Conjuring Universe Finale Smashes Records with Surprise $194M Debut

In a stunning turn of events, The Conjuring: Last Rites, the latest film in the Conjuring Universe, has opened to a record-smashing $194 million globally. This far exceeds the expected $35 million-plus debut, leaving Hollywood in disbelief.

The success of Last Rites is a major victory for Warner Bros. Pictures co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, who just six or seven months ago faced intense criticism over several high-profile misses. However, the duo has since engineered an impressive rebound, beginning with the $957 million global haul of A Minecraft Movie in April and the nearly $370 million success of the original horror film Sinners.

This summer has seen further triumphs for the studio, including the $307 million reboot Final Destination: Bloodlines and the $250 million-plus earner Weapons, an original horror title. De Luca and Abdy have praised the work of New Line boss Richard Brenner and director Michael Chaves for the latest Conjuring Universe victory, with pundits particularly impressed by Last Rites' performance as the fourth core franchise installment and ninth in the overall series.

The marketing campaign's focus on the "finale factor" of Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson's characters appears to have been a key driver of the film's success. However, sources suggest the studio's new marketing structure, which has emphasized innovative digital and social media strategies, has also played a role in the string of box office wins.

With eight films opening at number one so far this year, more than any other studio, Warner Bros. is now less than two percentage points behind Disney in terms of 2025 box office market share. And the studio is not done yet, with awards season contenders like Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another on the horizon.