“The Conjuring: last Rites” Scares Up Record-Breaking Box Office, Signaling a Theatrical Rebound
New Line’s latest installment in the horror franchise is poised to deliver a franchise-best opening weekend, alongside a surprising performance from Disney’s re-release of “Hamilton,” demonstrating a renewed appetite for theatrical experiences after the streaming boom.
The box office is experiencing a jolt of energy this weekend, led by the terrifying success of “The Conjuring: Last Rites.” Early estimates suggest the film will gross around $75 million domestically, potentially reaching as high as $80 million, after a stunning $34.6 million debut on Friday, including preview showings.This performance easily surpasses previous records for the “Conjuring” universe, exceeding the $53.8 million opening of 2018’s “The Nun.”
“This is easily an opening record for a ‘Conjuring’ movie and the best start for a horror movie this year,” a source close to the studio confirmed. The film’s success is particularly noteworthy as it arrives amidst a period where analysts had cautiously predicted a modest start to September.
while the final tally hinges on Saturday’s performance – with rival estimates projecting a hold between -20% and -24% compared to Friday’s figures – the initial response has been overwhelmingly positive. The film received a CinemaScore of B, exceeding the scores of previous installments like “The Nun” (C-) and aligning with the core “Conjuring” films (1 & 2 r
Disney’s re-release of “Hamilton” is also contributing to the weekend’s success, generating approximately $1.5 million in revenue, representing 6% of “Hamilton’s” ticket sales, with strong performance in the East, south, and midwest. Disney’s El Capitain in Hollywood is currently the top-grossing venue, with approximately $30,000 in revenue.
Also opening this weekend, Roadside Attractions’ “Twinless,” starring Dylan O’Brien, has garnered a CinemaScore of A after a $174,000 Friday and a projected $411,000 three-day gross across 567 theaters.
the weekend box office is estimated to reach around $117.5 million, a 20% decrease from the $147.5 million generated during the same period last year, when Warner Bros.’ “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” dominated the charts.
The success of “The Conjuring: last Rites” is emblematic of a broader trend: intellectual property previously relegated to streaming platforms is thriving with full theatrical releases. As one studio executive stated, “Warner Bros can get down on its knees and thank the Almighty” for the film’s performance, marking the studio’s seventh No. 1 opener of 2025 and its fourth consecutive No. 1 opening in the horror genre.The film’s $8.5 million preview haul shattered previous records for the “Conjuring” franchise, besting “The Nun’s” $5.4 million in 2018 and establishing a new benchmark for Warner Bros. and New Line horror releases.
Despite a 58% “Rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, comparable to “the conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” (56%), the film’s audience reception has been strong. The previous installment’s box office performance was impacted by its simultaneous release on HBO Max during the pandemic, resulting in a $24.1 million domestic opening and a $65.6 million domestic run, ultimately grossing $206 million worldwide. The “Conjuring” universe, encompassing the core films and spin-offs like “The Nun” and “Annabelle,” has collectively generated $2.3 billion globally, solidifying its position as the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time. The film’s audience breakdown reveals a 51% female and 49% male split, with the 18-34 demographic comprising 69% of the preview crowd. Notably, audiences aged 13-17 and 45-54 gave the film exceptionally high marks, with 92% and 90% approval ratings, respectively. Latino and Hispanic audiences demonstrated significant turnout on Thursday night, representing 44% of the audience, followed by Caucasian (28%), Black (14%), and Asian American (8%) viewers.
