The Conjuring: Last Rites has done the unthinkable and closed in on Marvel Studios’ The Marvels in just four days upon its release. The ninth entry in the horror franchise has made $194 million (via Box Office Mojo) at the global box office, while Brie Larson’s movie has a lifetime earnings of $206 million (via Box Office Mojo).
Here’s an overview of both movies:
| Title | Domestic Box Office | Worldwide Box Office | Rotten Tomatoes (critic score | audience score) |
| The Conjuring: Last Rites | $84 million | $194 million | 57% | 79% |
| The Marvels | 84.5 million | $206 million | 63% | 79% |
On the domestic front, it is already neck to neck as Last Rites has grossed up to $84 million, while The Marvels sits at $84.5 million. So, it wouldn’t be long before the Warrens saga completely leaves behind a Marvel IP, and that’s an achievement in its own right for a genre that’s often associated with a niche audience and limited potential.
Now, let’s look at how The Conjuring: Last Rites is already making history in Hollywood, despite its lukewarm critical reception.
The Conjuring: Last Rites Makes History with Largest Horror Opening
The Conjuring: Last Rites is not just performing well, but also shattering records across the board! Domestically, the movie opened in 3,802 theaters and grossed $84 million, making it the third-largest horror debut (via Variety).
It made $110 million from the international market and surpassed It: Chapter Two to have the largest overseas debut as a horror movie. And its global haul of $194 million makes it the single biggest opening ever for a feature of its genre.
With a budget of only $55 million, Last Rites is already earning profits as we speak. The whole franchise has now grossed more than 2.3 billion globally after the release of all its nine films, making it the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time!
Why Did The Conjuring: Last Rites Dominate Box Office Despite Mixed Reviews?
The movie landed a mediocre critic score of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it was balanced out with its 79% audience score. So clearly, for the fans, this is more than just about the rating and the box office numbers. It’s about being a part of a shared farewell for the main Conjuring movies and the Warrens!
Fans have invested in Ed and Lorraine Warren since 2013’s The Conjuring, and the promise of a finale carried emotional weight. Last Rites leaned heavily on nostalgia, showcasing previous artifacts and even referencing past cases.
These moments made the viewers feel like they were sharing a cultural memory, and turned it into an event that celebrated the saga’s history. Finally, 2025 has simply been a great year for horror with entries like Sinners and Weapons doing exceptionally well at the box office.
People’s faith in the genre has been restored, and the combination of all these factors allowed The Conjuring: Last Rites to transcend its mixed reviews. So, can you think of any more reasons behind the success of this last chapter?
You can watch The Marvels on Disney+. The Conjuring: Last Rites is currently playing in theaters (USA).
