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Conjuring: Last Rites Sets Horror Record with $83M Debut

9/9/2025

Summary

Conjuring Breaks Records

"The Conjuring: Last Rites" debuted with $83 million, setting a franchise record and becoming 2025's top horror premiere.
It surpassed "The Nun" ($53.8 million) and ranks third behind "It" ($123 million) and "It: Chapter Two" ($91 million).
The film grossed $187 million globally, including $104 million internationally, marking the largest horror debut worldwide.
Warner Bros. has released seven films this year, each opening above $40 million.
Despite mixed reviews, audience ratings indicate strong viewer interest, boosting fall box office hopes.
Disney's "Hamilton" placed second with $10 million, while "Weapons" earned $5.3 million in third.

Summary

Warrens Investigate Haunting

"The Conjuring: Last Rites" depicts the Smurl family haunting investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren in the 1980s, involving a demon and a cursed mirror.
The film condenses a 15-year haunting into months, omitting significant traumatic details, including reported assaults.
Local priest Reverend Joseph Adonizio, not the Warrens, ultimately subdued the haunting through prayer.
The film concludes the Warrens' story, featuring their daughter Judy, hinting at future franchise possibilities.
Director Michael Chaves aims to end the series positively, recognizing fans' emotional ties to the Warrens.

History

Historical Context

The Smurl family haunting in Pennsylvania gained notoriety in 1981 when paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren claimed the home was inhabited by multiple spirits, including a demon. This case, alongside earlier films like "The Exorcist" (1973), reflects a sustained public fascination with supernatural themes, culminating in the success of "The Conjuring: Last Rites," which debuted with $83 million in 2025.

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Conjuring Breaks Records

"The Conjuring: Last Rites" debuted with $83 million, setting a franchise record and becoming 2025's top horror premiere.
It surpassed "The Nun" ($53.8 million) and ranks third behind "It" ($123 million) and "It: Chapter Two" ($91 million).
The film grossed $187 million globally, including $104 million internationally, marking the largest horror debut worldwide.
Warner Bros. has released seven films this year, each opening above $40 million.
Despite mixed reviews, audience ratings indicate strong viewer interest, boosting fall box office hopes.
Disney's "Hamilton" placed second with $10 million, while "Weapons" earned $5.3 million in third.

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