THE EXORCIST, released on this day
Released on this day--26 Dec.--in 1973, William Friedkin's THE EXORCIST. Based on the book by William Peter Blatty (who also wrote the screenplay), the movie starred Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller and Ellen Burstyn in a loud, blood-and-thunder tale of pubescent rebellion couched as demonic possession. It was a hit--a national phenomenon in the U.S.--and became, in inflation-adjusted dollars, the 9th highest-grossing movie of all time and the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and was the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture.
A dissenting view:
https://cinemarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2009/02/shortcomings-of-exorcist-1973.html