'The Exorcist': How This Horror Classic Overcame Major Challenges to Become a Top Film
The '60s and '70s were instrumental in molding modern horror and its subgenres. Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead, Robin Hardy's The Wicker Man-there are numerous examples of pivotal horror fare that paved the way for today's landscape.
However, few have reached the upper echelons of the genre and become a cultural staple quite like The Exorcist.
Helmed by William Friedkin with a screenplay by William Peter Blatty (who based the script on his own 1971 novel of the same name), the 1973 cult classic was influential in shaping the demonic possession narrative in future horror flicks. It stars Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, Linda Blair as Regan, Max von Sydow as Father Merrin, Lee J. Cobb as Lt. Kinderman, Kitty Winn as Sharon, Jack MacGowran as Burke Dennings, and Jason Miller as Father Karras.
The Exorcist was a bona fide commercial success, grossing a whopping $441.3 million (across its lifetime, which includes re-releases) on a $12 million budget. It skyrocketed to No. 1 at the box office. The movie also won several accolades, including two Academy Awards: Blatty took home a statue for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, and Robert Knudson and Christopher Newman won for Best Sound. It was the first horror movie nominated for Best Picture.
Critically, the film's reviews were mixed at the time of its release, but retrospective appraisals have cast it in a more favorable light. The Exorcist has been included on multiple best-of lists and rankings, including Time Out's recent list of "The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time," where it sits in the top spot.
However, the road to bringing this iconic story to life was anything but smooth. In fact, the odds seemed stacked against it every step of the way. For starters, many studios weren't interested in adapting Blatty's novel, nor did they want him as a producer. Warner Bros., the studio distributing the film, also pushed back on the decision to cast unknown actors over big names.
The problems didn't cease once production was underway. Burstyn and Blair suffered injuries on set. A carpenter lost a thumb, and a lighting technician lost a toe. There were even multiple deaths in the aftermath-MacGowran and Vasiliki Maliaros, who played Karras' mother, both died shortly after filming. The set was deemed "cursed." A fire set the MacNeil house ablaze, and supposedly, the only area left unscathed was Regan's bedroom. It took six weeks to rebuild it. Not to mention, these compounding tragedies delayed production, significantly increasing the budget.
Warner Bros. opted not to screen The Exorcist to critics prior to its release due to low expectations, but boy, were they wrong.
Countless problems aside, this film is truly one of the greatest horror movies of all time. It's so enthralling (and nauseating) that it'll make your head spin.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 8:04 AM.