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The Exorcist

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The Exorcist is a famous supernatural horror film from 1973.

Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist
Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist

It was directed by William Friedkin and based on a book by William Peter Blatty. The story follows a young girl named Regan MacNeil. She becomes possessed by a demon. Two Catholic priests must work together to save her. They perform a ritual called an exorcism to try and help.

Jason Miller and Max von Sydow in The Exorcist
Jason Miller and Max von Sydow in The Exorcist

This movie is remembered for how much it moved and shocked people. It is considered a very important part of film history.

Making the movie was a very difficult job for everyone. The production took twice as long as the team planned. It also cost almost three times the original budget. Many people working on the film were injured. Some people even died during the making of the movie. There were many unusual accidents that slowed down the work. Because of these many mishaps, some people believed the film was cursed.

William Peter Blatty wrote the story based on real events. His novel was inspired by a 1949 exorcism done by a priest named William S. Bowdern. At first, the book did not sell very well. However, Blatty spoke about the devil on a TV show. This helped the book reach the top of the bestseller list. Blatty then worked to turn his own book into a movie. He chose Friedkin to be the director of the film.

Finding the right actors was a hard task for the creators.

Many famous stars were considered for the main roles. Some big names like Audrey Hepburn and Jane Fonda were asked. However, the team chose actors who were not yet famous. Ellen Burstyn played the mother, Chris MacNeil. Linda Blair played the young girl, Regan. Jason Miller played Father Karras. The movie was released by Warner Bros. on December 26, 1973.

Even though it was scary, the movie was a huge success.

Filmgoers waiting on line to see The Exorcist
Filmgoers waiting on line to see The Exorcist

People waited in long lines during very cold weather to see it. The film earned $193 million during its first run. Its total earnings reached $441 million after later re-releases. It was the first horror film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. It also won Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. In 2010, the Library of Congress chose it for special preservation.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist.jpg
Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist.jpg
File:TeilhardP 1955a.jpg
TeilhardP 1955a.jpg
File:Jason Miller and Max von Sydow in The Exorcist.jpg
Jason Miller and Max von Sydow in The Exorcist.jpg
File:Exorcist steps.jpg
Exorcist steps.jpg
File:Fordham University 01.JPG
Fordham University 01.JPG
The Exorcist levitation scene.webm
File:Visual comparison between Empire of Light by René Magritte and The Exorcist by William Friedkin.png
Visual comparison between Empire of Light...
File:ExcorcistPuppet.jpg
ExcorcistPuppet.jpg
Exorcist head-spin crucifix scene.webm
Exorcist angiogram scene.webm
File:Filmgoers waiting on line to see The Exorcist.jpg
Filmgoers waiting on line to see The Exorcist.jpg
File:The Exorcist crowd reaction - Newsday (1974).jpg
The Exorcist crowd reaction - Newsday (1974).jpg

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