‘Conjuring: Last Rites’ Shines with Record-Breaking $83 Million Opening Weekend!

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” has made a roaring comeback at the box office, raking in an impressive $83 million during its first weekend. This figure sets a new record for Warner Bros. and New Line’s “Conjuring” series, surpassing the previous record held by “The Nun,” which opened with $53.8 million in 2018. It is now the highest-grossing horror film opening of the year and ranks third in the genre’s all-time box office performance.

Analysts initially predicted it would earn around $50 to $60 million, but strong audience demand and positive word-of-mouth pushed ticket sales much higher. Reviews were mixed, but that rarely affects horror films’ performance. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are back as the iconic paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, tackling a demon haunting a family’s home. While it’s billed as the last film in the series, the box office success suggests that may not be the case.

Internationally, the film earned $104 million from 66 territories, bringing its global total to $187 million—setting a new record for the biggest overseas debut for a horror movie. “This is a smash,” says David A. Gross, a cinema analyst. “Horror fans can’t get enough of Lorraine and Ed Warren.”

The “Conjuring” franchise as a whole has earned a staggering $2.3 billion across nine films, making it the highest-grossing horror series ever. This latest installment was made for $55 million, ensuring healthy profit margins. Directed by Michael Chaves, the film continues a successful streak for Warner Bros., marking the seventh consecutive release this year to open above $40 million.

In a distant second place, Disney’s filmed version of “Hamilton” made $10 million from 1,825 theaters. Despite being available on Disney+ since 2020, this theatrical release shows that audiences are still eager for live performances.

This weekend was a significant boost for movie theaters following a sluggish summer. Comparisons to 2024 are tricky, as last year’s equivalent opening saw the release of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which opened to $111 million. Yet, year-to-date, box office figures are up 3.8% compared to last year, according to Comscore.

“After a quiet August, the industry needed a lift, and ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ has provided that,” says Paul Dergarabedian, a senior analyst at Comscore. With this sharp uptick, the fall movie season is off to a promising start, setting expectations for upcoming releases.

Further insights show that horror films, in general, thrive on unique storytelling and franchise loyalty. As viewers increasingly crave these experiences, industry experts believe this trend will continue.

On the domestic front, “Weapons” landed third with $5.3 million in its third weekend, while “Freakier Friday” and Darren Aronofsky’s “Caught Stealing” rounded out the top five, earning $3.8 million and $3.2 million, respectively. Despite mixed reviews, these films highlight the ongoing diversity in genres appealing to moviegoers today.

For more detailed industry insights, you can refer to the latest reports by Comscore here.

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Conjuring: The Last Rites