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The Exorcist (franchise)

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The Exorcist
Official franchise logo
Created byWilliam Peter Blatty
Original workThe Exorcist (1971)
OwnersWarner Bros. (1973–1977; 2004–2005)
Morgan Creek (1990–present)
Print publications
Novel(s)The Exorcist (1971)
Legion (1983)
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
Films and television
Film(s)The Exorcist (1973)
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
The Exorcist III (1990)
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
Television seriesThe Exorcist (2016–2017)

The Exorcist is an American horror media franchise that originated with William Peter Blatty's 1971 horror novel of the same name (itself inspired by the 1949 exorcism of Roland Doe) and most prominently featured in a 1973 film adaptation of the novel, and many subsequent prequels and sequels. All of these installments focus on fictional accounts of people possessed by Pazuzu, the main antagonist of the series, and the efforts of religious authorities to counter this possession.

The films have grossed over $661 million at the worldwide box office and the novel has sold over 13 million copies.[1] 20th Century Fox Television developed a 2016 television series as a continuation of the 1973 film, to generally positive reviews.[2] As of 2020, a reboot of the film series, which was later changed to a direct sequel to the 1973 film, was in development with David Gordon Green as director. Produced by Blumhouse Productions, the film was released by Universal Pictures on October 6, 2023. Following the failure of the film, plans for a trilogy were scrapped in favor of a reboot with Mike Flanagan as director.

Novels

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The Exorcist (1971)

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Main article: The Exorcist (novel)

The Exorcist is a 1971 novel by American writer William Peter Blatty. It was adapted into the 1973 film of the same name. The book details the demonic possession of twelve-year-old Regan MacNeil, the daughter of a famous actress, and the two priests who attempt to exorcise the demon. It was published by Harper & Row.

The novel was inspired by a 1949 case of demonic possession and exorcism that Blatty heard about while he was a student in the class of 1950 at Georgetown University.[3] As a result, the novel takes place in Washington D.C. near the campus of Georgetown University. In September 2011, the novel was reprinted by HarperCollins to celebrate its 40th anniversary, with slight revisions made by Blatty as well as interior title artwork by Jeremy Caniglia.

Legion (1983)

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Main article: Legion (Blatty novel)

Legion is the 1983 follow-up to the Exorcist novel, also written by William Peter Blatty. It was made into the movie The Exorcist III in 1990. Like The Exorcist, it involves demonic possession. The book was the focus of a court case over its exclusion from The New York Times Best Seller list.

Blatty based aspects of the Gemini Killer on the real-life Zodiac Killer,[4] who, in a January 1974 letter to the San Francisco Chronicle, had praised the original Exorcist film as "the best satirical comedy that I have ever seen".[5]

Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)

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Exorcist: The Beginning is a novelization of the 2004 film of the same name. Written by Steven Piziks, it was released by Pocket Star on October 4, 2004.

Films

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Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
The Exorcist December 26, 1973 (1973-12-26) William Friedkin William Peter Blatty
Exorcist II: The Heretic June 17, 1977 (1977-06-17) John Boorman William Goodhart John Boorman and Richard Lederer
The Exorcist III August 17, 1990 (1990-08-17) William Peter Blatty Carter DeHaven and James G. Robinson
Exorcist: The Beginning August 20, 2004 (2004-08-20) Renny Harlin Alexi Hawley William Wisher and Caleb Carr James G. Robinson
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist May 20, 2005 (2005-05-20) Paul Schrader William Wisher Jr. and Caleb Carr
The Exorcist: Believer October 6, 2023 (2023-10-06) David Gordon Green Peter Sattler and David Gordon Green[6] Scott Teems, Danny McBride and David Gordon Green[6] Jason Blum, James G. Robinson and David Robinson
Untitled The Exorcist film March 13, 2026 (2026-03-13) Mike Flanagan[7] Trevor Macy, Mike Flanagan, Jason Blum, James G. Robinson and David Robinson

The Exorcist (1973)

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Main article: The Exorcist

The Exorcist is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted by William Peter Blatty from his 1971 novel of the same name, and starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller.

The book, inspired by the 1949 exorcism of Roland Doe,[8][9] deals with the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl and her mother's attempts to win back her child through an exorcism conducted by two priests. The adaptation is faithful to the book, which itself has been commercially successful (appearing on the New York Times bestseller list).[10][11]

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

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Main article: Exorcist II: The Heretic

John Boorman's Exorcist II: The Heretic was released in 1977, and revisited Regan four years after her initial ordeal. The plot centers on Father Philip Lamont (Richard Burton), who is struggling with his faith, as he is assigned by the Cardinal (Paul Henreid) to investigate the death of Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow). Merrin was killed during The Exorcist as he performed the titular exorcism of Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair). In flashback sequences, Regan gives Merrin his fatal heart attack, as well as scenes from the exorcism of a young boy named Kokumo in Africa many years earlier. The Cardinal informs Lamont (who has had some experience at exorcism, and has been exposed to Merrin's teachings) that Merrin is being investigated posthumously for heresy. Despite approval for the MacNeil exorcism by a bishop, the Church is no longer convinced that MacNeil was truly possessed, and the controversial nature of Merrin's books on the subject are being reconsidered as politically and theologically suspect.

The Exorcist III (1990)

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Main article: The Exorcist III

Adapted and directed by Blatty from his 1983 novel Legion, the film stars George C. Scott and several cast members (Jason Miller (reprising his Academy Award-nominated role from The Exorcist), Ed Flanders, Scott Wilson and George DiCenzo) from Blatty's previous film The Ninth Configuration. The story takes place 15 years after the events of The Exorcist and turns a supporting character from the first film (philosophical police detective William F. Kinderman (Scott) into the main protagonist. He investigates a series of brutal murders in Georgetown that resemble the modus operandi of a serial killer executed about the time of the MacNeil exorcism.

Originally titled Legion, the film was drastically changed after rewrites and re-shoots ordered by the studio Morgan Creek Productions.[12] Studio executives demanded the addition of an exorcism sequence and retitled the film as The Exorcist III in order to more strongly tie the film to the rest of the franchise. All of the deleted footage was previously said to be lost/destroyed but has since been found and released in 2016 under the name "The Exorcist III: Legion".[13][14][15]

Despite his misgivings about the studio-imposed reshoots, Blatty is proud of the finished version of The Exorcist III, having said: "It's still a superior film. And in my opinion, and excuse me if I utter heresy here, but for me, it's a more frightening film than The Exorcist".[16] Nevertheless, Blatty had hoped to recover the deleted footage from the Morgan Creek vaults so that he might re-assemble the original cut of the film which he said was "rather different" from what was released, and a version of the film fans of the Exorcist series had been requesting. In 2007, Blatty's wife reported on a fan site that "my husband tells me that it is Morgan Creek's claim that they have lost all the footage, including an alternate opening scene in which Kinderman views the body of Karras in the morgue, right after his fall down the steps". According to Mark Kermode quoting an article dating to 2009, the search for the missing footage was "ongoing". "The Exorcist III: Legion" has since been released in 2016[17]

Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)

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Main article: Exorcist: The Beginning

Because of the studio's dissatisfaction with Schrader's version of the prequel (see below section Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist), Renny Harlin was hired as director to retool the movie. Harlin reused some of Schrader's footage but shot mostly new material to create a more conventional horror film. Harlin's new version, Exorcist: The Beginning, was released, but it was not well received.

The plot revolves around the crisis of faith suffered by Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård) following the horrific events he witnessed during World War II. After WWII, Merrin is an archaeologist in Cairo, when he is approached by a collector of antiquities who asks him to come to a British excavation in the Turkana region of Kenya. This dig is excavating a Christian Byzantine church from the 5th century—long before Christianity had reached that region. Further, the church is in perfect condition, as though it had been buried immediately after the construction was completed. Merrin is asked to participate in the dig and find an ancient relic hidden in the ruins before the British do. Merrin takes the job but soon discovers that all is not well—something evil lies in the church and is infecting the region. The local tribesman hired to dig refuse to enter the building, and there are stories of an epidemic that wiped out an entire village. However, when Merrin, growing suspicious of these rumors, digs up one of the graves of the supposed victims of this plague, he discovers it is empty. Meanwhile, the evil grows, turning people against each other and resulting in violence, atrocities, and more bloodshed.

Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)

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Main article: Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

A prequel film attracted attention and controversy before its release in 2004; it went through a number of directorial and script changes, such that two versions were ultimately released. John Frankenheimer was originally hired as director for the project, but he withdrew before filming started due to health concerns. He died a month later. Paul Schrader then replaced him. Upon completion, the studio rejected Schrader's version as being too slow and hired another director to retool the movie. Nine months after the release of the retooled movie (see above section Exorcist: The Beginning), Schrader's original version, retitled Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, was given a small theatrical release.

Several years before the events in The Exorcist, the young Father Lankester Merrin (played by Skarsgård, who played the same part in the Exorcist: The Beginning) travels to East Africa. Merrin has taken a sabbatical from the Church and devoted himself to history and archaeology as he struggles with his shattered faith. He is haunted especially by an incident in a small village in occupied Holland during World War II, where he served as the parish priest. Near the end of the war, a sadistic Nazi SS commander, in retaliation for the murder of a German trooper, forces Merrin to participate in arbitrary executions in order to save a full village from slaughter. He meets up with a team of archaeologists, who are seeking to unearth a church that they believe has been buried for centuries. At first, Merrin resists the idea that supernatural forces are in play but eventually helps them, and the ensuing events result in an encounter with Pazuzu, the same demon referenced in The Exorcist.

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

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Main article: The Exorcist: Believer

In August 2020, it was revealed that Morgan Creek Entertainment was developing a theatrical reboot of The Exorcist.[18] In December, Blumhouse Productions and Morgan Creek changed the reboot to a "direct" sequel which would be directed by Halloween's director David Gordon Green. Jason Blum, David Robinson and James Robinson would produce.[19][20][21] Though the film serves as a direct follow-up to the original, Green confirmed that each of the franchise installments are still canon to his new film.[22]

In July 2021, it was revealed that a trilogy of sequels were in development with David Gordon Green attached as director on each film. Green and Peter Sattler would write the screenplays, from a story by Green, Scott Teems, and Danny McBride.[6][23] Jason Blum would serve as producer, alongside James Robinson and David Robinson.[24] Burstyn would reprise her role from the original film, with Leslie Odom Jr. co-starring. The projects would be joint-venture productions between Blumhouse Productions and Morgan Creek Entertainment, with Universal Pictures serving as distributing company. Universal collaborated with Peacock to purchase distribution rights for $400 million total. The second and third films of the trilogy were being optioned as Peacock exclusive films. Later that month, Linda Blair stated that she had not yet been contacted to reprise her role from the original film.[25]

In June 2022, Burstyn stated that she had completed production for her part in the film, revealing that principal photography had commenced some time previous.[26] The film was theatrically released on October 6, 2023.[27]

Untitled The Exorcist reboot (2026)

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By May 2024, Mike Flanagan was in talks to direct the next Exorcist film.[28] Later that month, Flanagan was confirmed to be directing, writing and producing a new Exorcist film as a reboot.[29][30] The reboot is slated for release on March 13, 2026.[31]

Television

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The Exorcist (2016–2017)

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Main article: The Exorcist (TV series)

In 2016, 20th Century Fox Television developed a television series of The Exorcist, designed as a continuation of the film.[32] The premise was described as "a propulsive, serialized psychological thriller following two very different men tackling one family's case of horrifying demonic possession, and confronting the face of true evil".[33] Rupert Wyatt directed the pilot episode[34] whilst Alfonso Herrera and Ben Daniels were cast as Father Tomas Ortega and Father Marcus Keane.[35] Geena Davis was cast as Angela Rance in the pilot.[36] The pilot was filmed in Chicago in early 2016.[37][38] The series ran for two seasons, and was canceled by Fox in May 2018.[39]

Cast and characters

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The list indicator key is located at the bottom of this table.
List indicators

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

  • An empty grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  •  A indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio.
  •  C indicates a cameo role.
  •  G indicates a guest appearance in the season.
  •  M indicates an appearance in onscreen movie footage.
  •  O indicates an older version of the character.
  •  P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
  •  R indicates a recurring role in the season.
  •  U indicates an uncredited appearance.
  •  V indicates a voice-only role.
  •  Y indicates a younger version of the character.
Characters Films Television series
The Exorcist Exorcist II
The Heretic 		The Exorcist III Exorcist
The Beginning 		Dominion
Prequel to the Exorcist 		The Exorcist
Believer 		Untitled The Exorcist film The Exorcist
Season 1 Season 2
1973 1977 1990 2004 2005 2023 2026 2016 2017
Pazuzu
Captain Howdy
the Salesman 		Mercedes McCambridgeV
Linda BlairV
Ron FaberV
Eileen Dietz 		Karen KnappV Colleen DewhurstV Rupert DegasV Mary Beth HurtV Allen NelsonV
J. MoliereV 		TBA Robert Emmet Lunney Mentioned
Regan MacNeil
Angela Rance 		Linda Blair Mentioned Linda BlairC Geena DavisOM
Sophie ThatcherYR
Father Merrin Max von Sydow Stellan SkarsgårdY Mentioned Mentioned
Christine "Chris" MacNeil Ellen Burstyn Mentioned Ellen Burstyn TBA Sharon GlessR
Father Karras
Patient X 		Jason Miller Jason Miller
Charles PowellB 		Mentioned
Lt. William Kinderman Lee J. Cobb George C. Scott
Father Dyer William O'Malley Ed Flanders
Producer Lt. Fromme William Peter BlattyC
Sharon Spencer Kitty Winn
Father Tom Kanavan Thomas Bermingham Harry Carey Jr.
Burke Dennings Jack MacGowran
Dr. Klein Barton Heyman
Dr. Barringer Peter Masterson
Karras' Mother Vasiliki Maliaros
Karras' Uncle Titos Vandis
Capt. Billy Cutshaw Dick Callinan
Dr. Gene Tuskin Louise Fletcher
Father Philip Lamont Richard Burton
Kokumo James Earl Jones
Joey GreenY
Edwards Ned Beatty
Liz Belinda Beatty
Gary Tuskin Shane Butterworth
Linda Tuskin Joely Adams
Mrs. Phalor Barbara Cason
Colonel Vincent Kane Stacy Keach
Colonel Fell Ed Flanders
Major Groper Neville Brand
Nurse Emily Allerton Nancy Fish
Nurse Amy Keating Tracy Thorne
Captain Fairbanks George DiCenzo
Major Nammack Moses Gunn
Lieutenant Bennish Robert Loggia
Lieutenant Spinell Joe Spinell
Lieutenant Gomez Alejandro Rey
Sergeant Krebs Tom Atkins
James Vennamun
The Gemini Killer 		Brad Dourif
Dr. Temple Scott Wilson
Sgt. Mel Atkins Grand L. Bush
Father Morning Nicol Williamson
Nurse X Viveca Lindfors
Blind Dream Man Samuel L. Jackson
C. Everett Koop Himself
Larry King Himself
Angel of Death Patrick Ewing
Angel Fabio
Sergeant-Major Harris Ralph Brown
Major Granville Julian Wadham
Chuma Andrew French
Jomo Israel Aduramo
Emekwi Eddie Osei
Lieutenant Kessel Antonie Kamerling
Father Francis James D'Arcy Gabriel Mann
Sarah Novak Izabella Scorupco
Semelier Ben Cross
Joseph Remy Sweeney
Father Gionetti David Bradley
Jefferies Alan Ford
Bession Patrick O'Kane
James James Bellamy
Dr. Rachel Lesno Clara Bellar
Cheche Billy Crawford
Mary Beth HurtV
Victor Fielding Leslie Odom Jr.
Ann Ann Dowd
Miranda West Jennifer Nettles
Tony West Norbert Leo Butz
Angela Fielding Lidya Jewett
Katherine West Olivia Marcum
Dr. Beehibe Okwui Okpokwasili
Don Revans Raphael Sbarge
Stuart Danny McCarthy
Father Maddox E.J. Bonilla
Sorenne Fielding Tracey Graves
Lamashtu Lize Johnston
Father Tomas Ortega Alfonso HerreraM
Father Marcus Keane Ben DanielsM
Father Bennett Kurt EgyiawanM
Casey Rance Hannah KasulkaM Hannah KasulkaG
Maria Walters Kirsten FitzgeraldR
Cardinal Guillot Torrey HansonR
Katherine "Kat" Rance Brianne HoweyM Mentioned
Henry Rance Alan RuckM
Jessica Mouzam MakkarR
Olivia Camille GuatyR
Mother Bernadette Deanna DunaganR
Simon the Priest Francis GuinanR
Rose Cooper Li Jun LiM
Verity Brianna HildebrandM
Andrew "Andy" Kim John ChoM
Mouse Zuleikha RobinsonM
David "Truck" Johnson III Cyrus ArnoldR
Caleb Hunter DillonR
Shelby Alex BarimaR
Grace Amélie EveR
Peter Osborne Christopher CousinsR
Nicole Kim Alicia WittR
Cindy Zibby AllenR
Harper Graham Beatrice KitsosR

Additional crew and production details

[edit]
Film Crew/Detail
Composer(s) Cinematographer(s) Editor(s) Production
companies 		Distributor(s) Running time
The Exorcist Mike Oldfield & Jack Nitzsche Owen Roizman & Billy Williams Evan Lottman, Norman Gay & Bud Smith Hoya Productions Warner Bros. Pictures 121 minutes
Exorcist II:
The Heretic 		Ennio Morricone William A. Fraker Tom Priestley Warner Bros. Pictures 102 minutes
The Exorcist III Barry De Vorzon Gerry Fisher Todd Ramsay & Peter Lee-Thompson Morgan Creek Productions 20th Century Fox 110 minutes
Exorcist:
The Beginning 		Trevor Rabin Vittorio Storaro Mark Goldblatt & Todd E. Miller Warner Bros. Pictures 114 minutes
Dominion:
Prequel to the Exorcist 		Trevor Rabin & Angelo Badalamenti Tim Silano 116 minutes
The Exorcist
(The Series) 		Daniel Hart
and Tyler Bates 		Alex Disenhof
and Byron Shah 		Janet Weinberg, Victor Du Bois, Pietro Cecchini, Dana Congdon, Andrew Groves, Benjamin Howdeshell, and Romain Vaunois 20th Century Fox Television,
Morgan Creek Entertainment,
New Neighborhood Productions 		20th Century Fox Television,
Fox Network 		900 minutes
(45 minute episodes)
The Exorcist:
Believer 		David Wingo, Amman Abbasi Tim Alverson Michael Simmonds Blumhouse Productions,
Morgan Creek Entertainment 		Universal Pictures 120 minutes
Untitled film — — — —

Reception

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For more details on the reception of each film, see the "Reception" section on each film's article.

Box office and financial performance

[edit]
Film Release date Box office revenue Budget Reference
United States Foreign Worldwide
The Exorcist December 26, 1973 $233,005,644 $136,017,945 $441,306,145(R) $12 million [40][41]
Exorcist II: The Heretic June 17, 1977 $30,749,142 $30,749,142 $14 million [42]
The Exorcist III August 17, 1990 $26,098,824 $12,925,427 $39,024,251 $11 million [43]
Exorcist: The Beginning August 20, 2004 $41,821,986 $36,178,600 $78,000,586 $50 million [44]
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist May 20, 2005 $251,495(L) $251,495 $30 million [45]
The Exorcist: Believer October 6, 2023 $65,537,395 $70,746,823 $136,284,218 $30 million [46]
Total $397,129,853(A) $400,632,905(A) $797,762,758(A) $147 million(A)
List indicator(s)
  • A dark grey cell indicates the information is not available for the film.
  • (R) indicates total grosses of the film, including subsequent re-releases
  • (L) indicates the film had a limited release.
  • (A) indicates an estimated figure based on available numbers.

Critical and public response

[edit]
Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore[47]
The Exorcist 78% (171 reviews)[48] 81/100 (21 reviews)[49] —
Exorcist II: The Heretic 9% (64 reviews)[50] 39/100 (11 reviews)[51] —
The Exorcist III 58% (45 reviews)[52] 43/100 (19 reviews)[53] C
Exorcist: The Beginning 10% (134 reviews)[54] 30/100 (22 reviews)[55] C
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist 30% (46 reviews)[56] 55/100 (16 reviews)[57] —
The Exorcist (The Series) 89% (11 reviews)[58] 62/100 (29 reviews)[59] —
The Exorcist: Believer 24% (200 reviews)[60] 39/100 (51 reviews)[61] C

Accolades

[edit]

The Exorcist was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 1974, winning two. It was the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture.[62] The film was also nominated for seven Golden Globes, winning four.[63]

Award Category Nominees Result
Academy Awards[62] Best Picture William Peter Blatty Nominated
Best Director William Friedkin Nominated
Best Actress Ellen Burstyn Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jason Miller Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Linda Blair Nominated
Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium William Peter Blatty Won
Best Art Direction Bill Malley and Jerry Wunderlich Nominated
Best Cinematography Owen Roizman Nominated
Best Film Editing Jordan Leondopoulos, Bud Smith, Evan A. Lottman and Norman Gay Nominated
Best Sound Robert Knudson and Chris Newman Won
Golden Globe Awards[63] Best Motion Picture – Drama Won
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Ellen Burstyn Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Max von Sydow Nominated
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Linda Blair Won
Best Director – Motion Picture William Friedkin Won
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture William Peter Blatty Won
Most Promising Newcomer – Female Linda Blair Nominated

Others

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American Film Institute recognition:

In 1991, The Exorcist III won a Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA, for Best Writing (William Peter Blatty) and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Brad Dourif) and Best Horror Film. However it was also nominated for Worst Actor (George C. Scott) at the Golden Raspberry Awards.[64] In 2005, Exorcist: The Beginning was nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards, Worst Director (Renny Harlin) and Worst Remake or Sequel.

Legacy

[edit]

The success of The Exorcist inspired a string of possession-related films worldwide. The first was Beyond the Door, a 1974 Italian film with Juliet Mills as a woman possessed by the devil. It appeared in the U.S. one year later. In the same year of 1974, a Turkish film, Şeytan (Turkish for Satan; the original film was also shown with the same name), is an almost scene-for-scene remake of the original. In the same year in Germany, the exorcism-themed film Magdalena, vom Teufel besessen was released. In 1975, Britain released The Devil Within Her (also called I Don't Want to Be Born) with Joan Collins as an exotic dancer who gives birth to a demon-possessed child.

In 1987, Warner Bros. released an animated short starring Daffy Duck, entitled "Duxorcist" which was a parody of The Exorcist, in which a group of spirits possess a female duck. Daffy does eventually succeed in getting them out of the female character. Similarly, a blaxploitation film was released in 1974 titled Abby. While the films Şeytan and Magdalena, vom Teufel besessen were protected from prosecution due to the laws of their countries of origin, Abby's producers (filming in Louisiana) were sued by Warner. The film was pulled from theaters, but not before making $4 million at the box office.

A parody, Repossessed, was released the same year as The Exorcist III, with Blair lampooning the role she had played in the original. Another parody, was made in Italy by actor and comedian Ciccio Ingrassia in 1977, called L'esorciccio. The prologue for Scary Movie 2 was a short parody of several scenes from the original film.

Mexican comics Los Polivoces (The Multivoices), made a copy-parody, called El Exorcista. Eduardo Manzano incarned the "possession" and hard make-up was used. Flying clothes were used as "phantoms" and rotoscophy techniques make his bed fly.

A 1995 episode of The Simpsons (titled "Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily") features Bart, Lisa, and Maggie getting put under the care of the Flanders family. After Lisa reveals that neither she, Bart nor Maggie is baptized, Ned decides to baptize them. On the way to the baptism, Maggie turns her head around in a way similar to Linda Blair in The Exorcist. It was also parodied in "Treehouse of Horror", "Treehouse of Horror XVI" and "Treehouse of Horror XXVIII". It was also parodied in "Fland Canyon".

In the episode of Gravity Falls "The Inconveniencing", Mabel twisting her head 180 degrees whilst being possessed by a ghost is a reference to a scene in The Exorcist, in which Pazuzu, possessing Regan MacNeil, turns its head 180 degrees.

In Bride of Chucky, when Chucky is on the bed his head turns all the way around just before killing Damien. Tiffany watches this in excitement.

A meta-reference to the film was made in an episode of Supernatural titled "The Usual Suspects". On the show, demons possessing humans is a common plot element; demons in the series are human souls corrupted by their time in Hell, lacking physical bodies of their own to interact with Earth. Linda Blair appeared in "The Usual Suspects" as a police detective, with protagonist Dean Winchester finding her character familiar and expressing a strange desire for pea soup at the episode's conclusion.

In Angel: Earthly Possessions, a spin-off comic story based on the TV series Angel, protagonist Angel finds himself dealing with a priest who performs exorcisms, but comes to realize that the priest is summoning the demons for him to exorcise in the first place. He also makes a note of The Exorcist film, noting that the vision it created of possession actually made things easier for possession demons by making it harder for humans to know what to expect from a possession.

In the animated Horror-comedy show Courage the Cowardly Dog, the episode "The Demon In The Mattress" is a direct spoof of the film, using several plot elements that was lifted straight from The Exorcist. In the episode, Muriel orders a comfy new mattress, not paying attention to the grotesque deliveryman nor the sinister horse-drawn carriage that had delivered it. Unaware of the demon in the mattress, she is later possessed by it when while she sleeps.

In the paranormal TV series Ghost Adventures, the producers visited the Exorcist House for their 100th episode of the series. In the episode, Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin visit the house to see that an exorcism occurred there in 1949. The episode has been announced as one of the scariest lockdowns since Bobby Mackeys.

The film was parodied in The Boondocks episode "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back" (season 2, episode 4).

The 2013 disaster comedy film This Is the End referred to the exorcism when Jonah Hill is possessed by a demon and Jay Baruchel performs an exorcism on by repeating lines from the film.

In 2014, British author Saurav Dutt released a book entitled Pazuzu Unbound, which is a book set in contemporary times, dealing with the demon Pazuzu but which does not deal with the original characters in the film and novel on which the book is inspired.

Home media

[edit]

A limited-edition box set was released in 1998. It was limited to 50,000 copies, with available copies circulating around the Internet. There are two versions; a special edition VHS and a special edition DVD. The only difference between the two copies is the recording format.

On the DVD

[edit]
  • The original film with restored film and digitally remastered audio, with a 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio.
  • An introduction by director William Friedkin.
  • The 1998 BBC documentary. The Fear of God: The Making of "The Exorcist".
  • 2 audio commentaries.
  • Interviews with the director and writer.
  • Theatrical trailers and TV spots.

In the box

[edit]
  • A commemorative 52-page tribute book, covering highlights of the film's preparation, production, and release; features previously unreleased historical data and archival photographs.
  • Limited edition soundtrack CD of the film's score, including the original (unused) soundtrack (Tubular Bells and Night of the Electric Insects omitted).
  • 8 lobby card reprints.
  • Exclusive senitype film frame (magnification included).

Blu-ray

[edit]

A Blu-ray edition features a new restoration, including both the 1973 theatrical version and the "version you've never seen" from 2000. It was released on October 5, 2010.[65]

In preparation for the first film's 41st anniversary, the complete collection of the series was released as The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology containing all five films restored on Blu-ray in September 2014. The rest of the installments of the franchise were also given an individual release for the first time on Blu-ray with the exception of Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist which can only be obtained on Blu-ray by purchasing the collection.

Cut scenes

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Contortionist Linda R. Hager was hired to perform the infamous "spider-walk scene" that was filmed on April 11, 1973. Friedkin deleted the scene just prior to the original December 26, 1973 release date because he felt it was ineffective technically. However, with advanced developments in digital media technology, Friedkin worked with CGI artists to make the scene look more convincing for the 2000 theatrically re-released version of The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen. Since the original release, myths and rumors still exist that a variety of spider-walk scenes were filmed[66][better source needed] despite Friedkin's insistence that no alternate version was ever shot.[67]

In 1998, Warner Brothers re-released the digitally remastered DVD of The Exorcist: 25th Anniversary Special Edition. This DVD includes the special feature BBC documentary, The Fear of God: The Making of The Exorcist,[68] highlighting the never-before-seen original non-bloody version of the spider-walk scene. The updated "bloody version" of the spider-walk scene appears in the 2000 re-release of The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen utilizing CGI technology to incorporate the special effect of blood pouring from Regan's mouth during this scene's finale.

Other media

[edit]

Stage

[edit]
Main article: The Exorcist (play)

In February 2008, American playwright John Pielmeier expressed his interest in adapting William Peter Blatty's novel of the same name into a play and soon met with Blatty. He then began working on a script for the play, in which the first draft was completed within ten days.[69] The Exorcist first premiered at the Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles in 2012.

Video game

[edit]

An episodic video game adaptation exclusive to virtual reality, titled The Exorcist: Legion VR, was developed by Wolf & Wood, Ltd. and published by Fun Train for Steam VR, Meta Quest (formerly Oculus) and PlayStation VR headsets in 2018. The game is loosely based on the premise and events of The Exorcist III.[70][71]

Theme park attraction

[edit]

In 2025, a haunted house attraction called Universal Horror Unleashed will feature characters from the film franchise.[72]

Canceled projects

[edit]

In November 2009, Blatty planned to direct a miniseries of The Exorcist.[73][74]

In September 2015, Morgan Creek Productions was selling its library of films, while retaining remake and sequel rights to key properties, including The Exorcist. Rumors began circulating that the original film would be remade, which was later denied by Morgan Creek.[75]

In July 2021, when a trilogy of new Exorcist films was announced, two sequels were confirmed to be concurrently in development. David Gordon Green was slated to serve as director, while work on the scripts for the two additional movies was ongoing.[76][77] By July 2023, the first sequel was officially titled The Exorcist: Deceiver and slated for release on April 18, 2025.[78][79] On January 11, 2024, the film was removed from Universal's release calendar when Green departed as director as he focused on his production of Nutcrackers starring Ben Stiller, as well as season four of HBO's The Righteous Gemstones.[80] By May 2024, plans for the trilogy were scrapped following the poor reception of Believer.[29]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Vitello, Paul (13 January 2017). "William Peter Blatty, Author of 'The Exorcist', Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  2. ^ Laura Prudom (23 January 2016). "'The Exorcist' Pilot Ordered at Fox with Modern Twist". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  3. ^ Pons, Pedro Palao (2009). Dimension Desconocida. Ediciones Robinbook. ISBN 9788499170015. Retrieved 2010-04-04. La inspiración del exorcista La Historia de Robbie Mannheim es un caso típico de posesión, y es la que dio vida a la película El Exorcista.
  4. ^ "The Exorcist III Info, Trailers, and Reviews at MovieTome". Movietome.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Zodiac Killer : The Letters - 01-29-1974". SFGate (San Francisco Chronicle). 2 December 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Welk, Brian (July 26, 2021). "Universal Pays $400 Million for New Exorcist Trilogy Featuring Leslie Odom Jr. and Ellen Burstyn". TheWrap. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  7. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 29, 2024). "Mike Flanigan Set To Direct 'Radical New Take' On 'Exorcist' For Blumhouse, Morgan Creek". Deadline Hollywood.
  8. ^ Fry, Carrol Lee (2008). Cinema of the Occult: New Age, Satanism, Wicca, and Spiritualism in Film. Bethlehem: Lehigh University Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-93422395-9.
  9. ^ Pons 2009, p. 132.
  10. ^ Holtzclaw, Mike (October 24, 2014). "The sound and fury of 'The Exorcist'". Daily Press. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  11. ^ Susman, Gary (December 26, 2013). "'The Exorcist': 25 Things You Didn't Know About the Terrifying Horror Classic". news.moviefone.com. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  12. ^ Fangoria #122 (May 1993)
  13. ^ ":: LEGION - DIRECTOR'S CUT!". The Ninth Configuration.com. July 10, 2016.
  14. ^ Jonathan Barkan (July 6, 2016). "'The Exorcist III' Getting 2-Disc Collector's Edition". Bloodydisgusting.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "The Exorcist III: Legion". IMDb.
  16. ^ McCabe, Bob (1999), The Exorcist: Out of the Shadows, Omnibus Press
  17. ^ Mark Kermode (16 January 2009). "More Points of You: Part Two". BBC News.
  18. ^ Squires, John (August 18, 2020). "'The Exorcist': Morgan Creek Reportedly Developing a New Reboot Movie for Theaters". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  19. ^ Couch, Aaron (December 20, 2020). "'Exorcist' Sequel in the Works with 'Halloween' Director David Gordon Green". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  20. ^ Katz, Brandon (December 20, 2020). "Exclusive: David Gordon Green in Talks to Direct 'Exorcist' Sequel for Blumhouse". Observer. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  21. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (December 24, 2020). "Blumhouse Is Summoning Another Exorcist Movie to the Mortal Plane". io9. Gizmodo. Archived from the original on Dec 22, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  22. ^ Ryan, Danielle (July 23, 2021). "David Gordon Green's 'Exorcist' Movie Confirmed to Be a Direct Sequel to the Original". Slash Film. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  23. ^ Lussier, Germain (July 26, 2021). "A New Exorcist Trilogy Is Coming From Universal and Blumhouse [Updated]". Gizmodo. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  24. ^ Sneider, Jeff (July 26, 2021). "'The Exorcist': David Gordon Green to Direct New Blumhouse Trilogy Starring Leslie Odom Jr". Collider. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  25. ^ Millican, Josh (July 27, 2021). "Linda Blair Has NOT Been Contacted About Returning for the New EXORCIST Trilogy "As of Now"". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  26. ^ Squires, John (June 1, 2022). "'The Exorcist' Relaunch – Ellen Burstyn Suggests She Has Already Filmed Her Scenes". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  27. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 31, 2023). "The Exorcist: Believer Now Going A Week Earlier As Taylor Swift Moves Onto October Schedule". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  28. ^ Grobar, Matt (May 2, 2024). "Mike Flanagan In Talks To Direct Next 'Exorcist' Movie For Blumhouse, Universal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Couch, Aaron (May 29, 2024). "Next 'Exorcist' Movie Shifts Gears With Mike Flanagan Set to Direct a New Take". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  30. ^ O'Connell, Mikey (September 5, 2024). "You Can't Scare Mike Flanagan. Can You?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  31. ^ McClintock, Pamela (June 18, 2024). "Mike Flanagan's Reimagined 'Exorcist' Film to Hit Theaters in March 2026". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  32. ^ Prudom, Laura (23 January 2016). "'The Exorcist' Pilot Ordered at Fox with Modern Twist". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  33. ^ Hibberd, James (January 22, 2016). "'The Exorcist' TV series in the works at Fox". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  34. ^ Briers, Michael (2 February 2016). "Rupert Wyatt To Resurrect A Horror Icon By Helming TV Pilot Of The Exorcist". We Got This Covered. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  35. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 2, 2016). "'Exorcist': Alfonso Herrera & Ben Daniels To Star In Fox Drama Pilot". Deadline. Archived from the original on Aug 26, 2023.
  36. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (7 March 2016). "Geena Davis Cast in Fox's 'Exorcist' Reboot Pilot". Variety. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  37. ^ Elber, Lynn. "Fox orders series based on 'Lethal Weapon', 'Exorcist'". denverpost.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.[dead link‍]
  38. ^ Elber, Lynn (2016-05-11). "Fox orders series based on 'Lethal Weapon,' 'Exorcist'". AP News. Archived from the original on Mar 6, 2024.
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  41. ^ "Movie The Exorcist - Box Office Data". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 2009-09-12.
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  43. ^ "The Exorcist III (1990)". Box Office Mojo.
  44. ^ "Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)". Box Office Mojo.
  45. ^ "Dominion: A Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)". Box Office Mojo.
  46. ^ "The Exorcist: Believer (2023)". Box Office Mojo.
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  52. ^ "The Exorcist III (1990)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  53. ^ "The Exorcist III". Metacritic.
  54. ^ "Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  55. ^ "Exorcist: The Beginning". Metacritic.
  56. ^ "Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  57. ^ "Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist". Metacritic.
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  63. ^ a b "The Exorcist – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  64. ^ "The Exorcist III - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  65. ^ "The Exorcist Blu-ray: Extended Director's Cut & Original Theatrical Version". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  66. ^ "[[XDFORUM]] | Everything Exorcist". Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  67. ^ "EXORCIST FAQ by William Friedkin". Archived from the original on 2009-04-27. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  68. ^ "Collectors' Tribute to the Film that Frightened the World!!! The Exorcist 25th Anniversary Special Edition" (Press release). WarnerMedia Group Newsroom. August 13, 1998.
  69. ^ "The Exorcist | John Pielmeier". johnpielmeier.com. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
  70. ^ "Home". exorcistlegion.com.
  71. ^ "The Exorcist: Legion VR - Chapter 1: First Rites on Steam".
  72. ^ Weprin, Alex (October 31, 2024). "Universal Plans Year-Round Haunted Houses Based on 'Exorcist' and 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  73. ^ "'The Exorcist' Miniseries Reteams Original Writer/Director?". 13 November 2009.
  74. ^ "Cemetery Dance #62: The William Peter Blatty special issue shipping now!". Cemeterydance.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  75. ^ Barkan, Jonathan (September 28, 2015). "Morgan Creek Confirms They Will NOT Remake 'The Exorcist'". Bloody-Disgusting. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  76. ^ Squires, John (October 14, 2021). "David Gordon Green is Planning on Directing All Three Films in Brand New 'The Exorcist' Trilogy". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  77. ^ Lawrence, Gregory (October 13, 2021). "David Gordon Green on Why His 'Exorcist' Trilogy Is an "Entirely Different Writing Process" Than 'Halloween'". Collider. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  78. ^ Grobar, Matt (July 25, 2023). "Universal Unveils Trailer For First New 'Exorcist' Film 'Believer,' Dates Second Chapter 'Deceiver'". Deadline. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  79. ^ Vlessing, Etan (July 25, 2023). "Universal's 'The Exorcist: Deceiver' Sequel to Debut in 2025". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  80. ^ McClintock, Pamela (2024-01-11). "David Gordon Green Departing 2025 'Exorcist' Sequel, Search Underway for New Director". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on Feb 15, 2024.
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Awards
Preceded by Golden Globe for Best Picture - Drama
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