The Exorcist
EST V ACT domestic box office revenue
$164 – 182MM V $193MM
Mythosis universal quests used
3
Audience appeal
42.45 – 46.92%
Script Score
1.40
The Exorcist released in 1973, directed by William Friedkin is an adaptation of a novel written by William Peter Blatty. Inspired from the “Roland Doe” exorcism the story has defined the horror genre in literature and cinema.
1. The invisible plot structure of The Exorcist
1A. The script of The Exorcist borrows 97% of its events from 3 mythological tales
Chris’ quest is driven by the desire to protect & nurture. The quest borrows events from the tale of Demeter in Greek mythology. Both Demeter and Chris embark on finding the abductor & recover their loved ones.
Pazuzu’s quest is driven by the desire to dominate others. The quest borrows events from the tale of Circe in Greek mythology. Both Circe and Pazuzu create a façade of godliness to take control of gullible victims.
Karras’ quest is driven by the desire to ensure order. The quest borrows events from the tale of Bhishm in Hindu mythology. Both Bhishm and Karras vow to protect their subjects but unintentionally unleash chaos that can only be resolved through their sacrifice.
NOTE: Detailed mirroring of each character’s primary quest to their respective mythological tales is in section “3A. Quests of characters and their mythological counterparts”
Mythosis plot structure
# 17,959
Tales interweaved
Circe, Demeter & Bhism
I. How does interweaving mythological tales lead to infinite story plots?
II. Can the pursuit of a Desire have more than one quest?
2. The potential of The Exorcist's plot structure: $164 – 182MM
The interweaving of 32 mythological tales can generate a billion unique stories. By using these 32 tales, we can extract the plot structure of any story across various genres. Our study of blockbuster, hit, and flop plot structures led to the discovery of the Mythosis Code, a set of principles for creating compelling stories. The plot structure of a story is analyzed to see how well it adheres to these storytelling principles.
2A. Plot structure evaluation of The Exorcist
- All Blockbusters have at least 3 universal quests. The Exorcist has 3 universal quests of Family, Power, & Order
- In Blockbusters, each universal quest is mirrored by ONLY ONE character. Karras mirrors the universal quest of Order. Chris mirrors the quest of Family. Pazuzu mirrors the quest of Power.
- Every Blockbuster character borrows at least 35% of the universal quest. Karras borrows 52% events from the universal quest for Order. Chris borrows 52% events from the quest for Family. Pazuzu borrows 44% events from the quest for Power.
- Blockbusters have a quest interweaving threshold of 0.5. Interweaving occurs when events of 2 quests occur simultaneously in the story. The Exorcist’s quest interweaving score is a perfect 1.
An example of interweaving the quests of Chris & Pazuzu:
2B. Box office revenue estimation of The Exorcist
The plot structure of The Exorcist ranks as the third most robust among Hollywood productions over the past 50 years.
Jaws & E.T. hold the top 2 positions.
The Script Score measures a plot structure’s adherence to the four principles of Mythosis Code. We use the Script Score to estimate a movie’s audience appeal & revenues. Blockbuster plot structures have a score of at least 0.64 and appeal to 20% of the audiences.
Script Score
1.40
Audience appeal
42.45 – 46.92%
I. How is Mythosis Code used to estimate revenues?
II. Aren’t box-office revenues influenced by several factors beyond just the story plot?
3. The ideal plot structure of The Exorcist
We have identified 32 mythological tales, the superset of all tales across cultures. The quests of these tales have also recurred over time periods. They represent human behaviours that are deeply embedded in our shared memories. Each tale is the richest expression of the pursuit of a human desire. The tales have a unique pattern of events spread over 5 major arcs.
Mapping a character’s quest to the relevant mythological tale reveals the gaps in their quest, if any. Plugging these gaps with the missing events deepens the character quest. The missing events also provide an opportunity for interweaving the various quests. These events strengthen the story and unlock its hidden potential.
3A.Quest of characters and their mythological counterparts
Quest 1: Pazuzu mirrors the universal quest for Power
Pazuzu’s desire for Power stems from the need to dominate others. The tale of Circe from Greek mythology is the universal quest for Power.
Quest 2: Chris mirrors the universal quest for Family
Chris’s desire for Family stems from the need to nurture & protect. The tale of Demeter from Greek mythology is the universal quest for Family.
Quest 3: Karras mirrors the universal quest for Order
Karras’ desire for Order stems from the need for organization to maintain stability. The tale of Bhishm from Hindu mythology is the universal quest for Order.
3B.Gaps in the current plot structure
A strong plot structure with no gaps
3C.Unlocking the hidden potential
The plot of The Exorcist is a subset of Mythosis plot structure # 17,959. It emerges from interweaving the tales of Circe, Demeter & Bhism.
Contact us for Mythosis plot structure # 17,959.
Tags: Bhishm, Demeter, Circe, Kans, Order, Family, Preservation, Power, William Friedkin, Hoya Productions, Warner Bros., 1973