Russell Crowe has had a rollercoaster ride at the box office in recent years, but one of his most surprising successes is about to vanish from streaming. The Pope's Exorcist, the 2023 horror film that became a sleeper hit, will be removed from HBO Max on August 12, 2026. If you haven't seen it yet, you have just a few weeks to catch it.
The movie, directed by Julius Avery, stars Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth, a real-life Vatican exorcist who performed thousands of exorcisms. The film blends supernatural scares with Crowe's signature charisma, turning a potentially forgettable genre piece into a must-watch for horror fans. Despite mixed reviews from critics, audiences embraced it, giving it an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while critics settled at a 50% fresh rating.
Financially, The Pope's Exorcist was a standout for Crowe. It grossed $77 million worldwide against a modest $18 million budget, making it his biggest hit as a leading man since 2014's Noah. That biblical epic, directed by Darren Aronofsky, earned $360 million globally, but Crowe's recent starring roles have been in smaller, offbeat projects like Unhinged and The Get Out. His last major studio appearances were cameos or supporting parts in Thor: Love and Thunder and Kraven the Hunter.
Interestingly, Crowe's 2025 period drama Nuremberg nearly dethroned The Pope's Exorcist as his top solo hit, pulling in $70 million worldwide on a budget under $10 million. But for now, the horror film holds the crown.
The film's success sparked talk of a sequel, with Sony announcing that Crowe would return. However, no follow-up has materialized yet, leaving fans wondering if the story of Father Amorth will continue. In the meantime, you can revisit the original on HBO Max until August 12.
If you're a fan of Crowe's recent work, you might also be interested in his upcoming sci-fi thriller Bluefly, which reunites him with a Stranger Things director. And for more streaming recommendations, check out our list of the best thriller series of the past decade.
Don't miss your chance to watch The Pope's Exorcist before it leaves HBO Max. Set a reminder, grab some popcorn, and enjoy one of Crowe's most entertaining performances in years.
