Synopsis

Catholic teacher Maya Larkin becomes convinced that journalist Peter Kelson is destined to become the Antichrist. As she and a group of priests investigate cryptic clues surrounding his life, Peter dismisses their warnings as religious hysteria. But increasingly disturbing events challenge his skepticism, forcing Maya to confront the possibility that Satan's arrival may be closer than anyone expects.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was shot in Los Angeles and New York City between October 1 and December 16, 1998, nearly two years before its U.S. theatrical release.

• It was originally planned for release in 1999, but New Line Cinema delayed it after several other supernatural and apocalyptic movies, including "End of Days" and "Stigmata," reached theaters. A later February 2000 release date was also abandoned when "Scream 3" claimed that date.

• The eventual U.S. release on October 13, 2000, coincided with the theatrical re-release of "The Exorcist," creating an unusually direct comparison between the two religious horror films.

• Writers Pierce Gardner and Betsy Stahl cited M. Scott Peck's writings, including "People of the Lie," as an influence on the story's exploration of evil and demonic behavior.

• Meg Ryan was among the film's producers. The project was completed before its release and became a notable early production credit for her company.

• The opening title card attributes a fabricated apocalyptic quotation to Deuteronomy 17. No such passage appears in the Bible.

• The film earned approximately $31 million worldwide during its theatrical run.