This is a very good, sometimes terrifying film with a lot of disturbing imagery. I do recommend it personally, but I do find it odd that Common Sense Media would list a movie that features a possessed girl masturbating with a crucifix as an alternative to films that they claim will cause a teen's mind to connect sex and violence.
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The Exorcist
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Trendsetting shocker about a possessed child.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 15–16
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Exorcist
Parents need to know that this is a mature horror film, not aimed at (or paced for) kids. No rock-music soundtracks or look-out-the-killer-is-behind-you scares, but rather an awful sense of corruption as demonic possession takes over an adolescent girl like a loathsome progressive disease. The infamous makeup effects of projectile vomiting and blood, blaspheming, and gutturally obscene language were meant to disturb the viewer as nothing before seen in movies, and they still convey solid shocks.
Read our full review by Charles Cassady Jr.
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the film's religious and scientific overtones. Does Father Karras regain his religious faith in the finale, and how does he become almost Christlike? What do you think about the novel's suggestion that this might not be a "real" demon but rather some terrible but explicable mental disorder?
Our Members Say
See all 24 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Excellent horror film, but...
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
i loved it but its deffenitly not something an 16 and undershould watch because of the cross/crouch scene
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
SCARY AS HELL
This movie is the scariest movie i have ever seen and i watch horror movies all the time oooo i cant even think about it!
- I rate this title on for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Eh, funny to me
This movie is fairly cheesy for today's standards. It reminded me of a Sci-fi channel movie I saw. I laughed throughout most of it, the girl just made me laugh while she tried to be possessed. I guess demons don't freak me out, the pea soup thing cracked me up.
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
Spooky!
It's a classic scary movie, but it could give some of your children nightmares about the devil, i suggest you watch it with your kids! but there is one disgusting scene involving a masturbation with a crucifix! You might want to be there to cover their eyes when that happens!
- I rate this title on for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
it will scare the HELL out of you.
this movie will give u nightmaresssssssss. show it to ppl who can handle it. this movie can scar some ppl.
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Puking Blood Isn't the only thing that makes this movie terrifying.
This movie is the best horror movie ever made, and it will stay that way. There is not much bad scenes, other that the scares being too intense for even adults today. However, there are a couple bad scenes in which the devil possessed Regan says some sexual based this, one of them with her rubbing a crucifix arond her groin. Other than that, just extremely intense scares for everyone.
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
Awesome movie
I was kinda scared at some parts but all in all it was a cool movie.i saw it on tv so it probably wasn't as bad as the real movie but little kids shold not see this cuz it might give them nightmares
- I rate this title for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
classic. just amazing.
Ok you know what? If you are mature, have your mind on right, aren't too bugged by hell or the devil you can see this movie. This movie is not for the woozy or light of heart. Oh, trust me, I watched this with two friends (we have a lot of horror movie parties, this was the first time for all of us watching The Exorcist) and we were scared out of our wits watching it. Violence is so-so, I had to look away when she was in the hospital. Yes, some might call it "disturbing" I was disturbed when she was swinging on her bed for the first time screaming "mother!! mother!". But you know what? I went to sleep like a baby after that movie. It was the last movie we watched and I went to sleep without one nightmare. She pukes, spits, there is some blood, she hits and kicks and punches people. Language is grotesque, but, I mean, she was posessed. Yes, they use the F word, like no 13 year olds have heard that in their lives! And now we get to the infamous masturbating-with-a-crucifix scene. Ok...seriously...regular people who aren't posessed masturbate. If you are really religious I guess it would make you think it was a horrible movie. I respect that. But if you are mature you will really just appreciate this fine work of genius. The Exorcist is amazing, I still can't believe it was made in the '70s...
Lives in OhioI rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
The exorcist is the scariest movie I've ever seen, period.
Sex/Nudity: There is no sex or nudity present in this film. Although Regan takes a crucifix and she pushes it down her crotch and says f*** me several times. She then does this again, but this time she pushes her mother's face into her crotch and says f*** me several times. There is also some sexual dialogue, mostly said by Regan. Violence/Scariness: The whole movie is about a demon taking control of Regan. Every moment we see Regan she curses, then hits someone, kills them, and repeats this. One scene Regan takes a crucifix and pushes it down her crotch. Then blood is scene. Then Regan takes a woman's head and shoves it down her crotch. Then smacks the woman in the mouth. Regan is seen slamming a door and there is a discussion about Regan pushing a man out of the window. Much more scares partake in the film. Profanity: There is at least a dozen f words (sometimes used in sexual matter) and its derivatives, c***, c*** sucker, c*nt, b****, s***, a**, goddamn, and more religious profanities/exclamations. Drugs: People smoke and drink. Commercialism: Nothing really. Social Behavior: Bad. It's about a girl who has a demon in her and the demon curses, hits people, and kills people. Age recommendation: 17+. The film has a lot of profanity, mostly said by Regan the girl that is possessed by a demon. This movie is very scary and has some gruesome scenes in it. There is also some disturbing sexual scenes such as Regan masturbating with a crucifix.
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
that movie scared me to death!
this movie is the most scary movie i have ever seen!
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
very scary
The first time I saw this movie, I got extremely scared. For it's time, this movie is very scary, and still is now. It is also very good, and I recommend it for anyone over the age of 17.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Not Scary...
This movie isnt scary at all. The cussing is so-so. Not that much violence. There are worse movies out there. I could watch this movie in a dark room and not be scared. She just looks like a halloween costume. I mean come on, i heard people fainted in the 70's when they saw this. Oh well, see it if your 13+
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
A great (yet disturbing) movie!
This movie is NOT I repeat NOT a movie or kids. There is a scene with a masturbation with a crucifix and much more. Not for the weak stomached people.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
This movie was ok, but if you cant take swearing scary images or take your religion seriously stay away. That's the reason its rated R for petes sake. And It wasnt even scary. Might have been scary in '73, not so much now compared to other movies. I've seen adults get scared of this I thought it was funny.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 80% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 60% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 60% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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