Ranking The Exorcist Films: A Horror Legacy Reviewed

A girl in a light blue nightgown is levitating above a bed, while two men, one in a dark suit and the other in a priest's robe, look on with concern. The room is dimly lit, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

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The Exorcist film series began with the landmark 1973 horror classic directed by William Friedkin and adapted from William Peter Blatty’s bestselling novel. The story centers on young Regan MacNeil, whose inexplicable and increasingly terrifying behavior leads her mother to seek help from two priests who confront a powerful demonic entity known as Pazuzu. The film’s groundbreaking practical effects, intense performances—particularly from Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn—and unflinching exploration of faith versus evil made it a cultural phenomenon, one of the highest-grossing films of its era, and a defining work of the horror genre that continues to influence filmmakers decades later.

Subsequent entries expanded the franchise with mixed results. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) followed Regan years later but was widely criticised, while The Exorcist III (1990), written and directed by Blatty himself, offered a more cerebral, detective-style sequel that many fans regard as a strong follow-up. Two competing prequels—Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)—explored Father Merrin’s earlier encounter with the demon in Africa. The series returned in 2023 with The Exorcist: Believer, a direct sequel to the original starring Ellen Burstyn, and a new entry titled The Exorcist: Martyrs, directed by Mike Flanagan, is scheduled for 2027, ensuring the franchise’s enduring presence in horror cinema.

Here are our rankings for The Exorcist films.