Motion Pictures
September 25, 2000
Warner Bros. Pictures' Re-Release Of Powerful Classic "The Exorcist" Scares Up Big Box Office Numbers
(September 25, 2000 – Burbank, CA) – With a digitally-enhanced soundtrack and eleven minutes of original footage restored, the 1973 classic "The Exorcist" launched its limited re-release in 664 theaters this weekend in key markets across North America, grossing an astounding $8,175,666 million at the box office. Billed as "The Version You've Never Seen," the film led all competitors with a screen average of $12,313. Its strong showing has prompted the studio to expand its release nationwide on September 29 to reach a total screen count of approximately 1100.
"Clearly this film still has the power to make audiences jump out of their seats," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. "As many of the reviews have noted, even when you know what's coming it's still a shock. This is why we wanted to bring 'The Exorcist' back into theaters for its legion of fans as well as for a whole new generation to experience on the big screen, with the best sound quality and additional footage. 'The Exorcist' is truly a classic, the first and best of its kind, and audiences agree."
Written by William Peter Blatty, based on his best-selling novel, “The Exorcist” featured an acclaimed cast that included Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair and Jason Miller (all of whom were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances), Max Von Sydow and Lee J. Cobb. The film was an enormous hit, both critically and at the boxoffice, grossing upwards of $150 million in the U.S., making it at the time the second-biggest moneymaker in film history, behind "The Godfather" (1972). It won the Golden Globe for Best Film (Drama) and received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Director for Friedkin and Best Adapted Screenplay for Blatty.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist,” directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Jason Miller as Father Karras and Linda Blair as Regan. The film is produced by William Peter Blatty and the executive producer is Noel Marshall. The screenplay is by William Peter Blatty, based on his novel. The film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, A Time Warner Entertainment Company.
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