Conjuring Last Rites eyes strong start

New Line targets a strong start as The Conjuring Last Rites hits theaters in September.

Last Rites Opens with 35 Million to 40 Million at Domestic Box Office

New Line is tracking The Conjuring Last Rites for a domestic opening between 35 million and 40 million as it bows on September 5. The post Labor Day window has long been favorable for horror titles, a slot Warner Bros has used before with hits like It Chapter One which opened to 123.4 million in 2017 and remains the era’s biggest September debut. The Nun still holds the franchise opening record at 53.8 million.

Michael Chaves, who directed The Nun II and The Curse of La Llorona, returns to guide Last Rites. The film follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as they face one last haunting. This time the release is fully theatrical, a shift back from pandemic era strategies that dinged earlier entries when streaming or day and date releases limited box office potential.

Last Rites shows early signs of broad appeal. Early tracking points to solid interest among women and men across age groups, with numbers higher on first days than some recent fall horror openings such as Alien Romulus and Insidious Red Door. The approach leans into the franchise’s familiar scares and the Warren family legacy to draw in both longtime fans and new viewers.

The move to a full theater release signals a confidence in the Conjuring brand as a reliable tentpole for October and November horizons. If Last Rites sustains its opening, it could restore momentum for a franchise that has faced headwinds from strikes and mixed promotion in past installments. The outcome may influence Warner Bros strategy for midrange horror that couples recognizable IP with a clear theatrical path rather than streaming first. A strong start could encourage more sequels and extensions of the Warren universe, especially in a crowded fall slate.

Beyond the numbers, the film tests audience appetite for long form horror in a season crowded with prestige dramas and action titles. A successful opening would underscore that classic haunted house storytelling still commands a steady theater presence and that dedicated horror fans remain willing to line up for a proper scare in theaters.

Highlights

The fall schedule will show whether a strong start translates into lasting grosses for a franchise that has defined a genre cycle.