In mid-October, Warner Bros. Clockwork, a speciality division of Warner Bros., announced a one-week-long theatre release of the 1971 cult classic 'The Devils' by Ken Russell.
A week later, fresh screenings were announced in France, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Ireland and other countries. By October 29, Warner Bros said the film would 'play in theatres indefinitely'.
The production house is set to release a 4K UHD and a Blu-ray Collector's Edition in April 2027 due to popular demand. A forgotten film that was supposed to make a modest reappearance has turned into a hit.
According to Box Office Mojo, The Devils has grossed over $4.5 million worldwide since its October re-release. In a 5-star rated review, The Guardian wrote: "Russell's film allows us now to register what was perhaps not registered fully in 1971."
The Devils, which is categorised as a historical psychological horror film, is a dramatised account of the life of 17th-century Catholic priest Urbain Grandier, who was accused of witchcraft. It also features Sister Jeanne des Anges, a sexually repressed nun who also faced accusations.
Russell based his film on 'The Devils of Loudun' by Aldous Huxley and the stage play 'The Devils' by John Whiting. Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave plays Sister Jeanne and Oliver Reed portrays the promiscuous priest Father Grandier.
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The film won Russell the Best Director award at the Venice International Film Festival in 1972, but it was subject to widespread criticism and censorship due to its explosive content that included nudity and violence combined with religious themes.
The Vatican had demanded the film be banned for its controversial subject. An AP report from August 1971 quoted Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano that called 'The Devils' "an insult to cinema".
The original 1971 release was devoid of two controversial portions, which have since been restored. That was made possible by film critic Mark Kermode, who dug out the original footage from Warner Bros. ' archive with the help of Warner Bros. employee Tim Everett. The Wall Street Journal wrote that Kermode had been working on a documentary on The Devils.
Earlier this year, the remastered Director's Cut of The Devils was screened at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.