The Conjuring: Last Rites' Box Office Haunts Records with $256 Million Global Smash

The Conjuring: Last Rites' box office has exorcised all doubts about the franchise's enduring power, racking up $256 million worldwide just days after its September 5 release.

This final chapter for paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, directed by Michael Chaves and starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, has blended spine-tingling scares with family drama to deliver a knockout punch at theaters.

Fans and newcomers alike are flocking to screens, proving that even after a decade of hauntings, the Conjuring universe still knows how to raise the dead in ticket sales. Dive into the chills and thrills behind this supernatural sensation.

Why Did The Conjuring: Last Rites Shatter Opening Weekend Expectations?

The film blasted past projections of $50 million domestic with an electrifying $83 million debut in North America alone. That figure marks the third-highest opening for any horror movie ever, trailing only the two It films from Warner Bros.

Overseas, it conjured $104 million from 66 markets, setting a new record for the biggest international launch in horror history and surpassing It: Chapter Two's $92 million.

Globally, the opening weekend tallied $187 million, the second-largest for a horror flick behind only 2017's It.

Thursday previews alone pulled in $8.5 million, the best for a horror title this year.

This surge happened despite a sleepy post-Labor Day frame, where analysts eyed a modest September kickoff.

Instead, the movie dominated with 91% market share in the Philippines and 83% in Indonesia, fueling its Asian dominance.

In Latin America, it claimed the all-time horror opening crown. The secret? A perfect storm of franchise nostalgia and premium formats like IMAX, which added $14.3 million globally, the biggest September haul ever for that screen type.

How Does The Conjuring: Last Rites Stack Up Against Previous Conjuring Hits?

Last Rites has outpaced its siblings from the start, but its legs will tell the full story. Here's a quick comparison of the mainline Conjuring films' key metrics:

The original duo set the gold standard with tight scares and high praise, while the third entry suffered from pandemic woes and mixed vibes. Last Rites flips the script, nearly quadrupling its budget in week one and boosting the universe's total past $2.5 billion.

Critics note it's no match for the first film's fresh terror, but audiences adore the emotional send-off, echoing the series' reliable formula of jump scares and heartfelt Warren moments.

Spin-offs like The Nun ($53.8M opening) pale in comparison, underscoring why this finale feels like an Avengers-level event for horror fans.

What Role Did Audience Buzz Play in The Conjuring: Last Rites' Success?

Word-of-mouth has been the movie's secret weapon, earning a solid B CinemaScore, the franchise's lowest but still strong for scares. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds 55% from critics who call it a "fitting curtain call" with eerie atmosphere but familiar beats. Audiences counter with 78%, praising jump scares, visuals, and the Warrens' chemistry as "incredible as always."

Social chatter on platforms like Reddit hails it as an "event movie" for casual horror lovers, with fans noting the emotional depth in family ties and cameos from past victims.

 Metacritic's 54/100 reflects mixed takes on pacing, but the film's B+ audience vibe from earlier entries lingers, driving repeat viewings.

This buzz has Warner Bros. eyeing a prequel phase, proving the haunt never truly ends.Is The Conjuring: Last Rites a Profitable Ghost for Warner Bros?Absolutely, and then some. With a $55 million budget, the film has already quadrupled its cost globally, turning a tidy profit before marketing.

Domestic earnings hit $105 million by day seven, while international markets like India ($6.7 million weekend) and Mexico pushed the overseas cume to $151.4 million.

This extends Warner Bros.' streak to seven straight $40 million-plus openers, a post-pandemic first.

 For a franchise built on real-life cases like the Smurl haunting, Last Rites delivers not just chills but cold hard cash, solidifying its spot as horror's top earner.

Some Closing Thoughts:

The Conjuring: Last Rites has proven that some spirits are too stubborn to fade away, blending heart-pounding horror with box office wizardry to cap a legendary run.

Whether you're a die-hard fan reliving the Warrens' legacy or a thrill-seeker jumping at shadows, this finale delivers the frights and feels in equal measure.

As whispers of more Conjuring tales swirl, one thing's clear: the scares are far from over. Grab your popcorn and brace for the aftershocks.