Strictly Business Daily Variety – Box Office Monday: ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Slays; Giancarlo Esposito, Shawn Hatosy at Creative Arts Emmys
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Sep 8, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Rebecca Rubin, Variety's box office chief and senior film and media reporter, shares her insights on the impressive box office success of 'The Conjuring: Last Rites,' highlighting Warner Bros.' winning strategies. She delves into how franchise loyalty and the allure of horror films are driving record numbers. The conversation also touches on the Creative Arts Emmys, where standout talent like Giancarlo Esposito offered heartfelt reflections on the current state of showbiz, showcasing the vibrant landscape of entertainment today.
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Surprising Blockbuster Launch
- The Conjuring: Last Rites opened to $83M domestically and $187M worldwide, exceeding tracking expectations.
- The film set multiple franchise and horror-genre records, signaling robust audience demand.
IMAX Boosts Horror Attendance
- The film's IMAX takings were unusually strong for horror, with $14M worldwide and $9.4M domestic.
- IMAX contributed over 11% of the North American opening, proving big-format draw for genre films.
Franchise Profitability Outweighs 'Finale' Claims
- The Conjuring Universe is the highest-grossing horror franchise, earning over $2.3 billion across nine films.
- Even with a $55M budget, the franchise's profit margins make further sequels likely despite 'final installment' billing.