Synopsis

When twelve-year-old Regan MacNeil begins suffering violent and inexplicable changes, her desperate mother seeks medical and psychiatric explanations. As conventional treatments fail, two Catholic priests are brought in to confront a terrifying supernatural force. Their struggle becomes a test of faith, courage, and sacrifice as the priests attempt to save Regan from possession.

Factoids & Trivia

• William Peter Blatty adapted his own 1971 bestseller for the screenplay. The novel was inspired in part by a reported 1949 exorcism involving a teenage boy in Maryland.

• The opening archaeological sequences were filmed near Mosul and Hatra in Iraq. Much of the Washington, D.C., material was shot in New York, with Georgetown providing several important exterior locations.

• Production lasted far longer than originally planned. A fire destroyed the main house set, although Regan's bedroom was left largely untouched, adding to the film's later reputation for a troubled or "cursed" production.

• The vomit effect aimed at Father Karras accidentally struck actor Jason Miller in the face. His startled reaction was genuine.

• Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" became closely associated with the film after its use in the soundtrack, helping turn the previously obscure recording into an international hit.

• The film received 10 Academy Award nominations and won for Adapted Screenplay and Sound. It was also nominated for Best Picture, a rare achievement for a supernatural horror film.

• In 2010, the Library of Congress selected The Exorcist for preservation in the National Film Registry, recognizing its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.