The Exorcist (1973)
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.
Keywords
The Exorcist rating: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic
IMDb8.1/10· 496K votes
Rotten Tomatoes78%
Metacritic83%
TMDb7.743/10· 9K votesWith 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by 8.1/10 on IMDb and 83/100 on Metacritic, critical reception of this film has been positive.
About The Exorcist
When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Cast of The Exorcist
Ellen Burstyn
as Chris MacNeil
Linda Blair
as Regan MacNeil
Jason Miller
as Father Damien Karras
Max von Sydow
as Father Lankester Merrin
Lee J. Cobb
as Lt. Bill Kinderman
William O'Malley
as Father Joseph Kevin Dyer
Kitty Winn
as Sharon Spencer
Barton Heyman
as Dr. Klein
Peter Masterson
as Dr. Barringer
Jack MacGowran
as Burke Dennings
Rudolf Schündler
as Karl
- G
Gina Petrushka
as Willi
The Exorcist facts
- Budget
- $12M
- Box office
- $441.3M
- Collection
- The Exorcist Collection
Our take on The Exorcist
William Friedkin's 1973 landmark remains a masterclass in slow-building dread. When a mysterious entity takes hold of a young girl, her desperate mother turns to two Catholic priests, and the film becomes a stark drama about faith, doubt and the limits of medicine as much as a horror story. Friedkin films the escalating possession with clinical restraint, letting silence, sound design and unbearable waiting do the work before the terror arrives. It suits viewers who prefer psychological weight and moral seriousness over cheap shocks, and anyone curious about the picture that reshaped the genre. Demanding and unsettling, it earns its reputation through patience rather than excess.
Ranked by the iRankMovies editorial teamUpdated August 2026MethodologyData sources
Audience opinions
What the audience liked
- •Masterful psychological horror builds genuine dread and unease
- •Layered exploration of faith crisis creates unexpected emotional depth
- •Revolutionary technical achievements create timeless visual impact
What the audience disliked
- •Slow deliberate pacing tests modern viewers accustomed to faster tension
- •Certain effects now feel dated despite retaining considerable power
Trailer
Where to watch The Exorcist(US)
View on JustWatch →Rent / Buy
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YouTube
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PlexAvailability may change. Data by JustWatch.
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