It's the year for horror and "The Conjuring: Last Rites" was no exception. Its opening weekend tipped the genre over $1 billion in earnings for this year's domestic box office.
North America box office
The horror sequel raked in $83 million domestically in 3,802 theatres, making it the third-highest domestic opening for a horror movie, behind "It" and "It: Chapter Two."
International box office
It's now the largest horror opening internationally, with $104 million in earnings outside of North American theatres. Overseas markets exceeded expectations, generating the huge $100+ million over modest projections of around $50 million. The film’s strong showing pushed its worldwide opening to $187 million, surpassing its $55 million production budget.
It also overtook fellow New Line release 'It: Chapter Two' $92.5 million to set a new record as the industry’s largest-ever foreign opening for a horror film.
Worldwide box office
The film delivered a phenomenal $187 million worldwide opening. This marks the best opening in the franchise’s history and ranks as the third-biggest horror debut of all time.
The film has received mixed reviews from critics, carrying a 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and a "B" CinemaScore.
Patrick Wilson and
Vera Farmiga return to the big screen in the ninth installment of "The Conjuring" as the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who attempt to vanquish a demon from a family's home.
'Last Rites' also handed Warner Bros. Pictures yet another opening weekend box office win, becoming the distributor's eighth No. 1 debut win this year and the studio's seventh film in a row to debut with over $40 million domestically.
The movie's opening weekend numbers are nearly double that of other successful horror movies this year, including Zach Cregger's August sleeper hit 'Weapons', 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' and 'Sinners'.
The horror genre last crossed the $1 billion mark in 2023. Upcoming horror films like 'Black Phone 2' and 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' are likely to boost that number.
'Last Rites' blew past other titles at the box office this weekend. Disney's filmed version of 'Hamilton" landed in second place with $10 million domestically.
The rest of the top spots were taken by several holdover titles. 'Weapons' secured third place during its fifth weekend, bringing in $5.4 million in earnings in North American theaters. The movie's debut partner, 'Freakier Friday' took fourth place with $3.8 million.
The crime caper 'Caught Stealing,' which debuted last weekend, rounded out the top five with $3.2 million in domestic earnings.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. "The Conjuring: Last Rites," $83 million.
2. "Hamilton," $10 million.
3. "Weapons," $5.4 million.
4. "Freakier Friday," $3.8 million.
5. "Caught Stealing," $3.2 million.
6. "The Roses," $2.8 million.
7. "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," $2.8 million.
8. "The Bad Guys 2," $2.5 million.
9. "Light of the World," $2.4 million.
10. "Superman," $1 million.
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