‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Overtakes 2025’s Most Successful Horror Movie at the Box Office

The Conjuring: Last Rites scared up an impressive $83 million at the U.S. box office this weekend, making it the biggest horror opening of 2025 so far, surpassing Zach Cregger’s near-perfect Weapons.

Globally, the film has earned $187 million, with $104 million coming from international markets, according to box office tracking sources. Its production budget was $55 million.

The film opened alongside Hamilton in 3,726 theaters and was initially expected to bring in about $50 million. After a strong first day, which included $8.5 million from Thursday previews, both franchise records, weekend projections were raised to $75 million.

The movie ultimately exceeded expectations, earning $83 million in its opening weekend. This marks the highest debut in The Conjuring franchise and the third-biggest opening ever for a horror film. Warner Bros. also recorded a milestone, marking its seventh consecutive release opening above $40 million, a first in the studio’s history.

The movie performed especially well in the Philippines, recording the second-highest opening of 2025 and the biggest for a horror film in the country, surpassing Final Destination: Bloodlines.

Critical response has been mixed. Rotten Tomatoes reports 56% of 146 critics’ reviews as positive, while Metacritic gives the film a score of 54 out of 100 based on 27 reviews, indicating “mixed or average” reception.

Audience feedback has been more positive, with CinemaScore polling a “B” average and PostTrak reporting that 58% of viewers would definitely recommend the movie.

Last Case. Last Rites. #TheConjuring: Last Rites – Only in Theaters September 5. pic.twitter.com/CIuwFTF3j0

— The Conjuring (@TheConjuring) May 8, 2025

The Conjuring franchise has been a major force in horror cinema since James Wan’s 2013 original film. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga portray real-life ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren, and the series has introduced iconic horror figures like the doll Annabelle and the demon nun Valak.

The franchise is the highest-grossing in horror history, and Last Rites continues that success with a record-breaking debut.

This latest installment surpasses the previous franchise record held by The Nun (2018), which opened to $53.8 million. Last Rites’ $83 million debut is a 54% improvement and far ahead of the last four films in the series, none of which opened above $35 million. In fact, this opening alone is higher than the lifetime grosses of some recent installments.

Looking ahead, the movie has a strong chance to top other major horror releases of 2025, including Sinners, Weapons, and Final Destination: Bloodlines, in terms of lifetime gross. While new releases next week could draw some of the audience away, nothing currently seems likely to knock Last Rites from its spot at the top.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites ends the franchise on a high note with a series-best opening figure,” noted one box office analyst, highlighting the film’s dominance in the horror genre.

Last Rites proves that the Conjuring franchise still knows how to deliver big scares and big numbers. With a record-setting opening and strong audience approval, it seems to be closing out the series with style. Do you think it will continue to dominate the box office? Share your thoughts in the comments.