If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or X lately, you’ve probably seen the clip. A burly, bearded Russell Crowe—looking more like a retired rugby player than a man of the cloth—zips through the narrow cobblestone streets of Rome on a tiny Lambretta scooter. He’s wearing a cassock, sucking on a lemon drop, and basically radiating "I’m too old for this" energy. That’s Father Gabriele Amorth. He’s the heart of The Pope's Exorcist full movie, and honestly, he's the reason this film has transitioned from a 2023 theatrical release to a permanent fixture on streaming watchlists in 2026.
People came for the scares. They stayed for the vibes.
What the movie gets right (and weird)
Look, we have to talk about the scooter. It’s iconic. But it’s also a perfect metaphor for the movie itself: it’s a bit ridiculous, surprisingly fast-paced, and carries a lot more weight than you’d expect. The plot kicks off in 1987. Father Amorth is sent by the Pope (played by the legendary Franco Nero) to an abbey in Spain. A young boy named Henry has been possessed, and not just by some run-of-the-mill spirit. We’re talking about Asmodeus, the King of Hell.
The film leans heavily into the "Vatican investigator" trope. It’s kinda like The Da Vinci Code had a baby with The Exorcist. You’ve got secret chambers, bone-lined catacombs, and a conspiracy involving the Spanish Inquisition that the Church has been trying to bury for centuries.
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The Russell Crowe Factor
Let’s be real: without Crowe, this might have been just another generic possession flick. He gives Amorth a "holy detective" persona that is genuinely fun to watch. He jokes. He drinks espresso. He mocks the "bureaucrats" in the Vatican who don't believe in the devil. There’s a scene early on where he tricks a demon into a pig just to prove a point. It’s campy. It’s loud. It’s exactly what the horror genre needed when everything else was getting a bit too "elevated" and somber.
Where to watch The Pope's Exorcist full movie in 2026
If you’re looking to stream it right now, the landscape has shifted a bit since its premiere. Originally, the movie had a massive run on Netflix—ranking as the number one film in America for over a week—but licensing deals mean it moves around.
- Hulu/Disney+: In the U.S., the movie has largely migrated to Hulu as part of the Sony-Disney distribution pipeline. If you have the Disney bundle, you can usually find it there in 4K.
- Netflix (International): In regions like the UK and Canada, it often pops back onto Netflix every few months.
- VOD Platforms: You can still buy or rent it on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu if you want to keep it in your permanent digital library.
The true story vs. Hollywood's version
This is where things get interesting. The film is "inspired by" the memoirs of the real Father Gabriele Amorth, specifically An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories.
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The real Amorth was a fascinating guy. He was a partisan fighter in WWII before becoming a priest. He claimed to have performed over 60,000 (some say 100,000) exorcisms over his 30-year career. But did he fight a CGI demon in a Spanish basement? No.
Amorth himself was quite vocal about the fact that 98% of the people who came to him didn't need an exorcist—they needed a psychiatrist. He was a man of science as much as faith. The movie captures his sense of humor, but it turns the "supernatural battles" up to eleven. For instance, the real Amorth didn't actually zip around on a Lambretta; he was a bit more traditional than the movie suggests. Also, the whole "Asmodeus infiltrating the Vatican" plot? Pure Hollywood. The real Amorth believed the devil was in the Vatican, but he meant it in the sense of "temptation and sin," not literal monsters hiding in the walls.
Why it's still trending
The "Chief Exorcist" subgenre is crowded, but this film found a niche because it doesn't take itself too seriously. It acknowledges the tropes—the bed-shaking, the foul language, the contorted limbs—and then adds a layer of 80s action movie flair.
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It’s also surprisingly respectful of the faith it depicts. Unlike some horror movies that make priests look like villains or cowards, Amorth and his protégé, Father Esquibel, are portrayed as men who genuinely care about saving a family. It’s refreshing. Plus, with rumors of a sequel (The Pope's Exorcist 2) perpetually swirling in 2026 production news, people are constantly going back to the original to catch the clues they missed about the "200 locations of evil" mentioned at the end.
Actionable steps for your movie night
If you're planning to sit down with the pope's exorcist full movie this weekend, here's the best way to do it:
- Check your region's licensing: Use a site like JustWatch to see if it’s currently on Hulu or Netflix in your area, as these rights swap frequently.
- Watch the credits: Don't skip them immediately; there are some cool historical photos of the real Father Amorth that show how well (or how loosely) they adapted his look.
- Pair it with a documentary: If the "true story" aspect hooks you, look for The Devil and Father Amorth (2017). It was directed by William Friedkin (who directed the original Exorcist) and shows the real Amorth performing an actual rite.
- Set the tone: This isn't a "hide under the covers" kind of scary. It’s a "popcorn and a beer" kind of horror. Turn the lights down, but keep the volume up—the sound design on the demon's voice is top-tier.
Whether you're a die-hard horror fan or just someone who wants to see Russell Crowe tell a demon to "suck it" in Latin, this movie delivers. It’s a wild ride that somehow feels grounded by a veteran actor having the time of his life.