The Conjuring: Last Rites centers on paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, now semi-retired, who are drawn back into one final case in 1986 involving the Smurl family in Pennsylvania. A mysterious and demonic force haunts the family’s home, particularly through a cursed mirror with cherubic carvings that unleashes evil manifestations. As supernatural phenomena escalate, the Warrens must confront their final exorcism, while also dealing with personal stakes, including their daughter Judy and the burdens of their lifelong work. AV Club+3Wikipedia+3Roger Ebert+3

The film opens with a flashback to 1964, showing Ed and Lorraine interacting with a haunted mirror that triggers Lorraine’s labor, connecting the past to the present haunting. Roger Ebert

While in their quieter years, the Warrens are forced back into the fray when the Smurl haunting intensifies, with illusions, possession, and dark entities challenging them at every turn. Common Sense Media+4Wikipedia+4Rotten Tomatoes+4

Film Details

FieldInformation
TitleThe Conjuring: Last Rites
DirectorMichael Chaves Parade+3Wikipedia+3theconjuringmovie.com+3
Screenwriters / WritersIan Goldberg, Richard Naing, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick Wikipedia+2Parade+2
Story ByDavid Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick & James Wan Wikipedia
ProducersJames Wan, Peter Safran Wikipedia+2theconjuringmovie.com+2
Production CompaniesNew Line Cinema, Atomic Monster, The Safran Company Letterboxd+3Wikipedia+3theconjuringmovie.com+3
DistributorWarner Bros. Pictures theconjuringmovie.com+2Wikipedia+2
CinematographyEli Born Wikipedia
EditingGregory Plotkin, Elliot Greenberg Wikipedia
Music / ScoreBenjamin Wallfisch Wikipedia+2Rotten Tomatoes+2
Runtime135 minutes (2h 15min) theconjuringmovie.com+3Wikipedia+3Fandango+3
CountryUnited States Wikipedia+1
LanguageEnglish Wikipedia+1
Budget~$55 million Wikipedia
Box Office / Gross~$459.7 million worldwide Letterboxd+4Wikipedia+4Movie Insider+4
Release DatesU.S.: September 5, 2025 Parade+3Wikipedia+3theconjuringmovie.com+3 
International early release from September 3, 2025 Letterboxd+3theconjuringmovie.com+3Wikipedia+3
Home Media / DigitalDigital HD release: October 7, 2025 Wikipedia+2theconjuringmovie.com+2 
Blu-ray / DVD / 4K UHD: November 25, 2025 Wikipedia+2theconjuringmovie.com+2
Franchise / UniverseNinth film in The Conjuring Universe. It is marketed as the final chapter focusing on Ed & Lorraine Warren. Rotten Tomatoes+4Wikipedia+4theconjuringmovie.com+4
Based On / InspirationBased loosely on the real-life Smurl haunting of the Smurl family in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. AV Club+4Parade+4Wikipedia+4
Cast (selected / main)- Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren Letterboxd+3Wikipedia+3Rotten Tomatoes+3 
- Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren Letterboxd+4Wikipedia+4Fandango+4 
- Mia Tomlinson as Judy Warren Rotten Tomatoes+3Wikipedia+3Parade+3 
- Ben Hardy as Tony Spera Parade+2Wikipedia+2 
- Rebecca Calder as Janet Smurl Rotten Tomatoes+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3 
- Elliot Cowan as Jack Smurl Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2 
- Others: Kíla Lord Cassidy, Beau Gadsdon, Molly Cartwright, etc. Wikipedia+2Rotten Tomatoes+2
Cameos / ExtrasJames Wan makes an uncredited cameo. Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3Parade+3 
Some actors from earlier Conjuring films appear in cameo roles (e.g. Frances O’Connor, Madison Wolfe, Julian Hilliard) Wikipedia+1

Reception / Box Office Highlights & Criticism

  • Box Office Success: The film opened to approx. $83 million domestically, marking the highest opening in the series and one of the biggest for any horror film in 2025. Rotten Tomatoes+4Rotten Tomatoes+4Culture+4
  • It went on to gross around $459 million worldwide, becoming the highest-earning film in the franchise. Rotten Tomatoes+4Wikipedia+4Rotten Tomatoes+4
  • Critical Reaction: Reviews are mixed. Some praise the emotional focus and cast performances, while others criticize it for relying too much on jump scares, predictable horror tropes, and narrative convenience. Wikipedia+4AV Club+4Common Sense Media+4
  • Rotten Tomatoes consensus suggests that while it is a strong addition to the Conjuring Universe, as a grand finale it “underwhelms” though upholding the franchise’s spooky standards. Rotten Tomatoes
  • Common Sense Media notes heavy blood, gore, and horror elements, giving it a caution for younger viewers. Common Sense Media