Looking for the correct The Exorcist movies in order? You’re not alone — this franchise has one of the most confusing timelines in horror, and release order and chronological order are not the same thing here. Two films even tell the exact same origin story, just made by different directors. Since William Friedkin’s 1973 original redefined horror, won two Oscars, and grossed over $440 million worldwide, the series has spawned sequels, prequels, a full reboot, and a TV series, with a new installment now on the way for 2027. Before you dive back in, here’s the quick-answer table to get you oriented.
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Quick Answer: The Exorcist Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director | Timeline Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Exorcist | 1973 | William Friedkin | 2 |
| 2 | Exorcist II: The Heretic | 1977 | John Boorman | 3 |
| 3 | The Exorcist III | 1990 | William Peter Blatty | 4 |
| 4 | Exorcist: The Beginning | 2004 | Renny Harlin | 1 |
| 5 | Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist | 2005 | Paul Schrader | 1 |
| 6 | The Exorcist: Believer | 2023 | David Gordon Green | 5 |
Quick callout: Films #4 and #5 share “Timeline Position 1” because they tell the same prequel story — Father Merrin’s origin in 1949 Africa — as two completely different, competing productions. More on that oddity below.
The Exorcist Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. The Exorcist (1973)
When young Regan MacNeil starts acting strangely, her mother turns to two priests for help — and you already know where it goes from there. This is the film that got banned in multiple countries and was the first horror movie ever nominated for Best Picture. Director William Friedkin reportedly used unconventional (and controversial) methods on set to get authentic reactions from his cast. It stands alone for 43 years before the franchise revisits Chris and Regan MacNeil directly in Believer.
2. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Four years after the events of the first film, Regan is undergoing psychiatric treatment while a priest investigates what really happened to Father Merrin. This sequel is infamous — director John Boorman turned down the original film before making this one, and it’s widely considered the franchise’s biggest misstep. It’s a bridge you can honestly skip, but it does technically connect Regan’s story forward to The Exorcist III.
3. The Exorcist III (1990)
Lieutenant Kinderman investigates a string of ritualistic murders that echo the Gemini Killer case — and uncovers something far more sinister. Written and directed by William Peter Blatty, the original novel’s author, this one largely ignores Heretic and is considered the true spiritual sequel by longtime fans. Its ending was reshot at studio insistence to add an exorcism, and it closes out the original MacNeil-adjacent saga before the franchise jumps to prequel territory.
4. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
Set in 1949, this prequel follows a young Father Merrin in Africa as he encounters the demon Pazuzu for the first time. Director Renny Harlin was brought in for reshoots after the studio rejected an earlier cut — and the story behind that rejected cut is wilder than the movie itself. It tells essentially the same story you’ll see next, just from a very different creative team.
5. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
This is the “lost” version — Paul Schrader’s original, more psychological take on Merrin’s origin story, shelved by the studio and released a year later after Harlin’s version underperformed. Same setting, same demon, wildly different tone: less jump-scares, more dread. Together with The Beginning, it closes the loop on Merrin’s backstory before the timeline catches up to the 1973 events.
6. The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
Set fifty years after the original, this legacy sequel follows two possessed girls and brings back Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil for the first time since 1973. Director David Gordon Green, fresh off his Halloween trilogy, was originally attached to a full new trilogy here. Despite a decent opening weekend, its mixed reception led Universal to scrap those sequel plans entirely — setting the stage for a completely different direction next.
Do You Need to Watch Believer Before Martyrs?
No. The upcoming The Exorcist: Martyrs has been confirmed as a standalone story set in the Exorcist universe — it is explicitly not a sequel to Believer, and Ellen Burstyn’s Chris MacNeil storyline is not carried forward. You can watch it fresh.
Minimum viable watch order (if you’re short on time):
- The Exorcist (1973) — mandatory, the foundation of everything
- The Exorcist III (1990) — best-reviewed sequel, continues the core story
- The Exorcist: Believer (2023) — optional but ties back to the original cast
- Skip Heretic, The Beginning, and Dominion unless you’re a completist
How Many Exorcist Movies Are There?
There are currently six theatrical Exorcist movies, plus a two-season Fox TV series (2016–2018) that’s unconnected to the film continuity. A seventh film, The Exorcist: Martyrs, is confirmed for 2027.
All The Exorcist Movies in Order by Release Date
1. The Exorcist — December 26, 1973
2. Exorcist II: The Heretic — June 17, 1977
3. The Exorcist III — August 17, 1990
4. Exorcist: The Beginning — August 20, 2004
5. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist — May 20, 2005
6. The Exorcist: Believer — October 6, 2023
What’s Next for the Franchise?
The next chapter is The Exorcist: Martyrs, directed by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep), starring Scarlett Johansson and Carla Gugino. Universal originally planned a Believer sequel called Deceiver, but that project was officially scrapped in 2024 after Believer‘s lukewarm reception, and Flanagan’s “radical new take” replaced it entirely. Principal photography wrapped in mid-2026, with the film currently slated for a Spring 2027 release — though, as with most horror sequels, treat that date as subject to change until a trailer drops. No further sequels have been confirmed beyond this one.
FAQ
Do I need to watch the Exorcist movies in order?
Not strictly — the franchise isn’t a tightly serialized story. For the best experience, follow The Exorcist movies in order by release date, but you can safely skip the weaker entries (Heretic, the prequels) without losing the plot.
What is the correct chronological order of The Exorcist movies?
The Beginning/Dominion (1949) come first story-wise, followed by The Exorcist (1973), Heretic (1977), The Exorcist III (1990), and Believer (2023).
Is The Exorcist: Believer connected to the original film?
Yes — it directly follows Chris MacNeil, Ellen Burstyn’s character from the 1973 original, fifty years later, though it ignores the events of the other sequels and prequels.
Will there be another Exorcist movie after Martyrs?
Nothing is confirmed yet. Universal has not announced further sequels, and Martyrs’ own reception will likely determine whether the franchise continues.
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