The Exorcist: The Highest-Grossing R-Rated Horror Film For Over 40 Years

by

Even today, The Exorcist remains a massive box office success, and for many years, no other horror movie with an R rating came close to its popularity. Adapted from William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel, it’s widely considered one of the best horror films ever made and continues to be impactful over 50 years after its release.

I’ve often talked about how terrifying The Exorcist still is. It’s a horror movie that truly gets under your skin and lingers with you long after you’ve seen it. Beyond being critically acclaimed and genuinely frightening, it was also a huge commercial success, even considering it came out in 1973.

The Exorcist Was The Highest Grossing R-Rated Horror Movie Of All Time Until 2017

When The Exorcist came out, it was a massive hit, quickly breaking box office records. Within just a month, it was on track to become Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing film ever, surpassing My Fair Lady (according to the New York Times). As of 2023, the film has earned a total of $430 million worldwide (BoxOfficeMojo).

For over forty years, The Exorcist held the record as the highest-grossing R-rated horror film, without even accounting for inflation. That changed in 2017 when Andy Muschietti’s It Chapter One earned $720 million, finally surpassing The Exorcist (according to BoxOfficeMojo).

Will 2017’s It Spend As Much Time As The Highest-Grossing Horror Movie?

The 2017 film It was a huge success, bringing Stephen King’s sprawling novel to life in a way it hadn’t been before, aside from one earlier TV adaptation. While that TV version has its fans, even they acknowledge it suffered from budget limitations, which meant the book’s grandest scenes didn’t quite live up to their potential and sometimes felt a little cheap.

Made for roughly $35 to $40 million, the 2017 film It quickly became the highest-grossing horror movie of all time. However, it remains to be seen how long it will hold that title. Currently, The Sixth Sense is the next highest-earning horror film, having grossed $673 million (according to BoxOfficeMojo).

The films coming up next are generally older than It, and none receive an R rating until The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) and It Chapter 2 (2019), which are both more intense than The Exorcist. However, nothing has yet matched It‘s level of impact, and it could be a long time before another movie does.

Why The Exorcist Is A Timeless Classic

While It did very well in theaters, it doesn’t quite reach the level of The Exorcist. These films simply excel in different ways, and this really highlights how strong The Exorcist is, rather than pointing out any flaws in It. It is enjoyable, but The Exorcist is a true classic.

With its impressive sound, expertly crafted scares, and a compelling story that works even without the horror elements, The Exorcist is a truly complete film. It’s important to recognize movies like this – ones that deeply impact both viewers and critics – because critical and commercial success don’t always go hand-in-hand.

Read More

2026-01-28 18:02