In a strategic move to avoid a head-to-head showdown with Taylor Swift‘s highly anticipated concert film, “The Exorcist: Believer” has cast a spell and advanced its release date. Originally slated to debut on Friday the 13th of October, this spine-chilling sequel will now possess theaters on October 6th, carving out its own eerie space in the cinematic calendar.
The decision to reschedule was prompted by Taylor Swift herself, who announced on Thursday that her concert film, showcasing her record-breaking Eras Tour, would grace theaters on October 13th, her personal lucky number. With the moniker “Exorswift” now a ghostly memory, “The Exorcist: Believer” producer Jason Blum playfully invoked Swift’s lyrics, tweeting, “Look what you made me do. The Exorcist: Believer moves to 10/6/23. #TaylorWins.”
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Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” concert film is poised to be a cinematic sensation, with screenings scheduled for at least four showtimes per day on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at all AMC theater locations across the United States. The film will also enchant audiences on Cinemark and Regal screens in North America, with more theaters and chains expected to join the spectacle.
For Swifties eager to join the celebration on the big screen, the film boasts a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes, slightly shorter than Swift’s concert performance, which typically spans 3 hours and 15 minutes. In true Swift fashion, ticket prices are laden with numerological significance: $19.89 for adults and $13.13 for children and seniors on standard screens, while Imax and Dolby tickets come with a higher price tag.
Fans are encouraged to treat the cinematic experience as a grand celebration, complete with themed outfits and friendship bracelet exchanges, mirroring the cherished traditions of Swift’s live concerts.
Meanwhile, “The Exorcist: Believer” brings back Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, a character profoundly affected by a paranormal incident that tormented her daughter, Regan, five decades earlier. The story takes off as two local girls venture into the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of the harrowing events they encountered. This sets off a nightmarish chain of events, compelling one of the girls’ fathers to seek out MacNeil, the sole survivor who can relate to such supernatural horrors.
Directed by David Gordon Green, renowned for his work on “Halloween,” this new chapter in “The Exorcist” saga unfolds 50 years after the original, serving as the inaugural installment of a planned trilogy. The sequel is already slated for release on April 18, 2025, promising further spine-tingling encounters with the paranormal.
As “The Exorcist: Believer” charts its course away from the musical enchantment of Taylor Swift’s tour, audiences can look forward to an October filled with both eerie and entertaining cinematic experiences.