lee J. Cobb | ... | Lt. William Kinderman |
| Kitty Winn | ... | Sharon |
| Jack MacGowran | ... | Burke Dennings |
| Jason Miller | ... | Father Karras |
| Linda Blair | ... | Regan |
| William O''Malley | ... | Father Dyer (as Reverend William O''Malley S.J.) |
| Barton Heyman | ... | Dr. Klein |
| Peter Masterson | ... | Dr. Barringer - Clinic Director (as Pete Masterson) |
| Rudolf Schündler | ... | Karl |
| Gina Petrushka | ... | Willi |
| Robert Symonds | ... | Dr. Taney |
| Arthur Storch | ... | Psychiatrist |
| Thomas Bermingham | ... | Tom - President of University (as Reverend Thomas Bermingham S.J.) |
| Vasiliki Maliaros | ... | Karras'' Mother |
| Titos Vandis | ... | Karras'' Uncle |
| John Mahon | ... | Language Lab Director |
| Wallace Rooney | ... | Bishop Michael |
| Ron Faber | ... | Chuck - Assistant Director / Demonic Voice |
Fun Facts: 15 Real AGES of Cast
- Ellen Burstyn (b. December 7, 1932) – Chris MacNeil
Sign: Sagittarius, Height: 5' 7" (1.7 m)
Also known as: Ellen Barstyn | Ellen MacRae | Ellen McRae | Ellen Mc Rae | Ellen Rae - Max von Sydow, as Father Merrin, passed away at age 90 in Seillans, Var, France.
Sign: Aries, Height: 6' 4" (1.93 m)
Also known as: Max Von Sydow - Lee J. Cobb, as Lt. William Kinderman, passed away at age 64 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Sign: Sagittarius, Height: 5' 11" (1.8 m)
Also known as: Cpl. Lee Cobb | Lee Cobb | Lee Colt - Kitty Winn (b. February 21, 1943) – Sharon
Sign: Pisces, Height: 5' 4½" (1.64 m)
Also known as: Katherine Winn - Jack MacGowran, as Burke Dennings, passed away at age 54 in New York City, New York, USA.
Sign: Libra, Height: 5' 7" (1.7 m)
Also known as: Jack MacGowan | Jack Macgowran | Jack McGowran - Jason Miller, as Father Karras, passed away at age 62 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.
Sign: Taurus, Height: 5' 8" (1.73 m) - Linda Blair (b. January 22, 1959) – Regan
Sign: Aquarius, Height: 4' 11¾" (1.52 m) - William O''Malley – Father Dyer (as Reverend William O''Malley S.J.)
- Barton Heyman, as Dr. Klein, passed away at age 59 in New York City, New York, USA.
Sign: Aquarius, Height: 5' 10" (1.78 m) - Peter Masterson, as Dr. Barringer - Clinic Director (as Pete Masterson), passed away at age 84 in K.
Sign: Gemini
Also known as: Pete Masterson - Rudolf Schündler, as Karl, passed away at age 82 in Munich, Bavaria, West Germany.
Sign: Aries
Also known as: Rudolf Schindler - Gina Petrushka – Willi
- Robert Symonds, as Dr. Taney, passed away at age 80 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Sign: Sagittarius
Also known as: Robert Barry Symonds - Arthur Storch – Psychiatrist
- Thomas Bermingham – Tom - President of University (as Reverend Thomas Bermingham S.J.)
Source: IMDB, Metacritic, Rotten Tomatoes, HellHorror.com fans like you!