At the end of its original theatrical run, the film grossed $193 million, and has a lifetime gross of $441 million with subsequent re-releases.

How successful was The Exorcist?

The Exorcist made $441 million worldwide following its Dec. 26, 1973, release and went on to receive 10 Academy Award nominations, a first for a horror movie. The movie's influence was felt far beyond the box office, however.

Why did The Exorcist get banned?

From religious groups denouncing its content as immoral to audience members fainting and vomiting during its theatrical run, the overblown reaction to The Exorcist is most of the reason why it's synonymous with the phrase “scariest film ever made” despite how comparatively tame it can now appear.

Was The Exorcist a hit?

As disturbing as it was to viewers at the time, it was still insanely popular.

Why is The Exorcist 1973 so scary?

From subtle whispers in the background to all-out pandemonium as a chorus of demonic voices envelop the theater, the sense that you're being constantly pursued by otherworldly voices is palpable and relentless in The Exorcist.

Linda Blair on Filming The Exorcist & More - NEW Uncut Interview

How disturbing is The Exorcist?

Expect extreme gore, grotesque effects (bulging eyes, sores, etc.), and scares, and two important characters die. A girl repeatedly stabs her crotch with a cross and crawls a flight of stairs upside down, turning her head completely around.

Why is Exorcist 2 so bad?

Perhaps the biggest problem with Exorcist 2 is that its content is too surreal to be taken seriously, as the plot points like Regan's hypnotic therapy or Father Lamont getting spirited to Pazuzu's past feel more like something out of a parody of the original film.

Is The Exorcist ok for 13 year olds?

VIOLENCE/GORE 7 - There are many very intense and scary scenes: the possessed 12-year-old girl's face becomes increasingly pale and streaked with bloody lacerations, and her eyes begin to redden and sometimes roll back (in a later scene we realize that her whole body has been affected); her voice becomes very low and ...

Is The Exorcist still banned in the UK?

Despite the prohibition on the video version, the film continued to play occasionally in cinemas, its existing X certificate being replaced by a new 18 certificate - for cinema release only - in 1991. In 1998, the distributors decided to celebrate the film's 25th Anniversary by relaunching the film in UK cinemas.

What is the #1 scary movie ever?

1. The Exorcist (1973)

How many Oscars did The Exorcist win?

The Exorcist received 10 Oscar nominations in total, including Best Director for Friedkin and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Ellen Burstyn, and went on to win two Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.

Which is scarier, Exorcist or Conjuring?

Ultimately, but not surprisingly, The Exorcist was far more effective overall. I knew nothing about The Conjuring, save that it was a well-regarded supernatural horror movie.

What happened while filming The Exorcist?

Crew members thought that technical difficulties and the actors' injuries were caused by a haunting. Even before The Exorcist began filming, strange problems would arise on the set. A catastrophic and costly fire ignited. One of the actors died shortly after filming.

Is The Exorcist based on a true story?

While its sensationalized depiction of demonic possession has all but defined this type of narrative in the popular imagination, the material itself is loosely based on a real-life case from 1949, where Father William Bowdern performed a series of exorcisms on a 14-year-old boy.

Who turned down The Exorcist?

Friedkin was the top choice of the author of the book, William Peter Blatty, who thought the director's experience in documentaries and the “documentary realism” of THE FRENCH CONNECTION would apply well. The studio didn't agree, but their choices (Stanley Kubrick, Arthur Penn and Mike Nichols) all turned it down.

Is The Exorcist banned?

In 1998, the 25th anniversary of the films release, the BBFC finally lifted the ban on home sales of the movie and the board even permitted uncut video/DVD release of the film, though it came with an 18 rating. The trailer remained banned in the United States.

Who played the 12 year old girl in The Exorcist?

Linda Blair. In 1973's The Exorcist, Blair starred as Regan, a 12-year-old girl, who is possessed by an ancient demon after playing with a Ouija board, opposite Ellen Burstyn, who portrayed her mother, Chris MacNeil.

Is The Exorcist 1973 a good movie?

The Exorcist is one of the best movies to come out of the 70's and deserves better than slowly descending down the top 250. It's one of those essential films you have to see in order to understand what a movie truly is and this is more than a horror film.

Was Exorcist 3 any good?

But overall, it's a great film that really exceeded my expectations, especially in the last two acts. It's as good as sequels come and I would recommend it to fans of the original film. One thing that people might find surprising is that it actually ties into the first Exorcist film rather well.

Does Exorcist 3 ignore Exorcist 2?

When that fell apart, Blatty turned its story into the 1983 novel Legion. And when the time came to turn Legion into a film, Blatty, who had director approval, ultimately decided to direct it himself. Unsurprisingly, The Exorcist III essentially ignores Heretic.

Is The Exorcist really scary?

Retrospective reviews have since echoed the “scariest movie ever” claim, and critics still hold The Exorcist to be the single most provocative and petrifying film in the annals of horror cinema.

What scene was removed from The Exorcist?

The Exorcist spider walk scene, initially deleted from the film's release, was restored later, delighting fans who consider it a favorite sequence. Director William Friedkin felt the scene was a big special effect too early in the story, but later reinserted the scene using CGI to erase wires.

Is The Exorcist bloody?

Bloody Scratches

Believer doesn't skimp when showing the freaky details of this demonic world — bloody slashes and scarring on the girls' bodies are both terrifying and mysterious. Who can forget Regan's stomach scar in the original that formed the words “help me”?

Is The Exorcist cursed?

Summary. The Exorcist's cast had some injuries and illnesses, some of which led to death. The Exorcist's crew also suffered plenty of trauma. The Exorcist set had to be blessed as it was deemed to be cursed.