[7] Shot in Rome, Budapest,[8] and Blue Island, it was released on January 28, 2011, received generally negative reviews from critics, and grossed $96 million worldwide.

Disillusioned with his job as a mortician, Michael decides to enter a seminary and renounce his vows upon completion, thereby getting a free college degree.

Four years later, Michael is being ordained to the rank of deacon at the seminary, after which he writes a letter of resignation to his superior, Father Matthew, citing a lack of faith.

Michael agrees after Father Matthew tells him that the Church might convert his scholarship into a student loan that would cost him $100,000 if his resignation is accepted before he takes his vows.

However, Michael remains skeptical, even after witnessing several preternatural events, such as the girl coughing up three long nails and speaking English fluently.

[14] Håfström began casting in March for the lead roles of Father Lucas and Michael Kovak, deciding on Anthony Hopkins and Colin O'Donoghue.

[14][16] The film is based on the book The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist by then Rome-based American journalist Matt Baglio, which was published in 2009 and 2010.

To research the book, Baglio participated in a seminar[17] on exorcism by the Vatican-sponsored Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum[18][19] where he met Father Gary Thomas, a parish priest from Sacred Heart Church in Saratoga, California, who was tasked by the local bishop in San Jose, California to become an exorcist for the diocese.

Baglio indicates that the experience in writing the book "was just a very spiritual process and in a lot of ways, it helped me reconnect to the Church and understand the value of faith.

[24][25] Father Gary Thomas served as a consultant on the set of The Rite[26][27] and indicated that the exorcisms in the film were "very accurate" with some "expected licenses" taken.

[3] The film made $14.8 million from 2,985 theaters in its opening weekend, beating fellow newcomer The Mechanic and topping the box office.

The website's consensus reads: "Anthony Hopkins is as excellent as ever, but he's no match for The Rite's dawdling pace and lack of chills -- or Colin O'Donoghue's tentative performance in the leading role.

[34] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars and said, "I admire The Rite because while it delivers what I suppose should be called horror, it is atmospheric, its cinematography is eerie and evocative, and the actors enrich it.

[36][37][38][39][40] The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops noted: "Though shaky on a few details, director Mikael Håfström's conversion tale resoundingly affirms faith and the value of priestly ministry.