The Exorcist
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Where to watch: Streaming on Max · Peacock (US, subject to change)
Part of a series: Exorcist Movies in Order · all 6 films
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How it scared people
The vibe
Still the benchmark for possession cinema fifty years on. Friedkin plays it as a procedural — doctors first, priests last — which is exactly why the supernatural lands so hard when it arrives. The slow erosion of a mother's options is the real horror engine.
The Exorcist (1973) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated R |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 122 minutes |
| Jump scares | 5/5 — among the scariest films on WhatScares |
| Gore | 3/5 — a moderate amount of blood and violence |
| Dread | 4/5 — heavy atmosphere — expect it to sit with you afterwards |
| Themes | religious themes; demonic possession |
The Exorcist is rated R by the MPA. We score it 5/5 for jump scares, 3/5 for gore and 4/5 for lingering dread, over 122 minutes. Older teens and adults — less for what it shows than for how long it stays with you.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is The Exorcist?
- On our intensity scale, The Exorcist rates 10/10 for jump scares and 8/10 for dread. It is among the scariest films on WhatScares.
- How gory is The Exorcist?
- The Exorcist rates 6/10 for gore — expect a moderate amount of blood and violence.
- How long is The Exorcist?
- The Exorcist runs 122 minutes (2h 2m).
- What is The Exorcist rated?
- The Exorcist is rated R by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 10/10 for jump scares, 6/10 for gore and 8/10 for dread — the R tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch The Exorcist (1973)?
- As of our last update, The Exorcist is streaming on Max and Peacock in the US (checked 2026-09-14). Availability changes, so check your service before settling in.
