Skip to main content

Celebrating the best of tv, movies, and comics

Subscribe
If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

The Exorcist: From the original to The Exorcist: Believer, how to watch the series in order

Th power of Christ compels you to watch all the Exorcist movies AND the tv show

The Exorcist: Believer
Image credit: Blumhouse
How to by Mason Downey Contributing writer
Updated on

After decades, Chris MacNeil is once again facing her demons — well, someone’s demons — as the character returns to the screen 50 years later in The Exorcist: Believer, the latest installment in the movie series that started all the way back with 1973’s original movie. The fight against the devil hasn’t just been confined to six movies (to date), though; there’s also been two seasons of a TV show, as well. The power of Christ compels people to keep expanding this story, it seems.

But don't let those numbers scare you. Even though there's plenty of deeply demonic, pea-soup vomiting horror to go around, the franchise itself is actually relatively linear. There are no major continuity shake-ups or big, complicated flashbacks to follow, meaning you can sit down and work your way through the series from beginning to end without having to jump through many hoops. Unless you count the strange situation with the prequel(s) a hoop -- and we don't blame you, that is a little bit odd.

Still, it's always a lovely day for an exorcism!

And remember, The Exorcist: Believer is in theaters now! Buy tickets on Fandango or Atom Tickets.

The Exorcist movies and TV show in chronological order

The Exorcist
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

There have been five Exorcist movies (with two more from Blumhouse on the way), as well as a TV show. Making sense of it all could leave your head spinning like a certain you-know-who, so let us help. Here's how to watch it all in chronological order - from the prequels to the original, the sequels and more.

The Exorcist movies and TV show in release order

The Exorcist
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Looking for a more classic experience? Here is all the Exorcist movies in the order they were originally released.

Why does The Exorcist have two prequels?

The Exorcist
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Exorcist: The Beginning, and Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist are, essentially, the same movie more or less so why are there two of them? The answer comes down to studio interference and behind the scenes drama. Released just nine months apart from each other, Dominion was originally intended to serve as the only Exorcist prequel fans would ever need, but the studio rejected the movie for its slow pace and off kilter story, retooling it into what would become Exorcist: The Beginning.

Unfortunately, The Beginning wound up very poorly received, which prompted the studio to finish and release the original version, Dominion, less than a year later. If you're only going to watch one Exorcist prequel and call it good, we'd recommend skipping straight to Dominion.

Was The Exorcist set haunted?

The Exorcist
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Maybe one of the most famous behind-the-scenes legends in Hollywood is the curse that seemed to plague the set of the original Exorcist. The cast and crew believed this because of a number of on set injuries that took place, including stair Linda Blair who allegedly suffered a nervous breakdown while filming. There were also reports of the actual Catholic Church stepping in to warn the cast and crew that "evil forces" would try to interfere while they were making the movie.

Over the years, these reports and anecdotes from the filming of the movie have solidified The Exorcist as one of the most iconic horror movies of all time and paved the way for even more stories in the genre to blur the lines between fiction and reality.

Where does The Exorcist TV show fit in?

The Exorcist
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Warning! Spoilers for the first season of the TV show ahead! The Exorcist TV show ran for two seasons in 2016 and 2017, and initially started as an original story that, yes, involved the lore and concepts from the original Exorcist film but was otherwise disconnected from the original story. However, at the end of the first season it was revealed that Geena Davis was, in fact, playing an adult version of Regan who had changed her name and started a family in an effort to escape her traumatic past. Unfortunately, the demon who had plagued her was a child -- Pazuzu AKA Captain Howdy -- had other plans.

The second season of the show, however, concludes Regan's story and splits off to tell a wholly original tale surrounding new characters and new demons. Unfortunately, the show's cancellation meant it ended on a cliffhanger with multiple unresolved plotlines.

--

Looking for more ways to spruce up your scares as Halloween approaches? Check our our watch order guide for the Halloween franchise, some recommendations for horror movies for even the scardiest of cats, and ten more horror movies to watch for those looking for some bigger thrills!

Featured events