Horror lovers have urged new audiences to check out the ‘scariest movie of all time’, and say it is a true masterpiece that was ahead of its time when it was released
07:03, 23 Oct 2025Updated 07:33, 23 Oct 2025
It has been dubbed the ‘scariest movie of all time’ (stock)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
More than 50 years on and viewers still can’t shake the fear they felt when watching the ‘scariest horror movie of all time’. The Exorcist comes out as the number one scariest movie on both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes due to its harrowing storyline and “brilliant” acting.
Written by William Peter Blatty and directed by William Friedkin, the 1973 film stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Lee J. Cobb. For those who have avoided it for five decades, it follows a young girl who has been possessed by a mysterious entity. It has won 18 awards alongside 21 nominations, and continues to be described as a “masterpiece” by its impressed audiences.
One viewer said on IMDb: “I recently revisited this film on Blu-ray after some 45 years. It still rates as one of my favourite horror films, one of my top ten films and a masterpiece of film making.
“Beautiful photography, great locations, sets, special effects and acting. It still stands up as a great film today.”
Another viewer said: “For those who watched this film on the big screen when it was re-released and thought it was ‘comical, funny, not disturbing nor scary’ are just do not understand the complexity that surrounds this movie.
“Back in ’73, no one was expecting a film of this kind, and I know it has been said many times but it was way ahead of its time.
“A time when cinema was in its infancy, religion was practiced on a larger scale than today and showing such violent, graphic and disturbing scenes was not thought of as being possible, one can understand why it has been banned for so many years.
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“I recently watched this movie (at night, before bedtime) and it really left me thinking of how such horrifying scenes could be shown and portrayed in such a way.
“There were many scenes that would not get out of my head (for those who have seen the movie will know what scenes they are).
“I could not sleep that night and that hasn’t happened since I saw Nightmare On Elm Street Part 1 when I was 6!”
“They added: What makes things worse is that there are well known cases where people have been possessed by the devil or a supernatural being, which leads them to doing evil deeds.
“When you mix a horror movie with religion on such a large magnitude, things can heat up and become very unpleasant.”
After being pushed down the overall IMDb ranking as new movies hit cinemas, a third viewer said: “I’m not sure why this film isn’t on IMBb’s Top 250 anymore but it deserves to be in at least the top 50 on the list.
“Maybe it’s because millennials rate such beautiful classics lower since they’re not getting the jump scares of the modern era of horror… Not sure.
“Either way, this movie is the horror film, the Godfather of its genre! Absolute perfection! And it needs to be recognized as such!”