A latest entry in the globally acclaimed The Exorcist film series is on the way. Directed by the horror maestro, Mike Flanagan, the film will star a grand cast and will have a unique storyline. In case you don’t know, the highly anticipated film The Exorcist: Martyrs will bring forth the talents of Scarlett Johansson, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor. They will be joined by John Leguizamo, as well as the first live-action Supergirl actress, Sasha Calle.
While we await the release of The Exorcist: Martyrs, here are the other films in the franchise ranked as per Rotten Tomatoes.
1. The Exorcist (1973)
- Director: William Friedkin
- RT Score: 78%
- Streaming On: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Plot: The film follows a 12-year-old girl, Regan MacNeil, whose strange behavior leaves her mother, Chris MacNeil, searching for answers. However, things take a terrifying turn when Regan appears to be possessed by a demonic entity. With medical treatments failing to explain her condition, the movie welcomes two Catholic priests, Father Damien Karras and Father Lankester Merrin, who then perform an exorcism on the young girl.
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2. The Exorcist III (1990)
- Director: William Peter Blatty
- RT Score: 60%
- Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video, peacock
Plot: This 1990 release is very similar to what Mike Flanagan is bringing in his latest take in the franchise. The film explores a disturbing murder mystery and follows Lieutenant William F. Kinderman, who investigates a series of gruesome killings that appear to be connected to a long-dead serial killer known as the Gemini Killer. While many confuse the Gemini Killer in this entry with that of the real life killers, one should note that they are different identities. The real-life Gemini Killers was two hitmen, better known as the Gemini Twins, Anthony Senter and Joseph Testa. Meanwhile, they have already been caught and were convicted of multiple murders and racketeering, ultimately receiving a sentence to life in prison.
3. Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist (2005)
- Director: Paul Schrader
- RT Score: 29%
- Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video
Plot: Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist is a 2005 entry focusing on the life of Father Lankester Merrin’s first encounter with demonic forces. The events in the movie are set years before those of The Exorcist (1973). The story follows Stellan Skarsgård’s character of Merrin, a former priest who travels to East Africa to investigate an ancient church buried beneath the ground. However, his archaeological mission takes a terrifying turn when he discovers evidence of an ancient evil and witnesses disturbing events surrounding a young boy named Cheche. As the situation grows darker, Merrin is forced to confront his fading faith and the horrifying presence threatening the local community.
4. The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
- Director: David Gordon Green
- RT Score: 22%
- Streaming On: Apple TV, peacock, Fandango, Amazon Prime Video
Plot: The Exorcist: Believer is the latest entry in the franchise that brings in a terrifying cinematic world of demonic possession. Released in 2023, the storyline follows Victor Fielding, a father whose daughter, Angela, and her friend Katherine mysteriously disappear in the woods and return three days later with disturbing changes in their behavior. However, as the girls begin showing signs of demonic possession, Victor seeks help from Chris MacNeil, the mother of Regan from the original The Exorcist. What’s interesting about the outing is that it acts as a direct sequel to the 1973 classic.
5. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
- Director: Renny Harlin
- RT Score: 10%
- Streaming On: AppleTV, Amazon Prime Video
Plot: The story follows Merrin, who is played by Stellan Skarsgård. He is a former priest who loses his faith after witnessing the horrors of World War II and begins working as an archaeologist. However, his life takes a disturbing turn when he travels to Kenya to investigate an ancient Byzantine church buried beneath the ground. Soon, a series of strange and horrifying events leads him to discover an ancient evil connected to the demon Pazuzu.
6. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
- Director: John Boorman
- RT Score: 10%
- Streaming On: AppleTV, Amazon Prime Video
Plot: It continues the story of Regan MacNeil after the terrifying events of the original The Exorcist. The film follows Linda Blair’s lead character, who is now living a seemingly normal life but continues to experience disturbing visions connected to her past possessions. Meanwhile, Father Philip Lamont, who is portrayed by Richard Burton, investigates the circumstances surrounding Father Merrin’s death. He is also seen trying to understand the mysterious forces that once controlled Regan.
Now that we know the details of the films in the Exorcist franchise, it is time to prepare ourselves for the upcoming outing. If you are excited for the Flanagan helmed film, here is what the plot reads: A determined rookie detective eager to establish herself confronts a horrifying darkness that challenges her deepest convictions and tests everything she thought she knew about right and wrong.
Scarlett Johansson will be the one leading this upcoming film, with Ejiofor set to be a supporting actor, portraying a priest in the new film. Meanwhile, John Leguizamo is playing a villain and the possessed killer. The film hits the big screens on March 11, 2027.
The Exorcist: Martyrs Trailer
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Must Read: The Exorcist: Martyrs: Release Date, Cast, Plot & Everything We Know About The New Entry In The Franchise
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