The Ritual

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The Ritual

2025,

1h 38m,

Horror

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8%

77 Reviews

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Popcornmeter

8%

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77 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Based on true events, The Ritual follows two priests -- one questioning his faith (Dan Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Al Pacino) -- who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms. The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.

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Critics Consensus

The Ritual purportedly presents a real occult occurrence, but the most blasphemous thing about it may be wasting Al Pacino's talents on a clichéd story with uninspired execution.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Jun 23, 2025

2.5/4

“The Ritual” avoids becoming boring by being brief — and also by casting Pacino, who is his own event and mystery.

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Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

Jun 15, 2025

It’s not improbability that dooms this Al Pacino-headlined genre throwaway but a crushing lack of originality and a form that makes its clichés even harder to swallow.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

Jun 11, 2025

2/4

I guess you could even say the devil is indeed in the details that this film puts on the back burner.

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Sarah Gopaul

Digital Journal

Oct 8, 2025

It’s not scary or even disturbing, so it fails to be a horror movie. It lacks strong emotions, so it doesn’t cut it as a drama. It’s a religious procedural primarily concerned with relating the facts of the case versus creating an entertaining picture.

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Karina Adelgaard

Heaven of Horror

Aug 11, 2025

1/5

THE RITUAL is a new exorcism horror movie… and it’s not a good one. In fact, despite the impressive cast led by Al Pacino and Dan Stevens, it’s absolutely terrible. It’s even more generic than the title.

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Common Sense Media

Aug 4, 2025

1/5

An absolutely dismal exorcism tale, this so-called horror movie is unpleasant-looking; not suspenseful, scary, or even the least bit interesting character-wise; and above all, boring.

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David Midell

Director

Al Pacino

Father Theophilus Riesinger

Dan Stevens

Father Joseph Steiger

Ashley Greene

Sister Rose

Abigail Cowen

Emma Schmidt

Maria Camila Giraldo

Sister Camila

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The Ritual: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Based on true events, The Ritual follows two priests -- one questioning his faith (Dan Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Al Pacino) -- who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms. The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.

Director: David Midell
Producer: Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch, Ross Marks, Enrico Natale
Screenwriter: David Midell
Distributor: XYZ Films
Production Co: Andrew Stevens Entertainment, Cinemachine Shop, Redbird Entertainment
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 6, 2025, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $525.9K
Runtime: 1h 38m

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