Warner Bros. is on a historic hot streak at the box office, setting a new record with seven consecutive films opening to over $40 million at the domestic box office. The streak was capped off by the latest entry in the horror franchise, ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites.’
The Record-Breaking Run
The unprecedented run for Warner Bros. began with ‘A Minecraft Movie’ which had a massive $162 million opening weekend. The streak continued with a diverse slate of films including Ryan Coogler’s original horror movie ‘Sinners’ ($48M), New Line’s ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ ($51.6M), Apple’s racing epic ‘F1: The Movie’ ($57M), and James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ ($125M). The final two films in the streak were the horror movies ‘Weapons’ ($43.5M) and finally, ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Leads the Way
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ didn’t just meet the $40 million benchmark; it absolutely shattered it. The film, which is advertised as the final case for paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, opened to a series-best $83 million domestically and an impressive $187 million globally on its opening weekend. This makes it the second-biggest global opening for a horror film ever, behind only Warner Bros.’ own ‘It’ from 2017. The film’s success is a testament to the enduring appeal of the Conjuring universe, which has now become the highest-grossing horror franchise in history.
The Future of Warner Bros.
This remarkable run of box office success demonstrates a strong year for Warner Bros., with theatrical profits already reaching approximately $600 million year-to-date. The studio’s ability to deliver consistent hits across different genres—from superhero films and video game adaptations to original stories and established horror franchises—shows a well-rounded strategy that’s paying off big time.
