The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist (1973) remains the definitive supernatural horror, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture—a first for the genre—and grossing $441 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. Director William Friedkin's documentary-style approach, including firing blanks to provoke genuine shock from actors, created a visceral authenticity that triggered documented fainting and panic in theaters. Fifty years later, it still outperforms #2 Hereditary as the benchmark for supernatural horror, with a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score and unmatched cultural impact.