The Ritual OTT release date: When and where to watch Al Pacino's horror thriller in India
The Ritual OTT release date: The horror movie is based on the real-life story of Emma Schmidt. It stars Al Pacino and Dan Stevens as two priests.
Poster of The Ritual
Last Updated: 05.20 PM, Aug 30, 2025
Director David Midell's The Ritual is about two priests teaming up to help a young woman who is possessed by a malevolent spirit. Their challenging mission is to perform an extreme exorcism on her for a longer period of time. The horror flick is based on the real-life story of Emma Schmidt who had experienced this deadly exorcism back in 1928, and is documented in the Catholic Church publication Begone Satan.
When and where to watch The Ritual in India?
The latest horror thriller will release on Lionsgate Play and OTTplay Premium on September 12, 2025. The Ritual will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages for Indian viewers.
What's the plot of The Ritual?
Based on the real-life exorcism documented in the 1920s, The Ritual follows a troubled priest and his young colleague as they try to save a possessed woman named Emma Schmidt. The horrific case is documented in the Catholic Church publication, Begone Satan, and is considered one of the most dark exorcisms in the US.
The movie stars Al Pacino as the veteran priest who is bearing a dark past and Dan Stevens as a priest who questions Pacino's beliefs. The two clash as they perform a series of exorcism rituals on the woman.
Despite being inspired by real events, The Ritual is largely criticised by many netizens as they felt the horror film moved too slowly and that its story was predictable. Another major point of the movie is its mockumentary style of filming. On top of this, some critics even described the performances of Al Pacino and Dan Stevens as mediocre.
The Ritual cast members
Al Pacino played the titular role of Father Theophilus Riesinger, who was a Roman Catholic priest, while Dan Stevens essayed the role of Father Joseph Steiger, who was a local priest. On the other hand, Ashley Greene played Sister Rose, and Abigail Cowen played the role of the possessed woman Emma Schmidt.
FAQs:
Q. Where to watch The Ritual (2025) film?
A. The Ritual is releasing on Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium) on September 12, 2025.
Q. What is The Ritual (2025) based on?
A. The Ritual is based on a 1928 real-life exorcism. Catholic priest Theophilus Riesinger performed the ritual on Emma Schmidt, a 40-something woman who had been suffering from possible demonic possession since she was a teenager.