Lidya Jewett Photo: Universal Studios‘The Exorcist” reaffirmed two things we already knew—that adolescent girls seem possessed by demons and that the devil sends his minions to Washington. Yet William Friedkin (who died in August) directed the 1973 film, based on William Peter Blatty ’s novel, with so much gusto that it can’t be compared to anything that came before it. Both a prestige drama and a freak-show shocker, it was the first horror film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. In inflation-adjusted dollars, it remains the ninth-highest-grossing picture of all time at the domestic box office, and the only R-rated film in the top 20.

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Persons: Lidya Jewett, ”, William Friedkin, William Peter Blatty ’ Organizations: Universal Studios Locations: Washington