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The Conjuring universe is preparing for its grand finale with The Conjuring: Last Rites, which is scheduled to release in theaters on September 5, 2025. The movie will bring the long-running horror franchise to a close by focusing on the final case of famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
The story centers on the infamous Smurl haunting, a chilling case in which a family was tormented by a demonic presence for more than ten years. The trailer hints at the menace to come, with Lorraine warning, “There’s something in the attic. Ed, there’s an evil here. Something I’ve felt before.” She later explains to the family, “This thing in your house is a demon. It’s the first one that we’ve ever encountered.” The narrative suggests that the Warrens are forced to confront a demon they first encountered in their early years but never fully defeated. “We were young. We were scared. We ran away,” Lorraine admits. “And after all these years, it wasn’t done with our family.”
Industry projections point to a strong opening at the box office. According to Deadline, Last Rites is tracking for a debut in the range of $35–40 million. While this doesn’t match the record-breaking numbers of films like It: Chapter One ($123.4M) or The Nun ($53.8M), it’s still a solid start for a September horror release. Warner Bros. has historically dominated this post-Labor Day slot, and with the film’s status as the final chapter, fan turnout is expected to be high. Unlike The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, which was released simultaneously on HBO Max, this installment will be an exclusive theatrical release, giving it a stronger shot at replicating the earlier box office success of the series.
The cast brings back familiar characters and introduces new ones. Alongside Wilson and Farmiga, Mia Tomlinson plays Judy Warren, while Ben Hardy portrays Tony Spera. Supporting roles are filled by Steve Coulter, Elliot Cowan, Rebecca Calder, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Beau Gadsdon, Shannon Kook, and John Brotherton. Michael Chaves returns to direct after helming The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II, with franchise creators James Wan and Peter Safran producing. The script was written by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick.
Fans will also spot a familiar face in the trailer—the Annabelle doll. First introduced in the 2013 Conjuring film and later spun off into her own trilogy, Annabelle remains one of the franchise’s most iconic figures. Her appearance in Last Rites serves as a nod to the universe’s larger mythology. Warner Bros. is even capitalizing on her popularity with a special Annabelle-themed popcorn bucket, which has already gone viral among collectors and horror fans.
With The Conjuring: Last Rites, the franchise promises a chilling farewell to one of the most successful horror series of the past decade, giving longtime fans a final showdown with the evil forces that haunted Ed and Lorraine Warren’s world.