All really great horror flicks, but 'The Exorcist' delivers the most intense and lingering scares for my money. Atheists turn agnostic after this one...just to be on the safer side.

I said too close. Psycho is brilliant, especially for its time, but so are the other two. I refuse to make a decision basically because i hold the exorcist and shining in equal regard, and psycho is on its own plane.

not sure what 'vs' means - i mean if i stick the three films into a steel cage for a grudge-match well. . . .to be honest. . . they would just sit there because they are inanimate objects.

if the question is which one do i like the best - the answer is probably Psycho.

If, on the other hand, you are asking which is the 'best' quality film - then the question is what does quality mean - is it pure technical brilliance (probably The Shining there) - is it 'scares' (probably the Exorcist on that one).

but, if it means the film that has had the most impact - then, hands down, it is Psycho - the single most important film in the history of American cinema. PERIOD!

what about night of the living dead?

important but, ultimately, heavily influenced by PSYCHO (oh and THE BIRDS). romero had the advantage of the 1968 shift to the MPAA rating system - but really his 'shock' tactics are just picking up the challenge laid down by Hitchcock

I've never liked the Exorcist at all. I can't really explain why, it's just one of those films that don't do it for me. As for the other two, I'd give the Shining the slight edge due to Kubrick, but I'd say that they are both masterpieces.

The Exorcist, hands down. I can handle haunted hotels and crazed nutjobs wearing wigs but not demon possession.

demon possession does creep me out also.. i watched a special on discovery channel about an exorcism and i had to turn it off. however, i still stick with psycho as my choice. i love hitchcock and for its time, it was very good. it still is good.

i voted for The Exorcist,
i hate The Shining i think it so overated

The Exorcist vs The Shining vs Psycho
 

I want to hear from you all. Everyone says these 3 movies are the scariest movies and greatest horror movies.

Vote please.