Ever since the emergence of the horror genre in cinema in the 1920s, with titles like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu, audiences have been both fascinated and unsettled by elements such as grisly mysterious murders, creepy Gothic castles, relentless vengeful spirits, and supernatural creatures lurking in dark and foggy woods. Whether they are eerie and dreamlike, laced with a decent dose of realism to maximize terror, or tackling evil cults, these films span many subgenres, and, undoubtedly, the title that explored demonic possession with the best basic formula was none other than The Exorcist, back in 1973.

Based on a story by William Peter Blatty, which itself was inspired by the true events involving a teenage boy named Ronald Hunkeler in Silver Springs, Maryland, The Exorcist was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and directed by William Friedkin, following up on his success with The French Connection.

The plot follows actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), who is desperately trying to find out what ails her 12-year-old daughter Regan (Linda Blair). After doctors fail to produce a diagnosis, they turn to two Catholic priests, Father/Dr. Damien Karras (Jason Miller) and Father Lankester Merrin (the prolific Max von Sydow). It turns out Regan has been possessed by a demon named Pazuzu (or, as Karras indicates, “the Devil himself”), and a proper exorcism is in order.

Upon its release in theaters in December 1973, The Exorcist grossed over $248 million at the box office, and audiences suffered various physiological and psychological reactions to its most brutal and repulsive scenes. The relatively unknown Blair gave such a convincing performance that she was nominated for an Academy Award. The movie influenced others in the genre and spawned three sequels and two prequels. Here is how the sequels, released in 1977, 1990, and the most recent in 2023, fared compared to the original.

Update October 13, 2023: Following the release of The Exorcist: Believer, this article has been updated to see how it stakes up againist the other films in the franchise.

How The Exorcist Set a Precedent
Warner Bros.

The Exorcist was the very first horror film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, which paved the way for future titles to earn this honor as well, such as Jaws, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Sixth Sense. It did, however, win Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound and is generally regarded as one of the boldest horror movies ever made, as it features a child blaspheming, vomiting, and a masturbation scene that involves a crucifix.

Related: The Exorcist: The Subtle Brilliance of One of the Scariest Movies Ever

Special effects like Regan’s head rotating a full 360 degrees, levitation, or the characters’ visible cold breath were novel, spooky, and unsettling at the time. Many movies were inspired to explore the psychological and physiological toll of exorcism rites, such as The Amityville Horror, Poltergeist, Stigmata, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. It’s safe to say the Church received possession claims endlessly after the film’s release.

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Warner Bros. Pictures

In the first sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic, directed by John Boorman and written by William Goodhart, Regan is now 16 and living with her mother’s friend, Sharon Spencer. She has no recollection of the past events that shook her existence but has developed psychic and healing abilities and is closely followed by a psychiatrist and hypnotist, Dr. Gene Tuskin. Tasked by the Church to investigate the death of Father Merrin, Father Philip Lamont, who has attempted an exorcism in Brazil, thinks Regan is the key to finally ridding the world of Pazuzu.

While the original movie pitted Good versus Evil in style, this second installment was less horror and more intrigue and metaphysics, as it explored science coupled with religion, suppressed trauma, astral projection, crisis of faith, and biblical symbolism like locusts and doves. It was thus met with negative reviews from audiences and critics alike; laughs, fits, and insults were recorded in theaters. The film had two redeeming qualities, though: the haunting soundtrack composed by Maestro Ennio Morricone (albeit not his best work), and the father-daughter chemistry between Blair and Burton, as the young actress had only agreed to reprise her role because she had been a fervent admirer of his.

On the other hand, filmmaking veterans like Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese have praised this sequel. The former even used part of the score in The Hateful Eight.

The Exorcist III (1990)
20th Century Fox

Completely brushing off the events of its predecessor, The Exorcist III takes place 15 years after the original and is directed by screenwriter Blatty himself, based on his bestselling 1983 novel Legion. The story centers on the long-deceased serial killer James Venamun aka, The Gemini Killer, who claimed his gruesome actions were dictated by a demon. Lieutenant William Kinderman is tasked with investigating a new series of bizarre murders boasting the same M.O. as Venamun’s. Father Karras, believed to be long dead, is brought back as an amnesic patient locked in a psychiatric facility who gets possessed by the Gemini. Also starring are Ed Flanders as Father Joseph Dyer and Scott Wilson as Dr. Temple.

“The Exorcist III is such an impressive horror film because it really doesn’t show much gore at all, which means even more since it came out in the ’90s, when excessive slashers were prevalent and on the rise. Instead, Exorcist III terrifies through your imagination, whether it’s cleverly cutting to appropriate images before a death takes place, graphic sound design, or even intense, thorough descriptions that recount the Gemini Killer’s brutal serial murders in Georgetown, rather than actually showing them.” – Bloody Disgusting

Memorable elements include a chilling and suspenseful hospital hallway sequence, and the wandering soul of Pazuzu/the Gemini, which possesses many people and drives them to suicide or murder. The gruesome exorcism climax, which was imposed by 20th Century Fox, against the director’s wish, cost $4 million.

Related: Exorcist III: Why It’s Better Than the Original Film

While neither sequel had the visceral shock value of the original, the subtle third installment has managed to generate a strong cult following. And yes, it has what can be considered the greatest jump scare in the history of cinema.

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
Universal Pictures

The latest installment of the franchise, released in 2023, is The Exorcist: Believer. It’s part of Blumhouse’s intention to acquire original IPs and produce legacy sequels that somehow remind audiences of films released decades ago. Directed by David Gordon Green, who previously did the same with the Halloween trilogy, the film tells the story of two girls going through a demonic possession and one of the girl’s fathers seeking some answers in Chris MacNeil’s wisdom and knowledge. Of course, the film is a direct jog into a third act involving an exorcism that has some capacity to unsettle viewers.

The distribution rights cost more than $400 million in a deal that was simply too risky money-wise. There was no way Blumhouse would ever replicate the effect of the original film, and they relied only on nostalgic value that isn’t even very present in the final cut. It’s linked by two characters returning to the universe of demonic possession, but their contribution isn’t very… profound. Unfortunately, many people took this as a money-grab scheme. With a disappointing opening weekend and negative word of mouth, it will be interesting to see if Blumhouse commits to its three-movie idea.

The Prequels
Warner Bros. Pictures 

As for the two prequels, Exorcist: The Beginning (helmed by Renny Harlin in 2004) and its alternative Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (directed by Paul Schrader in 2005), they both featured Stellan Skarsgård as a younger Father Merrin in Africa and fared terribly at the box office.They are different cuts of the same movie, as Exorcist: The Beginning was studio mandated recut of Paul Schrader’s Domionion: Prequel to the Exorcist which the studio found to be to cerebral. After their cut of the movie failed, they released Schrader’s version nine months later. Each of them has their own fanbase, and some people defend them as valuable additions to the franchise.

The reality is that none of them can be compared to what Friedkin accomplished with the original, and they lack the horror element that makes the franchise one of the most controversial ever. After all, where else could you find one of the best films ever made, and one of the worst, in the same universe?