Shocking Twist: The Exorcist 1973's Rotten Tomatoes Score Plummets! Find Out Why
The Exorcist 1973: Controversial drop in Rotten Tomatoes rating sparks intrigue Unveiling the origin of negative reviews, including surprising feedback from the original release
Summary
The Exorcist's Rotten Tomatoes score has dropped 6 points to 78% after the addition of 70 new reviews, including cataloged contemporary reviews from the 1970s.
Despite the decline in its score, the film maintains its status as Certified Fresh. Released in 1973 and adapted from William Peter Blatty's novel, The Exorcist was a monumental triumph, surpassing all other films in terms of box office revenue in its year of release and earning two Academy Awards.
The Rotten Tomatoes score for the original The Exorcist has dropped. Released in 1973, the film was based on the novel by William Peter Blatty and starred Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil. When her daughter Regan (Linda Blair) shows signs of demonic possession, Chris seeks the help of Father Karras (Jason Miller). The movie was a massive success, earning the highest box office revenue in 1973 and receiving 10 Oscar nominations, ultimately winning two.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original film and the recent 4K restoration, as well as the release of The Exorcist: Believer, Rotten Tomatoes has incorporated more than 70 new reviews into their collection for The Exorcist. This update includes contemporary reviews from the 1970s as well. Consequently, the Rotten Tomatoes score for the movie has decreased by 6 points, from 84% to 78%, while still maintaining its Certified Fresh status.
Where Are the Negative The Exorcist Reviews Coming From?
Despite its sudden drop, The Exorcist remains the only film in the entire Exorcist franchise to maintain a Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It holds a comfortable 20% lead over the next highest-rated entry, 1990's The Exorcist III, which sits at 58%. However, the new score is somewhat surprising for a movie that is still widely regarded as one of the scariest horror classics of all time.
A closer look at the recently added reviews reveals that out of the movie's impressive 173 reviews, only 38 are negative. Interestingly, many of these new reviews, whether current or archived, focus on the shocking nature of the film. Critics describe it as "adolescent" and "morally corrupted," likely in response to the provocative and twisted depths to which the demon Pazuzu pushes Regan, all in an effort to test the faith of Father Karras.
While the Rotten Tomatoes score has no effect on the enduring reputation of the original film, The Exorcist, what is truly fascinating about this new update is its reflection of the broader cultural context surrounding the movie. Due to its deeply unsettling and provocative content, the film has not been universally embraced by all audiences. Nevertheless, it is precisely the visceral reaction it induces in some viewers that has solidified its iconic status, as its initial notoriety stemmed from reports of moviegoers becoming physically unwell while watching it.
