The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist remains the most terrifying possession film ever made, outperforming #2 Psycho in cultural impact and earning $441 million globally—over 36 times its $12 million budget. It became the first horror film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, a benchmark still unmatched by 90% of horror movies. The depiction of 12-year-old Regan's demonic possession, featuring 11 documented audience fainting incidents during initial screenings, disturbs audiences five decades later with its visceral intensity.