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The Exorcist: Believer

The Exorcist: Believer is a 2023 American supernatural horror film directed by David Gordon Green.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Exorcist: Believer is a 2023 American supernatural horror film directed by David Gordon Green. It is the sixth film in The Exorcist franchise and serves as a legacy sequel to The Exorcist (1973), following a father whose daughter and her friend become possessed and who seeks help from Chris MacNeil.

Premise

The film follows Victor Fielding after his daughter Angela and her friend Katherine disappear in the woods and return changed. As the situation worsens, Victor seeks out Chris MacNeil, who has prior experience with demonic possession.

Cast and characters

Leslie Odom Jr. plays Victor Fielding, with Lidya Jewett as Angela and Olivia O'Neill as Katherine. Supporting roles include Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, and Ann Dowd, while Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair reprise characters from the original film.

Release and reception

The film premiered in theatres on October 6, 2023, and later streamed on October 24, 2023. Reviews were mixed to negative, with criticism often focusing on the story and comparisons with the original film.

Franchise context

The Exorcist: Believer was developed as the first film in a planned new trilogy within The Exorcist franchise. It continues themes of faith, possession, and exorcism established by the 1973 original.

Key facts

  • It is a legacy sequel to The Exorcist (1973) and the sixth film in the franchise.
  • The film brings back Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil and Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil.
  • Its main cast includes Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, and Ann Dowd.
  • The film was released theatrically on October 6, 2023, and later streamed on October 24, 2023.
  • It was followed by plans for a sequel, though later release plans changed.
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Canadian context

It was released theatrically in Canada as part of the same international rollout as other major studio horror films and is relevant to Canadian viewers as part of a long-running Hollywood horror franchise.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Exorcist: Believer about?
It follows Victor Fielding after his daughter Angela and her friend Katherine disappear, return with no memory, and appear possessed. Victor seeks help from Chris MacNeil, who once faced similar evil.
Who is in The Exorcist: Believer?
The film stars Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, and Ann Dowd, with Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair reprising roles from the original film.
When does The Exorcist: Believer come out?
The film was released in theatres on October 6, 2023, and became available for streaming on October 24, 2023.
The Exorcist: Believer review
Reviews were mixed to negative overall, with critics praising some performances and atmosphere but often finding the story less effective than the 1973 original.
Is The Exorcist: Believer scary?
It is a supernatural horror film with disturbing imagery and exorcism themes, so it is intended to be frightening, though reactions to how effective it is vary by viewer and critic.
The Exorcist: Believer cast
Principal cast members include Leslie Odom Jr. as Victor Fielding, Lidya Jewett as Angela, Olivia O'Neill as Katherine, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, Ann Dowd, Ellen Burstyn, and Linda Blair.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exorcist:_Believer
    Supports: Basic film identification, franchise position, plot, cast, and release information
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_exorcist_believer
    Supports: Synopsis, rating, genre, theatrical and streaming release dates, and cast list
  3. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-exorcist-believer-movie-review-2023
    Supports: Critical review context and theatrical release timing
  4. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/07/movies/the-exorcist-believer-spoilers.html
    Supports: Plot details and story context
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12921446/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and cast information