Anne Hathaway’s 112-Minute ‘Exorcist’ Movie Officially Takes Over HBO Max Streaming

Anne Hathaway’s Mother Mary has found a new audience on streaming, topping FlixPatrol’s worldwide HBO Max movie chart on October 25, 2026. The 112-minute film sits ahead of Gremlins and Evil Dead Burn, according to FlixPatrol’s streaming rankings. However, calling it an Exorcist-like movie needs some context. Hathaway’s latest supernatural drama borrows the unsettling atmosphere of possession stories while exploring fame, betrayal, and artistic obsession.

Written and directed by David Lowery, Mother Mary follows a celebrated pop star preparing for her comeback after a traumatic stage accident. Her reunion with Sam Anselm, the estranged costume designer who helped build her public image, brings years of resentment back to the surface. What begins as a request for a comeback dress soon spirals into something far stranger.

Why Anne Hathaway’s Mother Mary Deserves the ‘Exorcist’ Comparison

Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment

The comparison to The Exorcist comes from the film’s supernatural imagery, disturbing physical performances, and its portrayal of inner turmoil as something almost tangible. In his RogerEbert.com review, critic Brian Tallerico writes that the film 

That is a useful clue to Lowery’s unusual approach. Hathaway plays a pop superstar whose fans treat her almost like a religious figure. Her stage persona blends music, fashion, and sacred imagery, blurring the line between celebrity worship and faith. The film’s most unsettling sequence sees Mary rehearse a dance routine without music. As her movements become increasingly frantic, the performance begins to resemble a scene of demonic possession. The physical strain beneath the pop spectacle becomes impossible to ignore.

The supernatural thread grows stranger through a ghostly presence represented by flowing red fabric. Rather than relying on a conventional priest-and-demon showdown, Lowery turns guilt, resentment, and emotional dependence into something eerie and otherworldly. In an interview with RogerEbert.com, Lowery explained his creative approach: 

That idea helps explain why Mother Mary resembles a psychological exorcism more than a traditional horror film. Mother Mary is a supernatural pop thriller, not a new entry in The Exorcist franchise. Its horror comes from unresolved relationships and a haunting that refuses to stay in the background.

How Mother Mary Climbed to No. 1 on HBO Max

Credits: A24

Anne Hathaway leads the film alongside Michaela Coel as Sam, the designer who helped shape Mary’s image before their friendship collapsed. Hunter Schafer, FKA twigs, Sian Clifford, and Kaia Gerber also appear in the ensemble. The film features original music associated with Charli xcx, Jack Antonoff, and FKA twigs, giving its pop-star setting a distinctive sound. Its reception has been mixed. Rotten Tomatoes lists a 69% critics’ score and a 60% audience score, while its critics’ consensus praises Hathaway’s performance and the film’s style but notes that its psychological drama can be difficult to follow.

That division may be part of the appeal. Viewers looking for a straightforward horror story might find Lowery’s surreal approach hard to pin down. Those drawn to gothic visuals, strange musical sequences, and fractured friendships may find something more unusual waiting beneath the surface. According to FlixPatrol’s worldwide HBO Max chart, Mother Mary earned the No. 1 spot on October 25, ahead of Gremlins and Evil Dead Burn. These rankings reflect FlixPatrol’s chart points, not official HBO Max viewing figures, so they should not be mistaken for confirmed audience totals.

Still, the film’s streaming performance gives this unconventional release another chance to find its audience. Sometimes, the skeletons in the closet are not the scariest part. It is what happens when someone finally opens the door. Do you think Mother Mary earns its Exorcist comparison, or is its supernatural style too far removed from traditional horror? Share your take, and follow FandomWire for more streaming charts, reviews, recaps and entertainment news.