Let the resurrection begin.
Jolting the box office back to life in a major way, New Line’s The Conjuring: Last Rites scared up a franchise-best $8.5 million in Thursday previews in yet another win for the Warner Bros. film empire. That’s also the biggest franchise gross of the year to date for a horror film after passing up the $5.8 million earned in previews by Sony’s 28 Years Later.
The news only gets better from there. The R-rated film is showing no signs of slowing down at the Friday box office, and is now on course to top the chart with a franchise-best debut of $65 million-plus from 3,802 theaters (rivals think $70 million is even possible). That’s almost double the $35 million projection provided by New Line and parent company Warners heading into the weekend, although most others thought it would do at least $50 million.
Overseas, the forecast calls for a $50 million debut from more than 60 markets against a net production budget of $55 million before marketing.
The Conjuring: Last Rites stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in their final turn as real-life paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Lorraine, but that doesn’t mean the franchise is going anywhere. Last Rites is billed as the ninth and final title in Phase One of The Conjuring Universe, which has become the top-grossing horror franchise in box office history after collecting more than $2.3 billion in global ticket sales, not adjusted for inflation. Next up is Phase Two.
Directed by series regular Michael Chaves, Last Rites — a sequel to The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me to Do It — is based on the Warrens’ investigation of the Smurl haunting in Pennsylvania. Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy also star, with Atomic Monster’s James Wan and DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran returning to produce.
In 2013, the very first Conjuring movie opened to $41 million domestically, not adjusted for inflation. No subsequent franchise title has been able to topple that record. That is, until now.
Critics haven’t been so kind to the new Last Rites movie — the same could be said for most installments — but early audience reaction is promising.
The horror title isn’t the only new offering on the marquee scaring up strong numbers as the fall box office gets underway. Disney’s re-release of the acclaimed 2020 filmed version of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s groundbreaking stage musical Hamilton is singing to strong numbers, earning $850,000 in Thursday previews.
Based on early returns, Hamilton is now on track to come in second for the weekend with a pleasing $9 million to $10 million, on par with last weekend’s 50th Anniversary re-release of Steven Spielberg’s legendary Jaws.
Hamilton is booked in 1,825 theaters domestically, including over 100 premium large-format screens. Promoted as a one-week limited engagement, the run will likely be extended based on demand.
Sept. 5, 1:50 p.m.: Updated with revised weekend projections.
This story was originally published today at 8:28 a.m.
