Maps of Movies
The Exorcist (1973)
Where The Exorcist says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
The haunted Georgetown house is real, but its bedroom is a Manhattan studio set and the opening dig is in Iraq.
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Scenes and places
The dig at Hatra (1973)
Merrin digs among the ruins and finds a stone talisman of a winged being. The look on his face tells us the film's trouble starts long before it reaches America.
Set in Hatra, northern Iraq — The ancient ruins where Father Merrin joins an archaeological dig. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A ruined city of ancient Iraq, south-west of Mosul.
Filmed at Hatra, south-west of Mosul — The opening dig sequence was filmed here. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The MacNeils' rented house (1973)
Regan finds a spirit board and plays with it alone. She tells her mother she has been talking with a friend called Captain Howdy.
Set in MacNeil house, Georgetown — The large rented house in Georgetown where Chris and her 12-year-old daughter Regan live. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A rented home in Georgetown where a mother and daughter settle in for a film shoot.
Filmed at House at 36th and Prospect streets, Georgetown — The exterior of the MacNeil house. Coordinates are those of the adjacent Exorcist steps; the house has no coordinates of its own. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: At the corner of 36th and Prospect streets in Georgetown, next to the public steps.
Karras and his mother's hospital (1973)
Karras visits his ailing mother in New York and quarrels with his uncle over her care. His faith is already wearing thin.
Set in New York City hospital — The New York hospital where Father Karras visits his ailing mother and argues with his uncle.
A New York hospital scene; the film names no specific hospital.
Filmed at Bellevue Hospital, Manhattan — The scenes with Karras's mother in the hospital. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Filmed at Goldwater Memorial Hospital site (now Cornell Tech), Roosevelt Island — Karras's confrontation with his uncle. The hospital is gone; the coordinates are the present-day Cornell Tech site. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Chris lectures the protesters (1973)
Chris, filming on campus, talks down a crowd of protesters from the steps. It shows a confident star whose control of events is about to fail at home.
Set in Georgetown University — Chris MacNeil addresses student protesters on the steps in front of the university. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Healy Hall is Georgetown University's landmark Gothic building.
Filmed at Healy Hall steps, Georgetown University — Burstyn's first scene, where she lectures the protesters. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Lauinger Library steps, Georgetown University — She is also seen walking down these steps. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The steep stairs beside the house (1973)
One night Chris finds the house empty except for her sleeping daughter. Burke Dennings is found at the bottom of the stairs below Regan's window, and a detective starts asking questions.
Set in Public stairs beside the MacNeil house — The public stairs that begin beneath Regan's window. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A steep public staircase connecting two Georgetown streets.
Filmed at Exorcist steps, Georgetown — The stairs from the film, extended from 36th Street down from the corner of Prospect Street. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Public steps down from the corner of Prospect and 36th streets.
Karras listens to the tape (1973)
Karras plays back the tape he made of Regan's voice. A linguist finds that the words are English played backward, which unsettles his scepticism.
Set in Georgetown University (building not specified) — Karras plays the tape of Regan's strange speech to have it analysed.
A university basement used to stand in for Georgetown.
Filmed at Keating Hall basement, Fordham University, Bronx — Filmed here although the story is set at Georgetown. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Karras asks for an exorcism (1973)
Karras brings his conclusion to his superior. Permission comes with one condition: an experienced priest must lead the ritual.
Set in Archbishop's office — Karras's superior discusses whether an exorcism is warranted.
A formal office within the Church hierarchy.
Merrin arrives at the house (1973)
Merrin steps out of a taxi and looks up at the house. He is the experienced priest the Church asked for.
Set in MacNeil house, Georgetown — The house where Merrin arrives to lead the ritual. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The same corner house seen earlier, now with a false front added for filming.
Filmed at House at 36th and Prospect streets (false front) — Merrin's arrival was filmed on Max von Sydow's first day on set. The crew built an eastward extension with a false front on the house. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Regan's bedroom (1973)
The priests begin the rite in Regan's bedroom as the demon curses them. Karras sees a shape of his own mother and is shaken.
Set in Regan's bedroom, MacNeil house — The bedroom where the two priests read the Roman Ritual.
The bedroom is a studio set built in Manhattan.
Filmed at Dahlgren Chapel, Georgetown University — Chapel scenes Google Maps · Apple Maps
Characters
- Chris MacNeil — An actress renting a house in Georgetown while she films.
- Regan MacNeil — Chris's 12-year-old daughter.
- Father Damien Karras — A psychiatrist-priest who counsels Georgetown University priests and is losing his faith.
- Father Lankester Merrin — An elderly priest and archaeologist with exorcism experience.
- Detective William Kinderman — A homicide detective who questions the household.
Questions answered on the map
- Where is the Exorcist house, and what was filmed somewhere else?