‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Revives Box Office—Aiming for an Impressive $65M Opening Weekend!

It’s time for a horror renaissance.

New Line’s The Conjuring: Last Rites has kicked the box office into high gear, raking in a stunning $8.5 million during Thursday previews. This makes it the best for the franchise and the highest for any horror film this year, surpassing Sony’s 28 Years Later with $5.8 million.

The excitement doesn’t stop there. As we move into Friday, Last Rites is expected to have a massive opening weekend, projected to earn over $65 million from 3,802 theaters. Some insiders even speculate it could reach $70 million. This far exceeds earlier estimates, which guessed around $35 million.

Internationally, things look promising too, with projections of a $50 million debut across more than 60 countries. The film was produced on a budget of $55 million before marketing costs.

Featuring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as renowned paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, this movie marks the end of Phase One of The Conjuring Universe. Remarkably, this franchise has shattered records, earning more than $2.3 billion in ticket sales worldwide, solidifying its status as the highest-grossing horror series ever.

Directed by Michael Chaves, Last Rites is a follow-up to The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and draws from the famous Smurl haunting story in Pennsylvania. The talented cast also includes Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy, with producers James Wan and Peter Safran at the helm.

Looking back, the original Conjuring premiered in 2013, opening with $41 million domestically. No sequel has beaten that—until now.

While critics hold mixed views on Last Rites, audience reactions are looking brighter, suggesting that fans may find it more enjoyable than some reviews convey.

This isn’t the only film making waves this fall. Disney’s re-release of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s lyrical masterpiece, Hamilton, earned $850,000 in Thursday previews. It’s on track to pull in $9 million to $10 million this weekend, making it a strong contender alongside the recent re-release of Spielberg’s classic Jaws.

Hamilton is currently screening in 1,825 theaters, including over 100 premium formats. Although marketed as a limited one-week run, an extension seems likely due to demand.

This revival of excitement in theaters points to a growing appetite for cinematic experiences, especially in the horror genre. Viewer engagement is booming, reminding us how resilient and adaptable the film industry can be.

For further insights on box office trends and audience reactions, you can explore reports from sources like the [**Hollywood Reporter**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/) or the [**Box Office Mojo**](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/).

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