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In a year full of movie surprises, The Conjuring: Last Rites has turned out to be the biggest shocker of 2025 and for all the right reasons. The final chapter of this famous horror series blew everyone away with an $83 million opening weekend in the U.S. That’s not only the highest debut in the Conjuring franchise, but also one of the best openings ever for a horror movie.
When Warner Bros. announced that Last Rites would be the final story of ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren, fans were both excited and unsure. Could the last film really live up to the series’ legacy? Would it bring something new while still tying everything together?
Looking at the numbers, the answer is clearly yes.
And the excitement wasn’t limited to the U.S. the film made $187 million worldwide in just its first weekend, proving its global appeal and massive fan following. Add a record-setting $14.3 million from IMAX screens, and it’s clear Last Rites is a game-changer.
What’s even more surprising? It did all this despite getting mixed reviews from critics. That just goes to show how much fans love this franchise, and how powerful a well-told, long-running story can be even in the face of criticism. Horror is clearly making a big comeback this year, and The Conjuring: Last Rites isn’t just a part of the trend it’s leading the way.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at how Last Rites achieved this massive success, dive into the numbers behind its record-breaking performance, and explore what it means for the future of horror films. Buckle up the scares (and the stats) are just getting started.
When The Conjuring: Last Rites hit theaters, no one expected it to do this well. But in just 72 hours, it shocked everyone the movie made a huge $83 million in the U.S. alone. That’s the biggest opening weekend ever for any Conjuring film, and it now ranks as one of the top three horror movie openings in U.S. history.
That’s not just impressive it’s record-breaking.
And the success didn’t stop there. Around the world, Last Rites pulled in a massive $187 million in its first weekend. This made it one of the biggest global openings ever for a horror film, only behind a few major hits. What made it so successful? It wasn’t just fans of the franchise it was the perfect mix of hype, smart marketing, and the thrill of seeing Ed and Lorraine Warren’s final spooky adventure on the big screen.
During its opening weekend, The Conjuring: Last Rites surprised everyone even box office experts. It earned over $83 million in the U.S. and more than $194 million worldwide, making it one of the biggest horror movie openings ever. What’s even more amazing? It did all this while going up against other big Hollywood and international films.
Fans were clearly excited to see the spooky atmosphere, familiar cast, and the final chapter on the big screen. Horror lovers showed up in huge numbers to experience the grand finale in theaters.
Another big achievement? The movie made $14.3 million from IMAX screenings alone the biggest IMAX opening ever for a horror film. This shows that fans didn’t just want to watch the movie they wanted the full, intense experience. Premium formats like IMAX and Dolby were packed, proving that horror movies like Last Rites can shine on the biggest, fanciest screens not just action films.
When The Conjuring: Last Rites was first announced, box office analysts had cautious hopes. After all, the horror genre has been hit-or-miss in recent years, and franchise fatigue often sinks final entries. But what happened on release weekend blew every prediction out of the water.
Before the movie came out, experts thought it would make around $35 to $40 million in its U.S. opening weekend. Some more hopeful predictions said maybe $60 to $64 million. But even those guesses were too low. By Sunday night, Last Rites had made a huge $83 million in the U.S., beating all expectations even the ones from Warner Bros. themselves.
So, what caused this surprise hit? A mix of fan nostalgia, a powerful trailer, and smart early reviews helped build excitement. But the biggest reason? Loyal fans of the series showed up in big numbers to see the final chapter of a story they’ve followed for over 10 years.
Critics didn’t love The Conjuring: Last Rites. It got a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B” CinemaScore from moviegoers not terrible, but not amazing either. Normally, that kind of response could hurt a horror film, since word of mouth is so important.
But this time, fans didn’t care much about the reviews. They wanted a proper ending to the story, and that’s what they got. With familiar characters, emotional moments, and nods to past movies, it gave long-time fans the closure they were looking for. Even if critics weren’t fully convinced, the fans showed up and that made all the difference at the box office.
Money-wise, Last Rites is a big success. It was made on a $55 million budget, but it’s already made $187 million worldwide more than three times what it cost to make. And that doesn’t even include the money it’ll earn from streaming or home releases later.
Compared to other films in the series, it did even better than The Nun, which opened with $53.8 million in the U.S., and it came close to beating The Conjuring 2, which was one of the franchise’s biggest hits. This shows that Last Rites isn’t just a strong ending it’s one of the most successful horror finales ever made.
The Conjuring: Last Rites didn’t just meet expectations it demolished them. With its record-breaking $83 million U.S. opening, massive global haul of $187 million, and dominance in markets like India, this final entry in the iconic franchise proved that horror is far from dead. In fact, it may be entering a whole new golden age.
Despite mixed reviews, the film resonated with audiences who have followed the journey of Ed and Lorraine Warren since the first film hit theaters over a decade ago. Last Rites delivered on what fans wanted most: a thrilling, emotional, and satisfying end to a beloved horror saga. That emotional connection coupled with clever marketing and premium format appeal created the perfect storm for box office success.
It also set a new benchmark for how horror films can perform in global markets and premium cinemas like IMAX, traditionally dominated by action blockbusters. This success could encourage studios to invest more heavily in horror franchises, treat them with the same blockbuster strategy as superhero films, and tap into international audiences that are hungry for scares.
As Warner Bros. basks in this massive win, one thing is clear: The Conjuring: Last Rites isn’t just the end of a franchise it’s a turning point for the horror genre as a whole. And if this finale has taught us anything, it’s that great storytelling, fan loyalty, and smart distribution can still cast a powerful spell at the box office.
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