Warner Bros Entertainment to Release THE EXORCIST 40th Anniversary Blu-ray

By: Caryn Robbins Sep. 12, 2013

When The Exorcist was first released in 1973, viewers were frightened out of their wits - and literally out of their seats. Now Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Academy Award winning director William Friedkin's suspense masterpiece that haunted and intrigued the world, with a new Blu-ray release featuring the Extended Director's Cut and Theatrical Version with new special features and premiums ($49.99 SRP).

Available October 8, just ahead of Halloween, this 40th Anniversary Edition will include two new featurettes: "Beyond Comprehension: William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist" and "Talk of the Devil," as well as an excerpt from Friedkin's book The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir.

A true cinema landmark, the theological thriller is one of the top ten box-office performers of all time.* The Exorcist took 10 Academy Award nominations[i], including Best Picture, and won two Oscars[ii], for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as winning for Best Sound. Subsequently, the film went on to become a multi-million dollar franchise.

Directed by Friedkin (Oscar-winner for The French Connection - Directing 1971) and written by William Peter Blatty, the film is based on his best-selling novel which sold nearly 13 million copies domestically and was the #1 book on the New York Times Best Seller List for 57 weeks, 17 of them at #1.