Exorcist Movies in Order: Complete Timeline & Watch Guide

Some horror movies are classics, while some define an entire subgenre. The Exorcist somehow did both. Nearly every possession movie you’ve watched over the last fifty years owes something to it. 

The funny thing is, the franchise itself is way messier than its reputation. One sequel is considered one of horror’s biggest misfires, while another is a cult favorite that people keep begging newcomers not to skip. Then there are two different prequels telling almost the exact same story, because the studio and director couldn’t agree on what the movie should be.

So if you’re wondering how many Exorcist movies there are or the best order to watch them, here’s every film in both release order and chronological order.

Exorcist Movies in Order of Release: The Masterlist

One thing you’ll notice pretty quickly is that The Exorcist never became the yearly cash-grab franchise a lot of horror series did. There are long gaps between almost every movie, and each one feels like it came from a completely different era of horror. That makes watching them in release order surprisingly fun.

*IMDb scores are subject to change.

Explore Each of the Exorcist Movies in Order

1. The Exorcist (1973) 

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We’ve had no shortage of possession movies since 1973, but almost all of them are chasing what The Exorcist did first. Friedkin strips away the usual horror theatrics and shoots the impossible like it’s happening in the room next door. 

Regan’s transformation, Dick Smith’s legendary makeup, and that freezing bedroom still hold up better than a lot of modern CGI horror. When you set aside the memes about spinning heads and pea soup, you realise that it’s the creeping sense of dread that cements this as the gold standard of possession films.

2. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

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Every horror franchise has a sequel fans love to roast, and The Heretic proudly wears that crown. It swaps the original’s grounded terror for psychic experiments, dreamlike visuals, and enough locusts to make you question what happened behind the scenes. 

It’s rarely scary and often confusing, but that’s exactly why it’s become such a fascinating watch. Even if you end up hating it, you’ll understand why horror fans still bring it up nearly fifty years later.

3. The Exorcist III (1990) 

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If someone tells you the franchise peaked with the original, point them toward The Exorcist III. Written and directed by William Peter Blatty, it dials back the spectacle in favor of slow-building psychological horror. 

George C. Scott is excellent as Detective Kinderman, and yes, that hospital hallway jump scare is every bit as brutal as its reputation suggests. This is the sequel horror fans quietly recommend once you’ve survived The Heretic.

4. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) 

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This is the prequel the studio wanted after rejecting Paul Schrader’s original cut. You can feel it, too. The scares are louder, the pacing is faster, and the horror leans more toward early-2000s blockbuster territory than slow-burning dread. 

It’s far from essential, but it’s an interesting look at how studio interference can completely reshape a movie. The real story might be what happened behind the camera.

5. Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist (2005) 

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Watching Dominion after The Beginning is a surreal experience because they’re built from almost the same script. Schrader slows everything down, trading jump scares for questions about faith, guilt, and Father Merrin’s past. 

It’s definitely less crowd-pleasing, but many horror fans appreciate its quieter, more thoughtful approach. Would you prefer it? Well, it all comes down to whether you want more scares or more substance.

6. The Exorcist: Believer (2023) 

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Following one of the greatest horror movies ever made was never going to be easy. Believer tries to honor the original while introducing a new generation of possessed victims, even bringing back Ellen Burstyn in a role fans had waited decades to see again. 

The result split horror audiences right down the middle. Some appreciated the practical effects and fresh ideas, while others felt it never found the same terrifying magic that made the 1973 classic unforgettable.

How to Watch the Exorcist Movies in Order of Chronology?

This is where things get a little weird. Unlike most horror franchises, The Exorcist has two different prequels telling essentially the same story. They’re not alternate timelines or separate continuities but two versions of Father Merrin’s first encounter with demonic evil after the studio rejected the original cut and ordered a complete reshoot. 

So if you’re watching chronologically, think of The Beginning and Dominion as alternate takes on the same chapter rather than back-to-back events. 

If you’re only planning to watch one prequel, most horror fans lean toward Dominion for its slower, more psychological approach. If you prefer bigger set pieces and more traditional studio horror, The Beginning is the better pick.

The Exorcist never became the sprawling, continuity-breaking monster that franchises like Halloween or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre did. Instead, it became a series that’s remembered as much for its behind-the-scenes drama as its demons. 

The original is still the benchmark every possession movie gets measured against. Exorcist III proves lightning can strike twice, even if it took more than a decade. Everything else? Think of it as a fascinating collection of experiments.

Either way, if you’re a horror fan, this is one franchise that’s worth experiencing at least once. Even its weakest entries have stories that are almost as memorable as the movies themselves.

Dishari Sarkar

Writer. Dreamer. Journalist (maybe?). Anime lover (definitely). I turn curiosity into stories and everyday life into a narrative worth reading.

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