It might surprise you, but The Nun’s seven-year box office crown has finally been shattered—and horror fans everywhere are buzzing. But here’s where it gets controversial: many still consider The Nun one of the weakest entries in The Conjuring Universe, yet it ruled the charts for years. And this is the part most people miss—audience fascination can triumph over critical opinion.
When Corin Hardy’s spin-off premiered in 2018, Valak the demon nun cast a spell on moviegoers, raking in $366 million worldwide. That towering total stood untouched…until now. Michael Chaves’ newest installment, The Conjuring: Last Rites, stomped onto the scene in early September and blasted past expectations. Opening with a staggering $194 million globally, it broke the record for the biggest debut weekend in horror movie history, toppling the previous mark set by 2017’s It ($190 million).
Even after three weekends, the momentum hasn’t slowed. Domestically, Last Rites earned another $12.2 million in its third weekend—good enough for a top-three finish—and overseas it pulled in $28.3 million more. That brings its total to just under $400 million, a figure it will eclipse by the time you read this. In a blink, it has vaulted past The Nun to claim the undisputed throne of the Conjuring Universe.
Here’s a twist few expected: The Nun is often ranked as one of the franchise’s worst, yet it held the record for nearly seven years. That disconnect between critical reception and box office performance raises an interesting question—does word-of-mouth trump reviews when demons and jump scares are involved? Take Annabelle, the first spin-off: critically maligned, it cost a mere $6.5 million to make but hauled in $257 million globally. Then Warner Bros. course-corrected with Annabelle: Creation, and later The Nun II, both of which improved on their predecessors and kept the franchise firing on all cylinders.
Adjusted for inflation, The Nun would sit at about $472 million in today’s dollars—and Last Rites still has plenty of runway left. It’s poised to clear $500 million before its run concludes, meaning it could hold onto its new crown even after accounting for price changes over time.
The Conjuring Universe has amassed roughly $2.8 billion so far, and that figure could flirt with $3 billion by year’s end. As of now, Last Rites sits at number 12 on the year’s global box office list, set to overtake Captain America: Brave New World ($415 million) for the 11th spot—and it might even edge past The Fantastic Four: First Steps ($520 million) to break into the top ten. Considering its modest $55 million budget, that’s an astonishing return.
And yet, Warner Bros. isn’t ready to lay the Warrens to rest. A Conjuring prequel is already in development, and long-rumored spin-offs like The Crooked Man could expand the universe even further. With such a passionate fan base, this franchise may be stronger than ever—and Last Rites is proof that even a so-called weak link can become the crown jewel.
So here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Does fan loyalty outweigh critical reviews in today’s horror landscape? And what upcoming spin-off would you champion—another ancestral demon, or perhaps a completely new nightmare? Share your take below!
