The Exorcist (1973)
Horror • 2h 2m
Overview
When a charming 12-year-old girl takes on the characteristics and voices of others, doctors say there is nothing they can do. As people begin to die, the girl's mother realizes her daughter has been possessed by the devil - and that her daughter's only possible hope lies with two priests and the ancient rite of demonic exorcism.
Director: William Friedkin
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, William O'Malley, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Barton Heyman, Peter Masterson, Rudolf Schündler, Gina Petrushka, Robert Symonds, Arthur Storch, Thomas Bermingham, Vasiliki Maliaros, Titos Vandis, John Mahon, Wallace Rooney, Ron Faber, Donna Mitchell, Roy Cooper, Robert Gerringer, Mercedes McCambridge, Paul Bateson, Elinore Blair, William Peter Blatty, Mary Boylan, Dick Callinan, Mason Curry, Toni Darnay, Eileen Dietz, Joanne Dusseau, Bernard Eismann, Beatrice Hunter, Yvonne Jones, Don LaBonte, Barton Lane, Ann Miles, John Nicola, Vincent Russell, Gerard F. Yates, Rita Sakellariou
Director: Philip Kaufman
Director: Philip Kaufman
Director: Hal Ashby
Director: Hal Ashby
Director: John Lasseter
Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset
Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray
Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset
Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray (every version since the 2000 DVD release including the 2D 2010 Blu-ray has animation errors. The majority of those were corrected for the 3D rerelease.) The 4K Blu-ray is merely upscaled from the 2K render.
Stereo Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset
5.1 AC3 Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset
The 1997 DTS LaserDisc is a virtually untouched transfer of the theatrical 5.1 mix and should theoretically sound the best being that DTS has higher bitrates than AC3. However, the original pressing of the DTS LaserDisc has an error where the right channel is 8.5db lower than the rest. This is an easy fix in a program like Audacity, and if you can find a corrected transfer, like the ones on various fan projects online, it should be the best sounding version of the film.
The AC3 audio on Side 2 of the CLV LaserDisc has the LFE channel muted. This was left intact for the CAV release.
The 2000 and 2005 UK DVD has an error where one of the shots is brightened up way too high (when the rest of the toys hold onto Slinky as he clings onto Woody during the moving truck rescue). Plus the end credits are interlaced (the PSP UMD video is the only way to get that version of the credits without interlacing).
The 4K Blu-ray has a further remixed Atmos track.
Director: John Lasseter
Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset
Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray
Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset
Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray (every version since the 2000 DVD release including the 2D 2010 Blu-ray has animation errors. The majority of those were corrected for the 3D rerelease.) The 4K Blu-ray is merely upscaled from the 2K render.
Stereo Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset
5.1 AC3 Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset
The 1997 DTS LaserDisc is a virtually untouched transfer of the theatrical 5.1 mix and should theoretically sound the best being that DTS has higher bitrates than AC3. However, the original pressing of the DTS LaserDisc has an error where the right channel is 8.5db lower than the rest. This is an easy fix in a program like Audacity, and if you can find a corrected transfer, like the ones on various fan projects online, it should be the best sounding version of the film.
The AC3 audio on Side 2 of the CLV LaserDisc has the LFE channel muted. This was left intact for the CAV release.
The 2000 and 2005 UK DVD has an error where one of the shots is brightened up way too high (when the rest of the toys hold onto Slinky as he clings onto Woody during the moving truck rescue). Plus the end credits are interlaced (the PSP UMD video is the only way to get that version of the credits without interlacing).
The 4K Blu-ray has a further remixed Atmos track.
Director: Mark Sandrich
Director: Mark Sandrich
Director: George Cukor
Director: George Cukor
SerialSquadron SD Blu-ray
SerialSquadron SD Blu-ray see caps even though in very bad quality is still the best available version
AlphaVideo DVD is a "feature version" and apparently cut different episodes together in one DVD according to this Amazon review
SerialSquadron SD Blu-ray
SerialSquadron SD Blu-ray see caps even though in very bad quality is still the best available version
AlphaVideo DVD is a "feature version" and apparently cut different episodes together in one DVD according to this Amazon review
Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray (damage removed, improved color/HDR, and best audio) or Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray (best compression but no damage removal and LaserDisc audio from Arrow)
Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray >
Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray Kino Lorber US Blu-ray, see caps
Arrow has done additional cleanup work removing nearly all the damage in the transfer. They have massaged the color timing and HDR to try and improve what they could. The Capelight may have better encoding but it does not have these improvements. The Arrow encoding is solid and in motion there are no issues whatsoever. The Kino release has the damage and other issues plus frequent noise due to the lesser encoding.
Some scenes in the Arrow transfer are better, some better in the Capelight.
Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Arrow 4K Blu-ray or Image Entertainment LaserDisc
(Arrow is a port of the LD track, see spectrograms) This track has the best fidelity of any release but does have some channel bleeding baked in. The 2017 2.0 on the Arrow and Shout BDs was the Dolby Stereo original mix without channel bleeding but that had heavy noise reduction resulting in a very flat and underwhelming presentation. The surround winds up being lessened as well due to the processing. It's a tough choice between the two but the Image LD audio wins out because it hasn't been messed with and the impact is so unrestrained that no other version hits in the same way.
Capelight and old Arrow BD included the original stereo mix, but with excessive noise reduction rendering it much less detailed. Kino only included a painfully defective 2.0 track sourced from somewhere with limited fidelity, volume spikes and screechy high end which frequently ruins the music. The 5.1 remix on most modern release is a processed version that does not sound as good as it once did.
The best and most accurate of the 5.1 mixes is the original version from the 2003 Special Edition DVD in lossy AC3 form.
Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray (damage removed, improved color/HDR, and best audio) or Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray (best compression but no damage removal and LaserDisc audio from Arrow)
Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray >
Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray Kino Lorber US Blu-ray, see caps
Arrow has done additional cleanup work removing nearly all the damage in the transfer. They have massaged the color timing and HDR to try and improve what they could. The Capelight may have better encoding but it does not have these improvements. The Arrow encoding is solid and in motion there are no issues whatsoever. The Kino release has the damage and other issues plus frequent noise due to the lesser encoding.
Some scenes in the Arrow transfer are better, some better in the Capelight.
Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Arrow 4K Blu-ray or Image Entertainment LaserDisc
(Arrow is a port of the LD track, see spectrograms) This track has the best fidelity of any release but does have some channel bleeding baked in. The 2017 2.0 on the Arrow and Shout BDs was the Dolby Stereo original mix without channel bleeding but that had heavy noise reduction resulting in a very flat and underwhelming presentation. The surround winds up being lessened as well due to the processing. It's a tough choice between the two but the Image LD audio wins out because it hasn't been messed with and the impact is so unrestrained that no other version hits in the same way.
Capelight and old Arrow BD included the original stereo mix, but with excessive noise reduction rendering it much less detailed. Kino only included a painfully defective 2.0 track sourced from somewhere with limited fidelity, volume spikes and screechy high end which frequently ruins the music. The 5.1 remix on most modern release is a processed version that does not sound as good as it once did.
The best and most accurate of the 5.1 mixes is the original version from the 2003 Special Edition DVD in lossy AC3 form.
Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray see caps
For Blu-ray, UK Second Sight is better than Kino Lorber Blu-ray
Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray see caps
For Blu-ray, UK Second Sight is better than Kino Lorber Blu-ray
This disc defaults to a lossless 5.1 remix, however in the setup menu, the original mono mix is included as a lossy alternative for the first time since the dawn of home video. The film was given a stereo remix very early on and remained stuck that way for decades.
This disc defaults to a lossless 5.1 remix, however in the setup menu, the original mono mix is included as a lossy alternative for the first time since the dawn of home video. The film was given a stereo remix very early on and remained stuck that way for decades.
Director: William Friedkin
Director: William Friedkin
Director: William Friedkin
Director: William Friedkin
Director: William Friedkin
Both Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray and Paramount Blu-ray are problematic. One reel of the Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray looks inferior, and the Paramount Blu-ray has some edge enhancement. Pick your poison between the Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or the Paramount Blu-ray? Maybe the Kino Lorber Blu-ray included in the 4K Blu-ray is better
Director: William Friedkin
Both Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray and Paramount Blu-ray are problematic. One reel of the Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray looks inferior, and the Paramount Blu-ray has some edge enhancement. Pick your poison between the Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or the Paramount Blu-ray? Maybe the Kino Lorber Blu-ray included in the 4K Blu-ray is better
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or France 4K Blu-ray for the extras?
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or France 4K Blu-ray for the extras?
Director: William Friedkin
Director: William Friedkin
Director: William Friedkin
Criterion 4K Blu-ray. See Chris's review
Director: William Friedkin
Criterion 4K Blu-ray. See Chris's review
Director: William Friedkin
Director: William Friedkin
Director: Frank Oz
2026 4K Blu-ray
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the original 70mm 6-track mix
Warner Bros pan-and-scan LaserDisc for the original Dolby Stereo 35mm 2-track mix
Only the DVD has the isolated score.
Director: Frank Oz
2026 4K Blu-ray
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the original 70mm 6-track mix
Warner Bros pan-and-scan LaserDisc for the original Dolby Stereo 35mm 2-track mix
Only the DVD has the isolated score.
Directors: Thomas Bentley & Niall McCloskey & Sam Halleron & Rachel Traynor & Mike Deedigan
Directors: Thomas Bentley & Niall McCloskey & Sam Halleron & Rachel Traynor & Mike Deedigan
Director: Edgar Selwyn
Director: Edgar Selwyn
SD: 2013 Warner Bros The Wizard of Oz (1939) 3D 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray Disc 3
SD: 2013 Warner Bros The Wizard of Oz (1939) 3D 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray Disc 3
4K restoration has been screened at conventions
SD: 2013 Warner Bros The Wizard of Oz (1939) 3D 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray Disc 3
SD: 2013 Warner Bros The Wizard of Oz (1939) 3D 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray Disc 3
4K restoration has been screened at conventions
Director: James Foley
Director: James Foley
Director: Rob Reiner
HD Streaming or old Warner Bros DVD
HD Streaming or old Warner Bros DVD
Director: Rob Reiner
HD Streaming or old Warner Bros DVD
HD Streaming or old Warner Bros DVD
Director: Rob Reiner
Director: Rob Reiner
Director: Rob Reiner
Director: Rob Reiner
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray Sept. 2026
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray Sept. 2026
Director: John Ford
1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS, crystal clear, albeit with some distortion in louder areas
The 4K Blu-ray reuses the same poor mastering used on the 2006 WB Blu-ray, only with a completely unnecessary bass cut and extra noise reduction.
Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video. The old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.
That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNR: https://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l
Director: John Ford
1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS, crystal clear, albeit with some distortion in louder areas
The 4K Blu-ray reuses the same poor mastering used on the 2006 WB Blu-ray, only with a completely unnecessary bass cut and extra noise reduction.
Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video. The old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.
That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNR: https://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l
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