History Film / TheExorcist

''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 ReligiousHorror film (though the director, Creator/WilliamFriedkin, doesn't view it as such) credited as the TropeMaker and TropeCodifier for HollywoodExorcism.

!! Media in the ''Exorcist'' franchise:
* ''The Exorcist'' (1973) — The original film, based on William Peter Blatty's novel of the same name. Followed by several sequels and prequels that all [[CanonDiscontinuity contradict and ignore one another:]]
** ''Film/ExorcistIITheHeretic'' (1977) — The first sequel, following Regan four years after her possession.
** ''Film/TheExorcistIII'' (1990) — The second sequel, following Lt. Kinderman fifteen years after Regan's possession. Based on Blatty's own ''Exorcist'' sequel novel, ''Legion''.
** ''Film/ExorcistTheBeginning'' (2004) — A direct prequel to the first film, following Father Merrin several decades before Regan's possession.
** ''Film/DominionPrequelToTheExorcist'' (2005) — An alternate prequel to the first film (completed before ''The Beginning'' but released after it, due to ExecutiveMeddling) also following Father Merrin during a similar era.
** ''Series/TheExorcist'' (2016 - 2017) — A television series that serves as a {{stealth sequel}} to the original film, following two priests in a procedural format as they [[ParanormalInvestigation investigate cases of demonic possession]].
** ''Film/TheExorcistBeliever'' (2023) — The first of a planned sequel trilogy that directly follows the original film, but [[SchrodingersCanon (reportedly) won't outright ignore or contradict the middle installments]]. Notable for being the first entry in the series since ''III'' to feature a cast member from the first film (Creator/EllenBurstyn as Chris [=MacNeil=]) reprising their role.
*** ''The Exorcist: Deceiver'' (2025)
*** TBA (TBD)

The original movie is considered one of the best (and ''[[NightmareFuel/TheExorcist most terrifying]]'') [[note]] It has a well earned rank of #3 on AFI's "Thrills" list, while Regan [=McNeil=] is ranked #9 among its "Villains", with equal or higher rankings on similar lists [[/note]] horror movies of all time, and was followed by two sequels and (for complicated reasons) two versions of the same prequel, with varying levels of quality and success from each of them. A TV series of the same named premiered on [[Creator/{{Fox}} FOX]], which was later revealed to be another sequel to the original. There's also a very, [[MindScrew very weird]] non-horror, semi-spinoff movie called ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration'', adapted and directed by Blatty himself from his earlier novel of the same name, which is set in the same universe as this movie but has very few direct connections to it.

A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film, titled ''Film/TheExorcistBeliever'', set to release theatrically on October 6, 2023;[[note]]The release was initially planned for October 13 (a Friday, natch), but the massive pre-sales for ''Music/TaylorSwift: The Eras Tour'' forced Universal to bump up the release to avoid competition.[[/note]] this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Regan. ''Believer''[='=]s release fell just over two months shy from [[MilestoneCelebration the original's fiftieth anniversary]].

* CatchPhrase: Burke is fond of using the adjective "cunting", which is what Pazuzu uses to mock Chris in WouldYouLikeToKnowHowTheyDied below.

* {{Feelies}}: The US theatrical release of the film gave free barf bags to audience members.

The original movie is considered one of the best (and ''[[NightmareFuel/TheExorcist most terrifying]]'') [[note]] It has a well earned rank of #3 on AFI's "Thrills" list and has equal or higher rankings on similar lists. [[/note]] horror movies of all time, and was followed by two sequels and (for complicated reasons) two versions of the same prequel, with varying levels of quality and success from each of them. A TV series of the same named premiered on [[Creator/{{Fox}} FOX]], which was later revealed to be another sequel to the original. There's also a very, [[MindScrew very weird]] non-horror, semi-spinoff movie called ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration'', adapted and directed by Blatty himself from his earlier novel of the same name, which is set in the same universe as this movie but has very few direct connections to it.

The original movie is considered one of the best (and ''[[NightmareFuel/TheExorcist most terrifying]]'') horror movies of all time, and was followed by two sequels and (for complicated reasons) two versions of the same prequel, with varying levels of quality and success from each of them. A TV series of the same named premiered on [[Creator/{{Fox}} FOX]], which was later revealed to be another sequel to the original. There's also a very, [[MindScrew very weird]] non-horror, semi-spinoff movie called ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration'', adapted and directed by Blatty himself from his earlier novel of the same name, which is set in the same universe as this movie but has very few direct connections to it.

* TruthInTelevision: Father Karras saying he'd have to travel back in time to the Renaissance to perform an exorcism is correct. In the modern day, actual Church-sanctioned exorcisms are incredibly rare, and even then they're only used as a last resort.

A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film, titled ''Film/TheExorcistBeliever'', set to release theatrically on October 6, 2023;[[note]]The release was initially planned for October 13 (a Friday, natch), but the massive pre-sales for ''Music/TaylorSwift: The Eras Tour'' forced Universal to bump up the release to avoid competition.[[/note]] this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Regan. The film's release fell just over two months shy from [[MilestoneCelebration the original's fiftieth anniversary]].

A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film, titled ''Film/TheExorcistBeliever'', set to release theatrically on October 6, 2023;[[note]]The release was initially planned for October 13 (a Friday, natch), but the massive pre-sales for ''Music/TaylorSwift: The Eras Tour'' forced Universal to bump up the release to avoid competition.[[/note]] this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Reagan. The film's eventual release fell just over [[MilestoneCelebration two months shy from the original's fiftieth anniversary]].

A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film, titled ''Film/TheExorcistBeliever'', set to release theatrically on October 6, 2023;[[note]]The release was initially planned for October 13 (a Friday, natch), but the massive pre-sales for ''Music/TaylorSwift: The Eras Tour'' forced Universal to bump up the release to avoid competition.[[/note]] this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Reagan. The release will be released [[MilestoneCelebration two months shy from the original's fiftieth anniversary]].

** ''Film/TheExorcistBeliever'' (2023) — The first of a planned sequel trilogy that directly follows the original film, but [[SchrodingersCanon (reportedly) won't outright ignore or contradict the middle installments]]. Notable for being the first entry in the series since ''II'' to feature a cast member from the first film (Creator/EllenBurstyn as Chris [=MacNeil=]) reprising their role.

A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film, titled ''The Exorcist: Believer'', set to release theatrically on October 6, 2023;[[note]]The release was initially planned for October 13 (a Friday, natch), but the massive pre-sales for ''Music/TaylorSwift: The Eras Tour'' forced Universal to bump up the release to avoid competition.[[/note]] this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Reagan. The release will be released [[MilestoneCelebration two months shy from the original's fiftieth anniversary]].

** ''The Exorcist: Believer'' (2023) — The first of a planned sequel trilogy that directly follows the original film, but [[SchrodingersCanon (reportedly) won't outright ignore or contradict the middle installments]]. Notable for being the first entry in the series since ''II'' to feature a cast member from the first film (Creator/EllenBurstyn as Chris [=MacNeil=]) reprising their role.

-->'''Pazuzu:''' ''(using Karras' mother's voice)'' Dimmy, why did you do this to me? Please, Dimmy, I'm afraid.
-->'''Karras:''' ''({{Angrish}})'' '''''You're not my mother!'''''

* Bowdlerise: Some TV edits change "'''''YOUR MOTHER SUCKS COCKS IN HELL!!!'''''" to "'''''YOUR MOTHER STILL ROTS IN HELL!!!'''''"

''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 ReligiousHorror film (though the director, Creator/WilliamFriedkin, doesn't view it as such) and is the TropeMaker and TropeCodifier for HollywoodExorcism.

[[TheFilmOfTheBook Based on]] the [[Literature/TheExorcist 1971 novel]] by William Peter Blatty, [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory and inspired by]] what was supposedly an actual documented exorcism from 1949, ''The Exorcist'' is the terrifying, shocking tale of an originally rather cute 12-year-old girl named Regan [=McNeil=] (Creator/LindaBlair) and the efforts of her mother Chris (Creator/EllenBurstyn), a famous film actress, her mom's secretary Sharon, and a pair of priests to save the poor girl's soul from the ravages of a powerful, malign entity called Pazuzu (though his name is kept ambiguous in the film).

The original movie is considered one of the best (and ''[[NightmareFuel/TheExorcist most terrifying]]'') horror movies of all time and was followed by two sequels and (for complicated reasons) two versions of the same prequel, with varying levels of quality and success from each of them. A TV series of the same named premiered on [[Creator/{{Fox}} FOX]], which was later revealed to be another sequel to the original. There's also a very, [[MindScrew very weird]] non-horror, semi-spinoff movie called ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration'', adapted and directed by Blatty himself from his earlier novel of the same name, which is set in the same universe as this movie but has very few direct connections to it. A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film, titled ''The Exorcist: Believer'', set to release theatrically on October 6, 2023;[[note]]Initially planned for October 13 (a Friday, natch), but the massive pre-sales for ''Music/TaylorSwift: The Eras Tour'' forced Universal to bump up the release to avoid competition.[[/note]] this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Reagan. The release will be released [[MilestoneCelebration two months shy from the original's fiftieth anniversary.]]

The original movie is considered one of the best (and ''[[NightmareFuel/TheExorcist most terrifying]]'') horror movies of all time and was followed by two sequels and (for complicated reasons) two versions of the same prequel, with varying levels of quality and success from each of them. A TV series of the same named premiered on [[Creator/{{Fox}} FOX]], which was later revealed to be another sequel to the original. There's also a very, [[MindScrew very weird]] non-horror, semi-spinoff movie called ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration'', adapted and directed by Blatty himself from his earlier novel of the same name, which is set in the same universe as this movie but has very few direct connections to it. A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film, titled ''The Exorcist: Believer'', set to release theatrically on October 13, 2023; this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Reagan. The release will be released [[MilestoneCelebration two months shy from the original's fiftieth anniversary.]]

* DaylightHorror: Most of the scariest scenes happen during the day; notably, the head-spinning scene.

* ChekhovsGunman: Father Merrin.

* {{Confessional}}: A field confession occurs at the end of the first movie.

* EverybodySmokes: A number of the adult characters in the film smoke, including both Chris [=MacNeil=] and Father Karras. Ash trays are a bit more prevalent too, even in the conference room of the Archdiocesan headquarters.

* GoodShepherd: Father Merrin and Father Dyer.

* MedicalHorror: Regan in the operating room having a carotid angiography[[note]]an extremely painful test in which the patient must be conscious -- the doctors are played by real doctors from the medical center at NYU[[/note]] -- including the blood spurting from an artery in her neck -- was the scariest part of ''The Exorcist'' for some moviegoers at the time. No, it wasn't the cursing, the vomiting, the exorcism or anything else that caused them to actually ''leave the theaters and vomit'' - it was '''[[NauseaFuel this]]'''.

* MindScrew: Pazuzu seems to be a fan of this trope.

* PossessionLevitation: After being possessed by Pazuzu, the Mesopotamian demon, 12-year old Regan begins to float off her mattress during the exorcism conducted by Karras and Merrin. They successfully subdue her.

* PluckyComicRelief: Downplayed by Lt. Kinderman. He is not as overtly wacky and goofy as most uses of the trope, but his snarks and affected bumbling persona (which he uses to disarm those he questions and hide his dead-serious intent) provide what little humor the film has.
* PoliceAreUseless: Admittedly out of his depth with the supernatural. Kellerman's investigation goes nowhere and at one point appears to suspect Karras or perhaps another priest with no real evidence.

* StealthSequel: WordOfGod states that ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration'' is the true sequel to ''The Exorcist''. According to Website/ThatOtherWiki, the astronaut in ''The Exorcist'' is Captain Cutshaw in ''The Ninth Configuration'', driven to a mental breakdown by what Pazuzu tells him at the party. In the book series, several unused pieces of dialogue from ''The Exorcist'' were used in ''The Ninth Configuration'' instead.
* SpaceWhaleAesop: Don't use a OuijaBoard, or you might suffer from DemonicPossession.
* SplitPersonality: As the possession starts to take hold and Regan's behavior gets more bizarre, Chris thinks her daughter might have a split personality -- but see the reference to VoiceOfTheLegion, below. The doctors explain that real split personality is almost unheard of, but brain lesions and epilepsy can cause patients to act like it.[[note]]superficially, at least, if you don't know much about multiple personality. It comes on far too suddenly for the genuine article.[[/note]] When Fr. Karras begins to tell Fr. Merrin about each of the personalities he has witnessed, Merrin tersely interrupts, saying there's only one.

* TakeMeInstead: [[spoiler: Both part of Father Karras' HeroicSuicide.]]

* VomitIndiscretionShot: The most well-known example of someone blowing chunks on screen ''ever''. Though, actually, Regan isn't regurgitating. She's spitting up loads of bile - [[FridgeHorror which is worse]].

*** TBA (TBD)

The original movie is considered one of the best (and ''[[NightmareFuel/TheExorcist most terrifying]]'') horror movies of all time and was followed by two sequels and (for complicated reasons) two versions of the same prequel, with varying levels of quality and success from each of them. A TV series of the same named premiered on [[Creator/{{Fox}} FOX]], which was later revealed to be another sequel to the original. There's also a very, [[MindScrew very weird]] non-horror, semi-spinoff movie called ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration'', adapted and directed by Blatty himself from his earlier novel of the same name, which is set in the same universe as this movie but has very few direct connections to it. A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film, titled ''The Exorcist: Rebirth'', set to release theatrically on October 13, 2023; this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning as Chris and Reagan. The release will be released [[MilestoneCelebration two months shy from the original's fiftieth anniversary.]]

The original movie is considered one of the best (and ''[[NightmareFuel/TheExorcist most terrifying]]'') horror movies of all time and was followed by two sequels and (for complicated reasons) two versions of the same prequel, with varying levels of quality and success from each of them. A TV series of the same named premiered on [[Creator/{{Fox}} FOX]], which was later revealed to be another sequel to the original. There's also a very, [[MindScrew very weird]] non-horror, semi-spinoff movie called ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration'', adapted and directed by Blatty himself from his earlier novel of the same name, which is set in the same universe as this movie but has very few direct connections to it. A new trilogy of ''Exorcist'' films from director David Gordon Green (''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}''), produced by Creator/{{Blumhouse|Productions}} and jointly distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]] and Creator/{{Peacock}}, has been announced, with the first film set to release theatrically on October 13, 2023; this series will also be a sequel to the original film and feature Ellen Burstyn reprising her role as Chris. The release will be released [[MilestoneCelebration two months shy from the original's fiftieth anniversary.]]

* ''Film/ExorcistIITheHeretic'' (1977)
* ''Film/TheExorcistIII'' (1990)
* ''Film/ExorcistTheBeginning'' (2004)
** ''Film/DominionPrequelToTheExorcist'' (2005)
* ''Series/TheExorcist'' (2016)

* BodyHorror: The movie is full of this. There's the (initially deleted) scene where Reagan climbs down the stairs, Regan getting [[EvilMakesYouUgly more and more hideous and deformed the longer she's possessed,]] and, of course, the ExorcistHead scenes.