The film that forever changed horror cinema. Released in 1973, The Exorcist terrified audiences worldwide with its story of 12-year-old Regan MacNeil's demonic possession and the priests who battle to save her soul. Directed by William Friedkin and based on William Peter Blatty's novel, this masterpiece introduced the world to Father Merrin, Father Karras, and the demon Pazuzu in scenes so disturbing they caused moviegoers to faint and flee theaters. The franchise spawned multiple sequels including Exorcist II: The Heretic, The Exorcist III, and prequels exploring Father Merrin's first encounter with the demon. The 2023 trilogy reboot brought the terror to a new generation with The Exorcist: Believer. Beyond film, The Exorcist has become a cultural phenomenon, with its iconic imagery—the possessed Regan's head spin, the spider walk, and "The power of Christ compels you!"—embedded in pop culture forever. From Halloween costumes to parodies, references in countless TV shows and movies, and its legendary status as one of the scariest films ever made, The Exorcist remains the gold standard of supernatural horror and demonic possession stories.
