Box Office: ‘Conjuring: Last Rites’ Overtakes ‘It’ as Biggest Horror Movie Opening With $194 Million Globally

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” had a better-than-expected debut and now ranks as the biggest global start in history for a horror film.

The ninth entry in Warner Bros. and New Line’s paranormal franchise collected a sensational $194 million worldwide in its first weekend of release, above Sunday’s already massive estimate of $187 million worldwide. Now, those ticket sales have eclipsed the all-time horror benchmark previously set by 2017’s “It” with $190 million.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” also set a horror record at the international box office with $110 million in its opening. Prior to this weekend, 2019’s “It: Chapter Two” ($92 million) was the largest overseas debut for a horror film. The latest “Conjuring” earned $84 million domestically, marking the third-biggest for the genre (after two other Warner Bros. titles, 2017’s “It” with $123 million and 2019’s “It: Chapter Two” with $91 million). Sunday’s estimates had already registered as the best domestic, international and global launch for the occult-tilted series.

Directed by franchise veteran Michael Chaves, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, two paranormal investigators who attempt to vanquish a demon from a family’s home. James Wan, who created the property, and Peter Safran returned as producers. The “Conjuring” universe, which includes several sequels and spinoffs such as “The Nun” and “Annabelle,” is the highest-grossing horror franchise in history with more than $2.3 billion.

Since this entry carries a $55 million price tag, it’s already a commercial winner for Warner Bros. The studio just made box office history as the first to ever have seven consecutive films open above $40 million. After a downtrodden stretch with commercial losers like “Joker: Folie a Deux,” “Mickey 17,” and “The Alto Knights,” Warner Bros. has enjoyed a remarkable hot streak with “A Minecraft Movie,” “Sinners,” “Final Destination Bloodlines,” “F1: The Movie” (which the studio distributed for Apple), “Superman” and “Weapons.”