'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAHxAAAgICAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAAwQhBREiMUGR/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//EABcRAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAjH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AMNyM1xxNVZVTXTS1FGtopsLefZ2fskDMfoO0REIJdPL/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Conjuring: Last Rites was released in theatres on September 5, serving as the conclusion to the highest-grossing horror film series ever.
The franchise has been scaring audiences for more than a decade with its creepy vibes, iconic demons, and, of course, the wholesome reliability of Ed and Lorraine Warren.
More than a mere instalment in a horror universe that has become a long and winding road, The Conjuring: Last Rites pays homage to the original sub-genre it helped proliferate while providing new jolts of fear.
But at its centre is a return to what made the first film so memorable: tightly coiled scares, a palpable sense of foreboding, and a case inspired by real-life reports of possession.
How The Conjuring: Last Rites returns to the franchise's core
For director Michael Chaves, the approach to The Conjuring: Last Rites was about circling back to the very essence of the series. During a chat with GamesRadar+, Chaves confessed that while his previous effort leaned more heavily into thriller territory, this time he was going to double down on what had worked for the 2013 original.
“I love that we took a big swing with, kind of doing more of a thriller, supernatural serial killer with Conjuring 3. I think with this, I just wanted to return to basics, because we were also doing a very kind of Warren-centric story. And I think that was something that you needed to have something that felt very familiar."
The director also spoke of early audience reactions, saying that people always said it came “full circle” for them, which was precisely what he wanted.
“We test-screened it a lot, and a lot of people would say that it felt full circle. And that was totally the goal. We love our fans, and we love our audiences, and we make these movies for fans and for audiences."
He further emphasized that the scares were designed as meticulously as the stunts in a blockbuster, saying:
“If you’re going to a Mission: Impossible movie, it’s to watch Tom Cruise jump off a cliff. If you’re going to a Conjuring movie, it’s for these scenes.”
The final chapter had a lot to live up to, not only as a farewell to iconic characters, but as the final word on a series that ushered in a new era of supernatural movies for the mainstream.
The Conjuring: Last Rites storyline and box office reception
The Conjuring: Last Rites focuses on the Warrens’ final case, the notorious Smurl haunting, in which they assist a family plagued by a violent demonic presence. The narrative continues to be clearly rooted in the supernatural, but the film also grapples with the idea of legacy, taking a look at what it means for the Warrens to square retirement after five decades of scraping through the darkest corner of human belief.
Trending
The movie made $81 million in its domestic debut in the U.S. during its opening weekend, a franchise record-breaking start there. It opened to a total of $187 million globally, the biggest international horror opening ever, outpacing IT: Chapter 2. The Conjuring: Last Rites instantly earned its spot as 2025's top-performing horror film and proved that the series can still rule the box office.
Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!
Reply
