Indian moviegoers seem to be favoring horror more than action or drama, as The Conjuring: Last Rites crashes into the Indian box office with a thunderous start. In a record three days since its opening, the Hollywood horror film has beaten top-grossing Indian releases such as Baaghi 4 and The Bengal Files, indicating a sharp changeover in viewers’ preferences.
Box Office Surprise: Horror Wins the Weekend
Released on September 5, The Conjuring: Last Rites raked in a whopping Rs 50.50 crore over the opening weekend. Based on Sacnilk data, the film made Rs 15.50 crore on the first Sunday alone, comfortably trouncing Baaghi 4’s Rs 31.25 crore and The Bengal Files’ pathetic Rs 6.65 crore during the same span.
Interestingly enough, Last Rites has also beaten the romantic drama Param Sundari, which, with a solid cast and fair reception, has failed to reach the Rs 50 crore point in its first 10 days.
Audience Turnout Reflects Growing Love for Horror
The popularity of the movie was evident in its high footfalls in Indian cinemas. Sunday afternoon shows had a 60.95% occupancy, followed by 60.50% at evening shows. Night shows also witnessed a good turnout with 37.77% of occupancy. This sustained viewership indicates the strong rapport the film has established with horror fans in India.
A Franchise That Keeps Delivering
The ninth entry in The Conjuring Universe, directed by Michael Chaves, is The Conjuring: Last Rites. Based on the real-life Smurl haunting, the film returns Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren in their classic roles. They are supported by Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy in this terrifying new installment.
Due to its good beginning, Last Rites has emerged as the third highest-grossing Hollywood horror movie in India, behind only The Conjuring 2 (Rs 61.80 crore) and Final Destination: Bloodlines (Rs 62.12 crore). If things go according to trend, the movie might just surpass both.
The Verdict
In a weekend in which major Indian titles failed to deliver, The Conjuring: Last Rites has shown that Indian audiences are quite eager to throng cinemas for a well-made fright. With rave word of mouth and sturdy box office hold, the film is well on its way to being a big success story in India’s 2025 release calendar.
