The Conjuring franchise has haunted multiplexes for over a decade, but every ghost story reaches its final chapter. The Conjuring: Last Rites brings Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson back for what producers have positioned as the definitive end of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s cinematic journey — and the box office numbers confirm audiences showed up in force.
Release Date: September 5, 2025 ·
Director: Michael Chaves ·
Stars: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson ·
Final Main Series Film: Yes ·
Based On: Real Warrens Case
Quick snapshot
- Whether Conjuring 5 enters active development
- Exact streaming platform and date post-theatrical
- Scope of spin-off universe continuation
- US theatrical: September 5, 2025 (Wikipedia)
- Digital HD: October 7, 2025 (Wikipedia)
- DVD/Blu-ray: November 25, 2025 (Wikipedia)
- Prequel The Conjuring: First Communion slated for 2027 (Wikipedia)
- Spin-off franchises continue under Warner Bros. umbrella (Wikipedia)
- Home media rollout completes November 2025 (Wikipedia)
The following table summarizes key production and release details for The Conjuring: Last Rites.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Chaves (Wikipedia) |
| Writers | Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (TV Guide) |
| Stars | Vera Farmiga as Lorraine, Patrick Wilson as Ed (Wikipedia) |
| Genre | Supernatural horror |
| Release | Theatrical September 5, 2025 (Wikipedia) |
| Runtime | 2h 15m (Rotten Tomatoes) |
| Rating | R for terror, bloody/violent content (Rotten Tomatoes) |
Is The Conjuring: Last Rites the Final Conjuring Movie?
Producers James Wan and Peter Safran have confirmed what fans suspected: Last Rites closes the mainline Warren saga. The film marks the ninth entry in the franchise that began with 2013’s The Conjuring, and it explicitly brings Ed and Lorraine’s story to a close (Wikipedia). This isn’t a cliffhanger or a franchise reset — it’s a deliberate ending framed as the Warrens’ final case.
Confirmation from producers
James Wan, who co-created the franchise and directed its first two installments, appears in a cameo in Last Rites — a symbolic passing of the torch. Production interviews confirm the intent was always to give Ed and Lorraine a proper cinematic farewell (YouTube Cast Interviews). The emotional arc of the film centers on the couple facing their final demon together, with their daughter Judy (played by Mia Tomlinson) present for the climactic events.
The film’s title carries double meaning: both a literal reference to Catholic last rites and a metaphorical closing of the Warrens’ case files. Ed Warren died in 2006, so the narrative uses flashback structure and present-day consequences to honor his real-life passing.
Implications for spin-offs
While the Warren-focused saga ends, Warner Bros. has signaled continued investment in the broader Conjuring universe. A prequel titled The Conjuring: First Communion is already announced for September 10, 2027, focusing on the Warrens’ earlier years (Wikipedia). Spin-offs including Annabelle and The Nun continue as separate properties, suggesting the universe survives even as its central story concludes.
Closing the Warren chapter risks alienating the franchise’s core audience, who identify most closely with Farmiga and Wilson’s performances. The prequel route offers new stories but lacks the actors who defined the series.
Is The Conjuring: Last Rites Based on a True Story?
The film draws from the real Smurl haunting, one of the most extensively documented cases tackled by Ed and Lorraine Warren during their decades-long career as paranormal investigators (Wikipedia). The case, which unfolded in the 1980s in West Commonwealth, Massachusetts, involved reports of multiple entities, physical phenomena, and sustained psychological distress for the Smurl family.
Warrens’ real final case
The Smurl case is widely cited as the last major investigation undertaken by Ed and Lorraine Warren together. Ed passed away in 2006, and Lorraine continued her work with their associate Tony Spera until her own death in 2023. The film honors this timeline by framing Last Rites as the closing chapter of their partnership.
Real-life Tony Spera and Judy Warren appear in cameos within the film, lending authenticity to the Warren family’s on-screen representation. Judy Warren’s character, played by Mia Tomlinson, is depicted as an adult who has inherited her parents’ mission (Wikipedia).
Real-life inspirations
The Smurl family members appear in the film: Rebecca Calder plays Janet Smurl, and Elliot Cowan portrays Jack Smurl. Their daughters Dawn (Beau Gadsdon) and Heather (Kíla Lord Cassidy) round out the family depiction. The film also includes Peter Wight as Grandpa Smurl.
The Conjuring franchise’s commercial success has always depended on its “based on true events” framing. Last Rites doubles down on this tradition, grounding its supernatural horror in documented case files while using dramatic license for theatrical impact.
Where Can I Watch The Conjuring: Last Rites?
The Conjuring: Last Rites opened in theaters on September 5, 2025, with staggered international releases preceding the US date by one to two days (Official Conjuring Site). Early screenings began September 3, 2025, in the Philippines, Indonesia, and parts of Latin America.
Theatrical release
Three dates determined global availability: September 3 for Asia-Pacific early markets, September 4 for Latin America, and September 5 for US and Canada (Official Conjuring Site). Japan received a delayed release on October 17, 2025, following distribution patterns seen in previous franchise entries.
The film played in standard and IMAX formats during its theatrical run, with Warner Bros. positioning it as a premium cinematic experience. US box office reached $177.8 million, contributing to the franchise’s $2 billion+ cumulative total (Rotten Tomatoes).
Streaming options
Digital HD release arrived on October 7, 2025, typically preceding a streaming platform debut by several weeks (Wikipedia). Physical media — DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray — launched on November 25, 2025.
Streaming availability for New Line Cinema releases typically routes through Max (the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service). Historical patterns suggest Last Rites would follow a similar window, though specific streaming debut dates depend on negotiated licensing windows. Check current listings on major platforms for the most accurate availability information.
Theatrical viewing offers the horror experience as designed — in darkness, with an audience, at runtime 2h 15m. Home viewing sacrifices atmosphere for convenience. For a franchise built on jump scares and sound design, the theatrical experience remains the recommended path.
Is Conjuring 5 Coming Out?
The core franchise has not announced Conjuring 5 as of the current production cycle. Last Rites is positioned as the final Warren-focused film in the mainline series, with prequel The Conjuring: First Communion targeting a September 10, 2027 release date instead (Wikipedia).
Status of future films
Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have invested heavily in the Conjuring universe, which includes Annabelle, The Nun, The Curse of La Llorona, and various in-development properties. The commercial logic favors continuation, but producer statements emphasize the Warren saga’s closure as intentional and complete.
Should future films emerge, they would likely explore untold cases from the Warrens’ archives or continue spin-off franchises with new characters. The prequel route offers narrative flexibility without requiring Farmiga or Wilson’s continued involvement.
Focus on main series end
The marketing campaign for Last Rites leaned heavily into finality — “the last chapter” framing appeared across trailers and promotional materials. This messaging strategy served dual purposes: generating urgency among franchise fans and providing narrative closure for the Warren story.
While nothing is permanently off the table in Hollywood, the explicit framing of Last Rites as a conclusion makes any future continuation of the main Warren story a deliberate reversal rather than a natural progression. For now, the franchise appears committed to the prequel direction signaled by First Communion.
What Is the Real Story Behind the Warrens?
Ed and Lorraine Warren operated as paranormal investigators from the 1950s through the early 2000s, amassing a reputation that generated both devoted followers and skeptical critics. Their work formed the basis of the Conjuring franchise, with each film drawing from documented case files from their archive (Wikipedia).
Lorraine after Ed’s death
Ed Warren died in 2006 at age 66. Lorraine continued their mission through the Warren Parapsychology Association, working with Tony Spera (who eventually married their daughter Judy). Lorraine Warren passed away in 2023 at age 92, ending the Warren era directly. The film’s narrative acknowledges this timeline through dual-era storytelling.
Daughter Judy
Judy Warren inherited both her parents’ work and their legacy. Her marriage to Tony Spera created a continuity of the Warren operation post-Ed’s passing. Judy Warren appears as a cameo in Last Rites, with actress Mia Tomlinson portraying the character in dramatic sequences (Wikipedia).
Valak lore
Valak, the demon nun introduced in The Conjuring 2, has become the franchise’s signature antagonist. The entity appears in multiple films across the universe, though its specific connection to Lorraine Warren varies by installment. Last Rites does not center Valak but maintains continuity with the demon’s established presence across the Warren case files.
The Conjuring franchise succeeded by creating an emotional core through Farmiga and Wilson’s portrayals. Last Rites honors that investment by providing genuine closure rather than an open-ended hook. The Warrens’ real-life timeline — Ed’s death in 2006, Lorraine’s in 2023 — gives the narrative weight that fictional endings often lack.
Timeline
The timeline below tracks key dates from the franchise’s evolution through The Conjuring: Last Rites and its follow-up projects.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2013–2021 | Main Conjuring films 1–3 released (Wikipedia) |
| Pre-2025 | Production and trailer release |
| September 3, 2025 | Early screenings in Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia (Official Conjuring Site) |
| September 5, 2025 | Theatrical release (Wikipedia) |
| October 7, 2025 | Digital HD release (Wikipedia) |
| November 25, 2025 | DVD, Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray release (Wikipedia) |
| September 10, 2027 | Prequel The Conjuring: First Communion (Wikipedia) |
Confirmed vs. Unconfirmed
The following breakdown distinguishes between established facts and pending unknowns regarding The Conjuring: Last Rites.
Confirmed facts
- Last Rites is the final film in the main Conjuring series
- Film is based on the real Smurl haunting case
- Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles
- Runtime is 2 hours 15 minutes
- Rated R for terror, bloody/violent content
- Prequel The Conjuring: First Communion announced for 2027
Unconfirmed or unclear
- Whether Conjuring 5 enters active development
- Specific streaming platform and debut date
- Long-term spin-off continuation plans beyond First Communion
- Full cast cameo details beyond confirmed cameos
What people are saying
The Conjuring: Last Rites delivers another thrilling chapter of the iconic Conjuring cinematic universe, based on real events.
— Rotten Tomatoes (Film overview)
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as Lorraine and Ed Warren in a powerful and spine-chilling addition.
— Rotten Tomatoes (Cast overview)
From New Line Cinema comes the ninth entry in the more than $2 billion theatrical Conjuring universe.
— Official Trailer (YouTube)
Summary
The Conjuring: Last Rites closes the Warren saga with the franchise’s highest-grossing entry at $499.2 million worldwide. The film delivers on its final chapter promise: Farmiga and Wilson get a proper send-off, the Smurl case grounds the horror in documented reality, and the prequel timeline ensures the universe continues even as its central story concludes. For horror fans who’ve followed the Warrens since 2013, Last Rites offers emotional closure alongside the scares — and for newcomers, it stands as a viable entry point despite its position as the ninth installment. Farmiga and Wilson’s final performances anchor a conclusion that respects both the franchise’s legacy and its devoted audience.
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The Conjuring: Last Rites brings back Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson for 2025’s series finale, drawing from the true story and release details as the Warrens conclude their investigations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the age rating for The Conjuring: Last Rites?
The film is rated R for terror, bloody content, and violent sequences. This is consistent with previous Conjuring entries, which have all carried R ratings due to supernatural horror elements, frightening imagery, and intense moments.
How long did Lorraine live after Ed died?
Ed Warren died in 2006. Lorraine Warren continued her paranormal investigation work and passed away in 2023 at age 92 — a span of 17 years. She worked with Tony Spera (who married daughter Judy) throughout that period.
What happened to Lorraine and Ed’s daughter in real life?
Judy Warren married Tony Spera, who had worked with Ed and Lorraine for years. Tony took over the Warren Parapsychology Association after Ed’s death and continued the family’s mission. Both Judy and Tony appear as cameos in The Conjuring: Last Rites.
Why does Valak hate Lorraine?
Valak, the demon nun introduced in The Conjuring 2, has an established connection to Lorraine across multiple films in the franchise. The specific nature of their antagonism varies by installment, with the demon often targeting Lorraine directly due to her spiritual abilities and role as a demonologist.
What is the trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites?
Official trailers and promotional materials for The Conjuring: Last Rites are available on the film’s official YouTube channel and across major streaming platforms. The trailer emphasizes the film’s status as the final Warren chapter.
What is the runtime of The Conjuring: Last Rites?
The film runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes, making it one of the longer entries in the Conjuring franchise. This runtime accommodates the dual-era narrative structure and the Warren family’s extended cast.
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