Banned Film "The Devils" Sees Huge Demand

Ken Russell's provocative 1971 film, "The Devils," is demonstrating significant audience demand. Nationwide 35mm sneak preview screenings in major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have completely sold out in anticipation of its October theatrical re-release. This response indicates a robust market for cinematic revivals, even for a film with a history of controversy and censorship. The movie is returning in its definitive NC-17 cut, remastered by Clockwork, a new Warner Bros. imprint.

The film, based on Aldous Huxley's "The Devils of Loudun," has been notorious for its graphic sexual content, violence, and critique of religion since its inception. It was heavily edited and largely unavailable for years. The trailer for the new restoration recently garnered nearly 16 million views online, largely driven by Gen Z cinephiles eager to experience this resurrected classic. The restored version premiered earlier this summer at the Cannes Film Festival.