Released: December 26,1973
Runtime: 2 Hours 2 Minutes
Director: William Friedkin
Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn
The original, unquestionable, undisputed great grandpappy of “possession” horror, and one hell of a brutally good time, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist is not just one of the scariest films ever made: it’s also one of the most well-constructed horror movies of all time. The story of demon-inhabited Regan, her distraught mother, and the two priests working their religious mojo to save her life holds up to repeat viewings—partially because the horrific set pieces still hold up resoundingly well, and also because the actors create realistic, believable characters who are worthy of our empathy.
Source: Best Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked: Scariest Movies Ever Made – Thrillist