The project so impressed station management that Friedkin was appointed head of a newly created documentary film unit. He continued to make documentaries, including several for producer, David Wolper: "THE THIN BLUE LINE", "MAYHEM ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON" and "THE BOLD MEN".
Friedkin's first feature film, "Good Times" (1968) also marked the screen debut of Sonny and Cher. This was followed by "The Night They Raided The Minsky's" (1968), "The Birthday Party" (1969), and "The Boys In The Band" (1970).
During the late 60's and early 70's with the youth movement, Woodstock and the Vietnam War, using drugs became an integral part of the counterculture. "The French Connection" (1971), a sharp, gritty exposé of the drug world, won Friedkin a Best Director Oscar and was voted Best Picture.
He followed that with "The Exorcist" (1973), one of the most horrifying pictures of all time. It received ten Academy Award Nominations. As with all moments that stand out in life, audiences still vividly remember the terror they felt watching the demonically possessed Linda Blair.
Other Friedkin pictures include: "Sorcerer" (1971), "The Brinks Job" (1979), "Cruising" (1981), "Deal Of The Century" (1983), and "To Live And Die In L.A." (1985).
In 1986 Friedkin returned to television with a two hour Movie of the Week titled, "C.A.T. Squad". NBC ordered A Second "C.A.T. Squad-Python Wolf" which aired in May of 1988.
Between the television shows Friedkin directed "Rampage" (1987), a feature film for which he also wrote the screenplay. The film deals with the death penalty and the complexity of the insanity plea. This picture was released in 1992.
In 1990, Friedkin returned to the horror genre with the release of "The Guardian". This was followed by an episode of HBO's "Tales From The Crypt", which Friedkin directed in 1992.
In 1993, Friedkin directed "Blue Chips" for Paramount Pictures starring Nick Nolte, Shaquille O'Neal and Mary McDonnell. "Blue Chips " was released after positive reviews in February, 1994.
Friedkin followed this by directing another Paramount Pictures feature, "Jade" (1995), written by Joe Esterhaus.
In early 1997, Friedkin directed a Showtime/MGM television remake of the clasic courtroom drama "Twelve Angry Men" which included legendary stars such as Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, Armin Meuller-Stahl, Hume Cronyn and Ossie Davis. The DGA nominated Friedkin for Outstanding Directorial Achievement for Best Dramatic Special. It was also nominated for six Emmy awards.
On May 26, 1998 Friedkin made his remarkable operatic debut by directing Alban Berg's "Wozzeck" in Florence, Italy. Zubin Mehta conducted. It was a widely acclaimed critical success.
In May of this year, Friedkin finished principle photography on a military courtroom drama filmed on the East Coast and in Morocco. The film stars Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel Jackson and will be released sometime next year.