1973 Horror Classic Voted 'Scariest' Movie of All Time

William Friedkin's horror classic The Exorcist was voted the "scariest" film ever made, according to a ranking compiled by TheTopTens.

The film, released by Warner Bros. in 1973, was met with huge acclaim from critics and general audiences alike, quickly developing a reputation for its terrifying, creative set pieces and disturbing practical effects.

'The Exorcist' Changed The Horror Genre Forever

Inspired by William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel of the same name—and based on the screenplay he later wrote—The Exorcist tells the story of a young priest who's summoned to investigate a young girl who could be possessed.

The Exorcist was considered so scary that it was effectively banned in several countries, including the United Kingdom, for over a decade. It was allowed to play in theaters, but the BBFC prohibited its DVD release for many years over concerns that it would negatively affect young viewers.

Several cities in the U.S. also tried to stop the film being shown, as it coincided with the birth of the so-called "sanatic panic" that caused widespread fear of satanic worship and supernatural rituals in the U.S.

The Exorcist was a revolutionary film for its time, not just because of the gory practical effects and Friedkin's innovative direction that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat, but because it was among the first horror movies to fully take itself seriously and prove that the genre can be just as high-quality and prestigious as others.

Where horror had typically been considered a B-movie fad that offered cheap thrills for younger audiences, The Exorcist totally changed the industry's perception of the genre. It went on to score ten nominations at the Academy Awards, becoming the first horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture.