The Conjuring: Last Rites has made a monumental impact at the global box office, raking in an impressive $187 million in its opening weekend. This achievement marks the best start for the occult-themed franchise and secures its place as the second-largest global debut in horror film history, just behind the 2017 blockbuster It, which earned $190 million.
The ticket sales for Last Rites exceeded early projections, showcasing a remarkable $104 million in international markets and $83 million domestically. This latest installment has overtaken 2019’s It: Chapter Two, which garnered $92 million, to claim the title of the largest overseas debut for a horror film.
Among the individual territories, Mexico led the charge with $13.3 million, followed by the United Kingdom at $8.8 million, Brazil with $7.7 million, and India contributing $6.7 million. The film's popularity was especially pronounced in IMAX theaters, which collectively brought in $14.3 million globally. This figure marks the highest debut for an IMAX release in September.
Domestically, The Conjuring: Last Rites pulled in $9.4 million from IMAX locations, establishing a new record as IMAX's biggest opening for the horror genre. The film was directed by franchise veteran Michael Chaves and features stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprising their roles as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who strive to exorcise a demon from a haunted home.
The creative minds behind the film, James Wan and Peter Safran, returned as producers, further solidifying the film’s connection to the successful Conjuring universe. This franchise, which includes popular spinoffs such as The Nun and Annabelle, has amassed over $2.3 billion, making it the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time.
Produced on a budget of $55 million, The Conjuring: Last Rites has quickly become a theatrical success for Warner Bros.. This success follows a string of triumphs, including A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Final Destination Bloodlines, F1: The Movie (distributed for Apple), Superman, and Weapons. The studio is experiencing a resurgence after a challenging period marked by underperforming titles like Joker: Folie à Deux, Mickey 17, and The Alto Knights.
In other box office news, Weapons has crossed the $250 million mark globally, with $108 million coming from international markets and $143 million from North America. These results are impressive for an original horror film and promise to yield significant profit margins for Warner Bros., given the film's modest production budget of $38 million.
Overall, The Conjuring: Last Rites not only showcases the enduring appeal of the Conjuring franchise but also signals a revitalization for Warner Bros. in the competitive landscape of the film industry.
