William Friedkin’s Iconic Horror Movie Heads Back to Theaters for 50th Anniversary

Fathom Events is bringing William Friedkin’s The Exorcist back to theaters for just two nights this October. Right on time for spooky season and in commemoration of the horror classic’s 50th anniversary, moviegoers will have the chance to view one of the scariest movies ever made on the big screen. The limited engagement features a 4K version of the extended director’s cut, which amps up the terrifying visuals and includes that memorable down-the-stairs spider walk (that didn’t make it to the original film version) and an alternate ending. A tribute, hosted by film historian Ben Mankiewicz, to the late great Friedkin, who passed away on August 7 at 87, will lead the screenings.

When Friedkin’s The Exorcist, based on the best-selling book by William Peter Blatty, hit theaters in 1973, it petrified audiences with the horrifying tale of 12-year-old Regan, a young girl possessed by a demon who must undergo an exorcism at the hands of two priests. Linda Blair starred in the film as the possessed girl, with Ellen Burstyn portraying Regan’s tormented mother, Chris MacNeil. The cast also includes Max von Sydow and Jason Miller as the two priests attempting to exorcise the demon living inside of Regan, as well as Lee J. Cobb and Mercedes Cambridge.

The Exorcist earned 10 Academy Award nominations, making history as the first ever film to nab a nomination for Best Picture. The film secured two Oscar wins for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.

The Exorcist will be available in limited cinemas throughout the US on Sunday, October 1 at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time, and Wednesday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. local time. All screenings will feature The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown Then And Now, a special that visits all the memorable locations featured in the movie. For a complete list of theater locations, please visit Fathom Events.

Related: Fathom Events Presents Special Anniversary Screenings of Scarface, The Exorcist, A Christmas Story and More This Fall

The Exorcist Saga Continues This Year With The Exorcist: Believer

If re-watching the original film in 4K glory leaves you craving more tales of exorcism, you’re in luck. On October 6, just days after the film’s re-release, a Blumhouse-produced sequel will land in theaters. The Exorcist: Believer, the first film in a trilogy from David Gordon Greene, serves as a direct follow-up to the 1973 film. The anticipated film follows the parents of two demonically possessed girls, who, desperate for help, go in search of someone who has had a similar experience: Chris MacNeil.

The Blumhouse feature welcomes back Burstyn as MacNeil, and stars Emmy winner Ann Dowd, Grammy recipient Jennifer Nettles and two-time Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz. The Exorcist: Believer is directed by Green from a screenplay co-written with Peter Sattler, adapted from a story by Scott Teems, Danny McBride and Green based on characters created by Blatty. The next installment, The Exorcist: Deceiver is set for a 2025 release.

If you happen to miss the theatrical re-release of the original film (or just want to rewatch), TCM has you covered. The network is hosting a two night event honoring the legacy of famed director Friedkin. A number of Freidkin’s most notable films will air on Thursday, September 14, and Sunday, November 26. The event wraps with The Exorcist on November 26.