LMAO this was supposed to be scary???

Maybe you are extremely brave but this movie scared the crap out of me. My friend and I rented this movie when we were 12 years at the local video store which was an incredibly long time ago. I remember it was pouring rain outside and we thought we were being cool by watching an R rated film. My parents warned me several times to not see the movie but of course, I went against their wishes. So many parts of the film terrified me like the bed shaking, Reagan's demonic face, Father Karras's dream, Father Karras's mother appearing in the room during the exorcism, Reagan's voice, and the terrified look of Chris's face watching Reagan transform into a demonic possessed girl. I remember crying that night because the rain would not stop and the lights in my parents house kept flickering; just like in the movie. I had to confess to my parents that night that my friend and I watch the Exorcist which it did not make them happy. I slept in my parents bed for months after seeing this. It took me a long time to get over my fright of the film and I have never been able to fully watch this movie since then. Till this day, I never understood why the guy at the video store rented this movie to two children....

No doubt in the top 10 of scariest movies ever made and the one that freaked me the most, and I've seen most of those so-called scariest films such as Changeling (1980), Ringu, Halloween etc. Chilling and riveting from start to finish with performances. The only letdown is the hasty conversation between the two priests in the end; was much more interesting and deep in Blatty's bestseller

Did you see it on the big screen or on television? That makes a difference. (Television commercials ruin the atmosphere of most horror films.) But it is too late for you now, as watching it in the theater would not have the same effect now, as you know what to expect.
But, I can tell you that in 1973, this movie shocked the movie-going public. I was in the audience then.

I found it unsettling and suspenseful. It's got some very subtle moments of psychological horror that tend to get overlooked because of the movie's reputation for being shocking.

I'd be interested to know what movies the OP thinks are scary.

I’m 28 and think this movie is one of the greatest and scariest horror movies of all time. Far scarier than anything coming out these days.

Movie scared the crap out of me as a kid, but I had the same reaction as you rewatching as an adult.

I actually prefer Exorcist III.

Maybe you are lacking something? I rewatched the Exorcist in a cinema a couple of years ago and was quite shocked with the spider walk. A wonderful experience!