A film that offended everyone five decades ago is back, and it’s now a hit

Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 film The Devils has returned to cinemas in a restored version, drawing younger audiences and an extended run.

Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 film, The Devils, has returned to cinemas more than five decades after its release, attracting younger audiences and achieving unexpected commercial success, Wall Street Journal reports. According to the report, the restored film initially returned to theatres in New York this autumn for a one-week engagement. Strong audience turnout, however, prompted distributor Warner Bros. Clockwork to extend its run indefinitely.

Set in 17th-century France, the film centres on Urbain Grandier, a sexually promiscuous priest whose story explores religious hysteria and the abuse of institutional power. Its explicit sexual imagery and provocative religious themes sparked condemnation and censorship when it premiered in 1971, leaving the film difficult to access in its original form for decades. The new restoration includes previously censored material, presenting audiences with a version closer to Russell’s intended vision. Its revival has also generated online discussion, with younger moviegoers drawn to its provocative themes and enduring relevance. It stars Reed and Vanessa Redgrave.