Amusing but disposable. Entertaining yet forgettable. In the streaming era that has defied 2020s cinema thus far, these descriptors apply to the vast majority of movies released in a small theatrical window before moving to a subscription platform. Cue The Pope’s Exorcist, a perfectly watchable and attention-holding horror thriller starring Russel Crowe that is bound to leave one’s memory shortly after the credits roll.
Portraying the real-life Catholic priest known for high-profile exorcisms, Father Gabriel Amorth, Crowe gives a surprisingly playful and humorous performance in The Pope’s Exorcist. Yet, in another trend that has defined 2020s cinematic trends, the movie fared far better theatrically overseas, grossing nearly triple its domestic haul. Therefore, horror movie fans who missed The Pope’s Exorcist in the U.S. can now check it out on Hulu.
Russell Crowe Blesses ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ From Being Mired in Mediocrity
Directed by Julius Avery (Overlord) and released by Sony Pictures in April 2023, The Pope’s Exorcist joins a copious amount of religious-themed horror movies made in the last decade alone. Russell Crowe plays Father Gabriel Amorth, the Vatican’s Chief Exorcist, called upon to exorcise the demonic infestation of a little boy named Henry Vasquez (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney) in Spain in 1987.
When Henry’s mother, Julia Vasquez (Alex Essoe), orders an exorcism, the inexperienced Father Thomas Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto) arrives and is easily overpowered by the demonic entity possessing Henry’s soul. Afterward, Father Amorth is brought in to lead the exorcism, using his experience to prevent the demon from harming Henry and possessing others, including Henry’s teenage sister, Amy (Laurel Marsden). Meanwhile, the Pope (Franco Nero) becomes gravely ill.
Thanks to Crowe’s humorous, genre-defying performance as a quirky, joke-telling priest who rides a Lambretta to work, The Pope’s Exorcist remains consistently entertaining from beginning to end.
The scariest movie moment comes when Father Amorth discovers that the church has covered up the previous possession of the Spanish Inquisition’s leader, whose corpse was caged and buried beneath the abbey. This leads to the demon’s identity as Asmodeus, known as the King of Demons during the construction of Solomon’s mines. From there, the movie delivers an unnerving final act that alone lifts the film from derivative mediocrity.
‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ Cashes in Overseas & Announces a Sequel
Although The Pope’s Exorcist earned middling reviews from critics (45 Metascore, 51% Rotten Tomatoes), the film became a financial success upon its theatrical release. With a modest budget of $18 million, the movie grossed $77 million worldwide, including $20 million in North America and $57 million overseas (per Box Office Mojo). Given the Spanish and Vatican setting, it is not surprising that the film found more success abroad.
In a larger cinematic trend, European movie theaters and cinema houses aren’t nearly as empty or endangered as they are in the United States. And while streaming is certainly popular in Europe, it’s far more of a cultural norm in the U.S. As such, it’s easy to understand why The Pope’s Exorcist slipped through the cracks domestically, yet nearly tripled its financial success overseas. The movie performed exceptionally well abroad, leading to the announcement of a sequel in 2023 and its greenlight in 2024.
While details about The Pope’s Exorcist 2 have been scant since the announcement in May 2024, Russell Crowe is expected to reprise his role as Father Amorth. Until more information comes to light, it’s worth watching The Pope’s Exorcist on Hulu. The movie may not reinvent the exorcism genre or hold a candle to the best in class, but what it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for with Crowe’s committed turn.
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