Watch the ORIGINAL Theatrical version, not director cut..

Rating: 10/10 (11 September 2019)

The director cut was just bad. Too many totally unnecessary scenes and some really cringeworthy ones too, like the whole first visit to the hospital with Regan. Besides the bad acting, it was not needed.
And the added scenes sitting on the stairs where they had to explain the movie like we didn't see it already. Friedkin fought with Blatty over adding the scene, which was initially not added, but then Friedkin eventually gave in and put it in the director's cut. Too much exposition. Movies shouldn't explain too much, but just enough to make some sense and let the audience decide what somethings mean so we can think, not just be fed information of how to think.
Also the silly spider walk down the steps and lizard tongue and then chasing them like a dog was just ridiculous.
If anything they should have cut the movie 10-15 minutes down, especially the beginning, which could be 5 minutes and still get everything you need.
The acting is good, but not as good as I remember. Likely due to directing, which it is usually is. Still an amazing film.