The Conjuring: Last Rites has just crossed a new Warner Bros.’ milestone, surpassing the studio’s third-best Terminator movie. Directed by Michael Chaves, the fourth installment in the hit Conjuring franchise hit theaters earlier this month, chronicling Ed and Lorraine Warren’s final case.
With both Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga returning, Last Rites has been a big hit so far. Despite opening to mixed reviews from critics, the film grossed $194 million worldwide, setting a new franchise record and becoming the biggest opening ever for a horror film globally.
This weekend, The Conjuring: Last Rites grossed an additional $12.9 million, bringing its domestic total to $151.1 million. For Warner Bros., this means the film has now surpassed the domestic total of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), which stands at $150.3 million, per The Numbers.
Terminator 3‘s domestic box office listed above has not been adjusted for inflation.
What This Means For The Conjuring: Last Rites
Made on an estimated budget of $55 million, The Conjuring: Last Rites could be looking at a break-even point of around $137 million. Having beaten this in the opening weekend alone, the film is already highly profitable for Warner Bros., and it speaks to just how much audience interest there still remains in the larger Conjuring universe.
The film’s latest milestone comes as the critical response remains tepid. The Conjuring: Last Rites reviews from critics have been mixed, with the film sporting a lackluster 59% on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience-driven Popcornmeter score, however, is higher at 78%, and its with general viewers that these films really succeed.
The success of the film certainly suggests that this franchise isn’t going anywhere. The big question now is whether this is truly the end of the road for Ed and Lorraine. These two characters have been at the center of the Conjuring saga since 2013, but Last Rites‘ being such a big means Warner Bros. could be keen on keeping them around.
Even if Ed and Lorraine don’t return, another Conjuring movie seems inevitable. If another film does happen, though, franchise creator James Wan may not be a part of it. After directing the first two installments, Wan has remained on board as a producer, but a recent report suggests the relationship between Wan and Warner Bros. has broken down over contract negotiations.
Our Take On The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Latest Box Office Milestone
2025 has been a big year for original horror, with both Sinners and Weapons earning acclaim and becoming major commercial successes. Franchise horror, however, is still crucial for theaters, as Last Rites makes abundantly clear.
If Warner Bros. decides to make another installment in this franchise, the Last Rites ending does leave the door open enough for more stories. Whether it makes sense creatively to continue the saga, however, is another matter, and it will reach a point of diminishing returns.
For now, though, audiences are clearly enjoying The Conjuring: Last Rites. Ed and Lorraine continue to be two of the most compelling protagonists in the genre, and the latest milestone suggests viewers may not have seen the last of them just yet.
- Release Date
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September 5, 2025
- Runtime
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135 Minutes
- Director
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Michael Chaves
