Skip to content
MovieCove
The Exorcist

The Exorcist

Every soul is a battlefield.

2016–2018Ended2 seasons20 episodes~45 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

Follow the lives of two very different priests tackling one family’s case of terrifying demonic possession.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Exorcist?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Exorcist to rent or buy on Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about The Exorcist?

The Exorcist earns 4 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Halloween pick.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Content

Reception

Is The Exorcist worth watching?

The Exorcist's Midcredits score is the 85th percentile of all shows, from 35K ratings across 2 sources. 88% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

85th percentile

Better received than 85% of shows

86th percentile among Drama84th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)77th
Approval (how many liked it)89th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

77 /100

77th percentile of all shows

79th percentile among Drama75th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

88% liked it

89th percentile of all shows

90th percentile among Drama88th percentile among 2010s
88% rated it 7–1012% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

93rd percentile

34K ratings across platforms

92nd percentile among Drama93rd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 6% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a modern sequel that pays homage to the 1973 film while telling its own possession story.

Fans praised

  • Ben Daniels and Alfonso Herrera's lead performances
  • slow-burn dread and atmospheric tension
  • clever sequel connection to the original film

Detractors panned

  • over-reliance on CGI and over-the-top demonic action
  • weak script and clichéd possession tropes
  • lack of subtlety and genuine scares

What stands out

ActingDivisive82

Ben Daniels and Alfonso Herrera praised as compelling leads; Geena Davis and John Cho also lauded

CharactersDivisive78

well-developed priest duo; some find characters unlikable or one-dimensional

AtmosphereDivisive78

tense, foreboding mood; detractors find it lacking

TensionDivisive75

effective suspense and creeping dread; detractors find it boring

Plot and storyDivisive74

intricate conspiracy and ties to original film; detractors find it convoluted and predictable

Effects and spectacleDivisive72

impressive for network TV; detractors say CGI looks cheap

PacingDivisive65

slow build in season one; second season drags for some

OriginalityDivisive65

fresh sequel concept; detractors see it as derivative

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 5 points apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2017 · 10 episodes

  • S2E1

    Janus

    Sep 29, 201742 min
  • S2E2

    Safe as Houses

    Oct 6, 201744 min
  • S2E3

    Unclean

    Oct 13, 201744 min
  • S2E4

    One for Sorrow

    Oct 20, 201744 min
  • S2E5

    There but for the Grace of God, Go I

    Nov 3, 201743 min
  • S2E6

    Darling Nikki

    Nov 10, 201744 min

Watch experience

What is The Exorcist like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — a slow-burn watch that leaves you haunted.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
DreadTenseContemplative
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series treats its demonic possession and religious themes with complete seriousness, building dread through slow-burn horror.
The rideA creeping dread dominates, punctuated by tense exorcism and confrontation scenes, with the heaviest emotional weight accumulating in the final season.
StructureThe story unfolds in a linear, chapter-by-chapter progression across episodes, with no narrative trickery.
Episode formatEach season has a case-of-the-week (a demonic encounter) threaded on a larger conspiracy arc within the Church.
Season formatSeason 1 focuses on the Rance family; Season 2 shifts to a foster home, with a new demonic case but the same core cast.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Haunting · 9% of showsUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe series lingers with its images of possession and the struggle between faith and evil, leaving a haunting and uncomfortable afterglow.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe series centers on two priests confronting a demonic entity that possesses individuals, making it a classic monster-slaying narrative.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% (this title) · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% (this title) · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% (this title) · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Redemption · 3% of showsFaith · 1% of showsTrauma · 5% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores redemption through priests who confront their own broken faith and past sins while fighting evil, and examines how trauma from demonic possession scars victims and families.
StanceThe series interrogates redemption and faith, showing them as hard-won and often incomplete, without celebrating or mocking.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score · Tyler Bates
SettingA Chicago suburb and a Catholic parish
MusicTyler Bates' score blends dark orchestral tones with ambient textures, amplifying the dread.

Content guide

Is The Exorcist okay for kids?

TV-14

The Exorcist is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (77/100), sexual content at moderate (40/100), language at moderate (57/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (35/100) and frightening material at severe (83/100). Overall it is heavier than 91% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 20 other countries
  • UK18
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Austria16
  • Czechia18+
  • Hungary16
  • IndiaA
  • ItalyVM14
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands16
  • Poland16
  • RO18
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • Spain18
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 75% of all showsHeavier than 91% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Intense
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 89%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 54%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 81%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 42%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 94%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is frightening material and violence.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Exorcist have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Exorcist?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Alfonso Herrera
as Father Tomas Ortega
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ben Daniels
as Father Marcus Keane
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Kurt Egyiawan
as Father Bennett
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Hannah Kasulka
as Casey Rance
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Brianne Howey
as Kat Rance
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Li Jun Li
as Rose Cooper
Brianna Hildebrand
as Verity
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Alan Ruck
as Henry Rance
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
John Cho
as Andrew Kim
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Geena Davis
as Angela Rance
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.

More like this

What are shows like The Exorcist?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Exorcist include Evil (2019), Constantine (2014) and Shining Girls (2022).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with The Exorcist?

53 other shows share the rarest tag below, follows: clergy. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.