“The Exorcist: Believer” Conjures Up Box Office Win Amidst Mixed Reviews
In a cinematic landscape often dominated by blockbuster behemoths, a horror flick has once again clawed its way to the top. Last weekend, The Exorcist: Believer, a Universal Pictures production, exorcised the competition to seize the North American box office crown. Haunting 3,663 theaters, the film grossed a respectable $27.2 million against a modest production budget of just $30 million.
A scene from “The Exorcist: Believer”
Helmed by David Gordon Green, the director behind the recent Halloween trilogy, Universal is clearly banking on him to resurrect the long-dormant Exorcist IP and breathe new life into the franchise.
The Legacy of “The Exorcist”
The original Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin and released in 1973, has long been enshrined as a horror classic. It frequently tops “best of” lists and is hailed as one of the scariest films ever made. While two sequels followed in 1977 and 1990, they failed to capture the critical acclaim of the original. Attempts to delve into the backstory with two prequels in 2004 and 2005 proved to be box office failures, leading Warner Bros. to abandon the IP altogether.
A Costly Resurrection?
Now, Universal Pictures has invested a staggering $400 million to acquire the rights to distribute a new Exorcist trilogy. To add a touch of authenticity, Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn, who played mother and daughter in the original film, were brought back for this direct sequel to the 1973 classic.
Critical and Audience Reception
However, the film’s reception has been far from heavenly. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds a meager 22% freshness rating. Post-premiere audience polls yielded an abysmal C grade – a score matched this year only by M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin and Liam Neeson’s Retribution. This lukewarm reception raises questions about whether Universal’s $400 million investment will pay off.
The original release date for “The Exorcist: Believer” was October 13th. It was moved up to October 6th to avoid clashing with “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour”
A Swift Change of Plans
Interestingly, The Exorcist: Believer was originally slated for release this weekend. However, the sudden arrival of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film forced a last-minute change of plans. This shift reportedly resulted in significant financial losses. Furthermore, its proximity to other recent horror releases like The Nun 2 and Saw X could lead to audience fatigue.
Despite these setbacks, shifting the release date was the only viable option. The power of Taylor Swift proved too formidable to ignore. According to AMC, the film’s distributor, The Eras Tour concert film surpassed $100 million in global pre-sales with a week to go before its release.
Had The Exorcist: Believer stuck to its original release date, last weekend’s total North American box office revenue would likely have plummeted to around $55 million (the actual figure was closer to $75 million), making it the third-worst weekend of 2023.