The Rite

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The Rite

PG-13,

2011,

1h 54m,

Horror/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

22%

169 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

22%

Tomatometer

169 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Though he is filled with doubt about the subject, seminary student Michael Kovak finds he must attend a Vatican school of exorcism. Believing possession to be the work of a troubled mind rather than actual demons, he urges his superiors to look for answers in psychiatry. Then Michael becomes the apprentice of Father Lucas, a veteran exorcist, and encounters a terrifying force that causes him to question everything he believes.

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Critics Consensus

Anthony Hopkins is as excellent as ever, but he's no match for The Rite's dawdling pace and lack of chills -- or Colin O'Donoghue's tentative performance in the leading role.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

Apr 3, 2019

2/5

What makes this film old is Anthony Hopkins and his laboured transformation into a tortured being, who needs to be tied up hand and foot, there to snarl and growl.We've seen this Hopkins before, better done in his man-eating Hannibal Lecter role.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Jun 5, 2011

C-

Parades about with a self-seriousness at odds with a second-half dominated by veiny-faced, limb-contorting special effects and screaming, screaming, screaming.

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Mar 9, 2011

2/5

This dreary affair is 'inspired by actual events', but it's a very low-wattage entry into the genre of the exorcist movie.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Aug 3, 2023

2.5/4

Much like Håfström’s last film, 1408, a promising and even impressive opening gives way to a final act that squanders everything that came before.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Oct 6, 2022

The Rite arrives too late to its infernal circle. [Full review in Spanish]

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 21, 2020

2.5/4.0

By the film's mid-point Hafstrom has lost control of the film.

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Han R

Feb 5, 2019

It was an ok movie that could have been so much better. The main problem is the ending, in having a rookie priest successfully perform an exorcism on his first try after being so skeptical just minutes beforehand. Now, if Father Xavier had come back and led the exorcism, that would have made for such a realistic story. Where the skeptic just becomes a believer and an aide in the exorcism. Anyway, the effects are pretty good in this movie and they are definitely creepy. It's not a movie that's going to scare you a lot but if you have strong views about religion, this should be up your alley. If you could care less about religion, then I don't think you'll be entertained here at all.

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Theodore W

Jan 10, 2019

While the story perhaps spends too much time on introducing the protagonist and the trailer makes the movie seem more like horror movie, The Rite nevertheless contains a sound spiritual message. The main character ultimately succeeds when he has faith, but as a doubter and burgeoning exorcist, he goes about it in a different way. Once he believes in the Devil he can then believe in his opposite God, and it is through God that Michael Kovak triumphs over evil. For this reason, i say the movie is worth seeing.

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Hagrid R

Oct 27, 2018

This cringe-worthy, mediocre horror flick was not worth my time, I'll put it that way. It has an entertaining first half, put it then descends into a long, boring film, it does have its few spooky moments, but they're unfortunately outweighed by the overlong runtime of this shit. And Anthony Hopkins is no stranger to horror, being exceptional as always in The Silence of the Lambs (1995), but he really could've been cast for something different and better. Overall, The Rite is just another exorcism movie, but is ain't terrifying and it's nothing we haven't seen before...

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Poe L

Jul 13, 2018

I really liked it.While there were some parts that weren't as good, the movie is still great and I don't understand why people don't like it

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Poe M

Mar 31, 2018

Where's the sequel? I want another one.

Kylo R

Mar 28, 2018

This movie would be great expect for the fact that Colin Donoghues both acting and character was god awful

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Mikael Håfström

Director

Anthony Hopkins

Father Lucas Trevant

Colin O'Donoghue

Michael Kovak

Alice Braga

Angeline

Ciarán Hinds

Father Xavier

Toby Jones

Father Matthew

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Synopsis

Though he is filled with doubt about the subject, seminary student Michael Kovak finds he must attend a Vatican school of exorcism. Believing possession to be the work of a troubled mind rather than actual demons, he urges his superiors to look for answers in psychiatry. Then Michael becomes the apprentice of Father Lucas, a veteran exorcist, and encounters a terrifying force that causes him to question everything he believes.

Director: Mikael Håfström
Producer: Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson
Screenwriter: Michael Petroni
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Contrafilm
Rating: PG-13 (Frightening Images|Disturbing Thematic Material|Language|Sexual References|Violence)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 28, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 17, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.0M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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