Nearly five decades after shocking audiences for all the wrong reasons, the 1977 horror sequel Exorcist II: The Heretic is suddenly finding new attention.
The movie recently ranked No. 28 on Rotten Tomatoes’ “30 Most Popular Movies Right Now,” surprising horror fans because the film has long been known as one of the most criticized sequels ever made.
Released four years after the groundbreaking 1973 film The Exorcist, the sequel followed Regan MacNeil, played again by Linda Blair, as she continued recovering from demonic possession. The film also starred Richard Burton, Louise Fletcher and Max von Sydow.
Even though the movie is now climbing popularity rankings, its reputation remains harsh. Rotten Tomatoes currently gives the film a 10% critic score and a 13% audience score. The site’s critics consensus reads: “Hokey mystical effects, lousy plotting and worse acting directly tarnish the first’s chilling legacy.”
The sequel was directed by John Boorman, who took the franchise in a very different direction from the terrifying original movie. Instead of focusing only on horror, the sequel mixed science fiction, religion, psychology and mystical themes.
The story centers on Father Philip Lamont investigating the death of Father Merrin, the priest who died during Regan’s exorcism years earlier. The film introduced strange new ideas, including mind-linking machines, psychic powers, locust swarms and spiritual visions in Africa.
While the movie earned more than $30 million at the box office against a reported $14 million budget, audiences and critics reacted badly almost immediately after release.
At the time of its 1977 release, many viewers were stunned by how different the sequel felt compared to the original classic.
Film critic Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune reportedly gave the movie zero stars and called it “the worst major motion picture I’ve seen in almost eight years on the job.”
Still, not every reaction was negative.
Famous filmmaker Martin Scorsese later defended the movie’s deeper themes, per Collider. Scorsese said the film explored whether “great goodness bring[s] upon itself great evil,” adding that the movie “deserved better than it got.”
Over the years, the sequel slowly developed a cult following. Some viewers began praising its unusual visuals, dreamlike storytelling, and music composed by Ennio Morricone.
According to Britannica, the film was “widely panned” after release but later gained cult status among movie fans interested in ambitious Hollywood misfires.
That renewed interest appears to be growing again in 2026 as horror fans revisit older franchise films online and through streaming services.
Part of the movie’s lasting attention comes from its troubled production history.
The original creators of The Exorcist, writer William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin, refused to return for the sequel because of lawsuits and disagreements tied to the first film.
Early plans reportedly called for a cheap sequel using unused footage from the original movie. But the project changed after playwright William Goodhart wrote a more ambitious script focused on philosophy, spirituality, and human consciousness.
Boorman later admitted he knowingly made a film very different from what audiences expected.
The production itself faced many problems. Scripts were constantly rewritten during filming, imported locusts used for scenes died quickly, and Boorman became seriously ill during production.
Even with its reputation, the sequel never completely disappeared. Special collector editions, Blu-ray releases, and screenings helped keep the movie alive among horror collectors and cult film fans.
A new 2025 documentary titled Boorman and the Devil also helped reignite discussion about the movie’s chaotic production and strange legacy.Now, almost 49 years after audiences first laughed, booed and walked out of theaters, Exorcist II: The Heretic is once again being talked about, this time by a new generation of curious horror viewers.
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