The Exorcist

"Something almost beyond comprehension is happening to a girl on this street, in this house…And a man has been sent for as a last resort. This man is The Exorcist."

1973 2h 2m EN

🙌

7.7

BANGER

★7.7TMDB · 8,924

Horror

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.

“Something almost beyond comprehension is happening to a girl on this street, in this house…And a man has been sent for as a last resort. This man is The Exorcist.”

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Cast

Ellen Burstyn
Chris MacNeil
Linda Blair
Regan MacNeil
Jason Miller
Father Damien Karras
Max von Sydow
Father Lankester Merrin
Lee J. Cobb
Lt. Bill Kinderman
William O'Malley
Father Joseph Kevin Dyer
Kitty Winn
Sharon Spencer
Barton Heyman
Dr. Klein

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: William Friedkin
Writers: William Peter Blatty
Languages: German, French, Latin, Arabic, Greek, English
Countries: United States of America, Iraq

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Grossed $431M — a 39.2× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

53 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 6 languages: German, French, Latin, Arabic, Greek, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Iraq.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Exorcist Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by William Friedkin, shot by Owen Roizman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jack Nitzsche. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Norman Gay shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

William Friedkin directs. Owen Roizman behind the camera. Jack Nitzsche scores. Norman Gay cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America, Iraq. Dialogue in German, French, Latin, Arabic, Greek, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Grossed $431M — a 39.2× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.
253 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Dialogue crosses 6 languages: German, French, Latin, Arabic, Greek, English.
4International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Iraq.
5Part of the "The Exorcist Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by William Friedkin, shot by Owen Roizman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Jack Nitzsche. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Norman Gay shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair and Jason Miller carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "Something almost beyond comprehension is happening to a girl on this street, in this house…And a man has been sent for as a last resort. This man is The Exorcist.".
11IMDB entry: tt0070047 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Classified under 20 themes, including "washington dc, usa", "based on novel or book", "religion and supernatural", "exorcism".
13Released under 29 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Owen Roizman
Original score: Jack Nitzsche
Editing: Norman Gay
Production design: Bill Malley
Costume design: Joe Fretwell
Makeup / hair: Dick Smith
Runtime: 122 min · 2h 2m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $11,000,000
Box office: $430,872,776
Return: 3917% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: The Exorcist (1973)

Awards

Saturn Award for Best Horror Film
Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay
Academy Award for Best Sound
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Golden Globe Award for Best Director

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Part of

The Exorcist Collection

A horror anthology series focused on fictional accounts of demonic possession, and the efforts of religious authorities to counter it with various acts of faith. Inspired by the literary works of William Peter Blatty.

Also by

William Friedkin

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Potential Kermode2017-02-16
★ 6/10
Shocking rather than frightening. Friedkin's The Exorcist is a film that shocks rather than scares. A well made film that achieved notoriety via pea soup. A slow and intelligent film with strong performances - yet also a mostly disappointing one for those who dare to go beyond the hype and actually experience it for the first time. For a film that does succeed in frightening the audience and with none of the hype - I recommend The Changeling starring George C Scott. Now THAT is a scary movie.
griggs792024-10-15
★ 10/10
The 4K restoration of The Exorcist is absolutely stunning. Every frame has been enhanced to reveal richer textures, making the eerie details of Regan's demonic possession even more unsettling. The colours in key scenes are now more vivid, adding depth to the already tense atmosphere. Iconic moments, such as Father Merrin's arrival under the streetlight and Regan's head spin, have been revitalized, making them feel even more intense. The film's haunting interiors, from Regan's dimly lit bedroom to the unsettling atmosphere of Father Karras's moments of doubt, now have a newfound clarity that enhances the immersive terror.
RalphRahal2025-02-13
★ 9/10
The Exorcist (1973) is one of those horror films that sticks with you long after the credits roll. It sets itself apart with an eerie, slow-building tension rather than relying on cheap scares. The story follows a young girl who begins exhibiting disturbing behavior, leading her mother to seek help from both medical professionals and, eventually, the church. The plot is simple but highly effective, creating an unsettling atmosphere that feels grounded in reality. It doesn’t waste time on unnecessary subplots, keeping the focus tight and the tension high. William Friedkin’s direction is masterful, balancing realism with the supernatural in a way that makes everything feel disturbingly possible. The opening in the desert is a great example, setting up the film’s themes with a quiet unease before shifting to the main story. The cinematography reinforces the horror without feeling over-stylized, using dim lighting, tight framing, and cold color tones to build dread. The way the camera lingers just long enough on certain shots makes you feel like you’re watching something you shouldn’t be. The acting is phenomenal across the board, but the standout performance is from Linda Blair as the possessed girl. She delivers a chilling performance that makes the supernatural feel shockingly real. Ellen Burstyn and Max von Sydow bring depth to their roles, adding weight to the film’s emotional core. The dialogue feels natural, which makes the disturbing moments hit even harder. The script is smartly written, giving just enough exposition without over-explaining, letting the horror unfold naturally. The sound design and score elevate the entire experience. The use of silence is just as effective as the unsettling sounds that creep in at the right moments. The film’s signature theme, Tubular Bells, is simple yet haunting, perfectly setting the tone for the film. The shock scenes are well-timed and never feel excessive, keeping the horror grounded rather than over-the-top. The Exorcist still holds up today as one of the most well-crafted horror films ever made, blending strong storytelling, unsettling direction, and incredible performances into something unforgettable.