
Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the release of The Exorcist by Warner Bros. Pictures. Unlike today, big, nationwide premieres weren’t common back then – Jaws would later popularize that practice. Instead, The Exorcist initially played in only 20 cities. Despite its frightening themes, audiences flocked to see it, prompting Warner Bros. to quickly expand its release and turn it into a cultural sensation. At the time, the movie was unlike anything the world had ever seen – films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre were still a year away, and movies such as Hellraiser and The Fly wouldn’t arrive for over a decade. This makes its incredible success even more remarkable.