Hulu just got a devilishly entertaining supernatural thriller movie — ignore the critics and stream it now

Russell Crowe in "The Pope's Exorcist"
(Image credit: 2.0 Entertainment/Album/Sony Pictures/Alamy)

A silly supernatural presence has descended on Hulu, and even though the movie earned a decidedly mixed reception, I think it’s worth streaming.

I’m talking about Julian Avery’s recent Russell Crowe horror flick, “The Pope’s Exorcist”, which is streaming on Hulu as of today (Feb. 12), which sees the “Gladiator” star swapping his armor for flowing robes to do battle with a demonic force.

If you look at Rotten Tomatoes, you’ll see that its viewers, and not critics, who most recommend “The Pope’s Exorcist." At the time of writing, the movie has a 50% critics score, but the Popcornmeter rating is way higher, at 80%.

Where it may have been dismissed in early reviews, moviegoers found something to love about the campy horror effort. And now that’s found a new streaming home, I’m inclined to single it out as an enjoyable spooky romp. Here’s why I think you should ignore the critics and give “The Pope’s Exorcist” a chance.

What is 'The Pope's Exorcist' about?

THE POPE'S EXORCIST – Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube THE POPE'S EXORCIST – Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube
Watch On

"The Pope's Exorcist" sees Russell Crowe taking on the role of Father Gabriele Amorth, the Pope's personal exorcist. Based loosely on the real controversial figure's memoirs, the movie sees Amorth being dispatched by the Pope to an old Spanish abbey.

An American family has just moved in at the behest of Julia Vasquez's (Alex Essoe) late husband. Shortly after their arrival, the family begins being terrorized by a demonic force that possesses Julia's young son, Henry.

With the aid of a local priest (Daniel Zovatto), Father Amorth battles with the demon that's taken hold, discovering sinister secrets lie at the abbey in the process...

In addition to Crowe, Essoe, and Zovatto "The Pope's Exorcist" also features Franco Nero, Peter De-Souza-Feighoney, Laurel Marsden, Cornell John, and the voice of Ralph Ineson as the demon.

Should you stream 'The Pope's Exorcist' on Hulu?

Father Gabriele (Russell Crowe) holds a cross in a scene from "The Pope's Exorcist"

(Image credit: Collection Christophel/Screen Gems/2.0 Entertainment/Alamy)

While I'm willing to contend that "The Pope's Exorcist" is in no way a pillar of the supernatural or horror genre, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a fun time the first time I watched it.

In my eyes, "The Pope's Exorcist" more than delivers in the popcorn horror thrills department. The demon's escalating antics keep things interesting, and Russell Crowe's got enough screen presence to rise to the occasion (even if his Italian accent's raised more than a few eyebrows).

Don't expect to ever really be genuinely scared; this is pulpy, silly, and occasionally very funny stuff, which explodes into a properly gnarly finale. If you're willing to go along for the increasingly absurd (and almost superhero-esque) ride, I think it's an entertaining watch. And if nothing else, it stands as proof that if you need a demon to at least sound menacing, you need to get Ralph Ineson on the phone.

Father Gabriele (Russell Crowe) riding on a scooter in a scene from "The Pope's Exorcist"

(Image credit: Screen Gems/2.0 Productions/Loyola Productions/Alamy)

I'm not alone in enjoying "The Pope's Exorcist", either. While many critics are unlikely to call themselves big fans — see, for example, The Guardian's Mike McCahill, who said it "just about qualifies as lively schlock" — others were more on board with the vibe.

Writing for Rolling Stone, Chris Vognar concluded: "The Pope’s Exorcist will certainly never go down as a classic of the genre, but it’s better than it has any reason to be. Sometimes, the devil you know gets the job done just fine."

Likewise, Empire Magazine's Catherine Bray gave it a 3-star rating, writing: "It’s not just the demonic possession victims whose eyes will be rolling back in their skulls – none of this should work, really, and yet the film just about gets away with it, proving the Lord truly does move in mysterious ways."

That said, fellow moviegoers were generally a lot more enthusiastic, compared to the critics, as proven by that gulf between the movie's critics' and Popcornmeter scores.

Bottom line, if you're in the market for a silly slice of supernatural fun, I'd recommend giving "The Pope's Exorcist" a shot now it's on Hulu. If you're not intrigued, or you've already seen "The Pope's Exorcist" but need something new to watch on Hulu? Check out our guide to the best movies on Hulu for more streaming recommendations.

More from Tom's Guide

Staff Writer, Streaming

Martin is a Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things movies and TV. If it’s in the theaters or available to stream somewhere, he’s probably watched it… especially if it has a dragon in it. Before joining the team, he was a Staff Writer at What To Watch where he wrote about a broad range of shows that stretched from "Doctor Who" and "The Witcher" to "Bridgerton" and "Love Island". When he’s not watching the next must-see movie or show, he’s probably still in front of a screen playing massive RPGs, reading, spending a fortune on TCGs, or watching the NFL.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Hugh Grant in "Heretic"
Hugh Grant’s terrifying villain turn just landed on Max — and it’s got 91% on Rotten Tomatoes
Matilda Firth and Julia Garner in "Wolf Man" (2025)
One of the most underrated movies of 2025 so far is now streaming — and it’s a thrilling watch
Hugh Grant as Mr. Reed in "Heretic"
5 best new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Hulu, Max, and more
Lucy Liu as Rebecca Payne in "Presence"
My favorite movie of 2025 so far is now streaming — and it’s a unique supernatural thriller
"Ghostlight" (2024)
One of my favorite movies of 2024 just hit Hulu — and it's 99% on Rotten Tomatoes
Maika Monroe as FBI special agent Lee Harker in "Longlegs."
Hulu just added one of my favorite thriller movies of 2024 — stream this creepy film now
Latest in Hulu
Ramón Rodriguez as Will Trent in "Will Trent."
Hulu top 10 shows — here's the 3 worth watching right now
Kelly Marie Tran in "Control Freak" on Hulu (2025)
Hulu’s new dark thriller is now streaming — and it’s one of the most gripping movies of 2025 so far
(L-R) Adeline Rudolph and Jack Kesy in "Hellboy: The Crooked Man" (2024).
Hulu top 10 movies — here's what you need to be watching right now
Halyna Hutchins, the 42 year old Ukrainian cinematographer who died on the set of "Rust"
'Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna': How to watch the documentary online
Hulu / Disney Plus streaming bundle deal
Disney Plus and Hulu bundle deal is too good to miss — get both for just $2.99 a month now
Sterling K. Brown in Paradise
'Paradise' season 2: Everything we know so far
Latest in News
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Sunday, March 16 (#644)
Nintendo Switch 2
New Nintendo Switch 2 FCC filing suggests this beloved Nintendo controller could make a comeback
(From L to R) Rohan (Nik Dodani), Josh (Brandon Flynn), Dorothy (Edie Falco), John (Dean Norris), and Liddie (Lisa Kuthrow) in The Parenting
Max top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching right now
NYT Strands on a cellphone
NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #378 (Sunday, March 16 2025)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE renders
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE price leak is bad news for budget-conscious buyers
Google Assistant
Gemini to kill off Google Assistant on most Android phones — here's what you need to know