The devil works hard, but Filipino horror fans work harder.

In a jaw-dropping start to its theatrical run, The Conjuring: Last Rites has obliterated local box office expectations — claiming the crown for the biggest opening day for a horror movie in Philippine history, and breaking records for the highest-grossing midnight screening ever in the country.

On September 3, audiences across the Philippines flooded cinemas at exactly 12:00 AM — sacrificing sleep for screams — as they witnessed the haunting final chapter of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s journey on the big screen.

A Box Office Spectacle Like No Other

Let the numbers speak: Last Rites, rated R-16, is now officially the highest-grossing R-16 opening in the Philippines, toppling the previous record set by Final Destination: Bloodlines. Even more impressive? It currently holds the second-highest opening day for any film released in 2025 — across all genres.

Not bad for a pair of ghost hunters saying their last goodbye.

The Final Case: Ed and Lorraine’s Swan Song

The Conjuring: Last Rites marks the ninth — and final — installment in the $2 billion global horror juggernaut known as the Conjuring Universe. Once again directed by Michael Chaves, with horror masters James Wan and Peter Safranproducing, the film brings real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren back to the screen one last time — portrayed by fan-favorite duo Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.

Brimming with chilling set pieces, emotional callbacks, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this cinematic finale is everything fans hoped it would be… and then some.

Watch the Trailer Here:

What the Creators Are Saying

James Wan, who helped launch the franchise with the original The Conjuring films, credits the series’ success to the magic between Wilson and Farmiga. “Vera and Patrick have always been the center of these movies,” says Wan, who directed “The Conjuring” 1 and 2, and has been a producer since the second film in the universe. “They have such a great relationship, onscreen and off – they’re such good friends. I think that really comes across and the audience sees how authentic it is… I have always said, ‘They come for the fright and the scares, but they really stick around for Vera and Patrick.’” 

Producer Peter Safran echoes the sentiment. “I think the success of the universe has really hinged on the Warrens as a family. That’s why people keep coming back to see the next adventure, the next investigation, the next stage in their lives – it’s because they’ve fallen in love with Ed and Lorraine as portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.”

Director Michael Chaves adds, “Vera and Patrick have always been our secret weapon. They’re the heart and soul of these films, and it’s their talent and who they are as people that have shaped these movies from the start.”

Nostalgia, Terror, and One Last Scare

For the stars themselves, saying goodbye wasn’t easy.

Patrick Wilson, who’s donned Ed Warren’s suit and cross for over a decade, shared his gratitude: “Going back to the first film, I remember thinking, ‘What a gift to be able to do this.’”

Meanwhile, Vera Farmiga reflected on the legacy: “It’s been really fun to grow up through the decades and explore all these sensational cases,” she shares, but adds: “This story is the last act for these two.”

Say Goodbye While You Still Can

This isn’t just a movie — it’s the end of an era. The Conjuring: Last Rites gives fans the closure they didn’t know they needed and delivers one last haunting, heart-wrenching ride through the supernatural.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or a thrill-seeker looking for the scare of the season, this is your moment.

Experience the final case. Watch “The Conjuring: Last Rites” — now showing in cinemas nationwide. Distributed locally by Warner Bros. Philippines. check showtimes and buy your tickets here.

_{Photo & Video Credit: “Warner Bros. Pictures”}