“Last Rites” Conjures $75M-$80M Opening, Revitalizing “Conjuring” Universe
Warner Bros.’ Last Rites, the latest installment in the Conjuring Universe, has exceeded expectations with a domestic opening weekend projected between $75 million and $80 million. The film’s strong performance marks a significant rebound for the franchise, which hadn’t seen an opening weekend surpass the original 2013 Conjuring‘s $41 million (not adjusted for inflation) since The Nun debuted with $53.8 million in 2018. Despite mixed critical reception, audiences have responded positively, awarding the film a B CinemaScore-a solid grade for a horror title.
the success of Last Rites is particularly noteworthy as it arrives alongside other strong performers, signaling a robust start to the fall box office season. The film’s debut demonstrates continued audience appetite for the Conjuring Universe, a cornerstone of modern horror, and positions it as a key player in the genre’s landscape for the remainder of the year.
Disney’s rerelease of the filmed version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton is also contributing to the box office surge, earning an estimated $3.9 million on Friday, including $850,000 in Thursday previews, and tracking for a $9 million to $10 million weekend-comparable to the recent 50th-anniversary rerelease of Jaws. Hamilton is playing in 1,825 theaters domestically, including over 100 premium large-format screens, and a one-week limited engagement is likely to be extended due to high demand.
Rounding out the top five are New Line’s Weapons and Disney’s Freakier Friday, both in their fifth week of release, while Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing is expected to experience a significant drop in its second weekend, falling more than 60 percent.