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Release Date: September 5, 2025 (U.S. theatrical)

Runtime: 135 minutes (2h 15min)

Rated: R for violence, terror, bloody/violent content

Production Companies: New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster, The Safran Company

Producers: James Wan, Peter Safran

Cinematography: Eli Born

Editing: Gregory Plotkin, Elliot Greenberg

Music / Composer: Benjamin Wallfisch

The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

Director: Michael Chaves

Writer(s): Screenplay by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick; Story by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and James Wan

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, Steve Coulter, Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Beau Gadsdon, John Brotherton, Shannon Kook

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There hasn’t been much of a rise in quality since the origin of The Conjuring universe back in 2013. While many of the following films have explored different cases and scared up plenty of audiences along the way, the first remains not only the best of the franchise but a staple in horror history—one of its kind. A major reason audiences have stayed invested throughout the multiple entries has been Ed and Lorraine Warren, portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. Their chemistry and committed performances have always elevated the material, even when certain films stumbled. It’s no doubt their presence has been the glue holding the franchise together, and in this final entry, The Conjuring: Last Rites, that remains true.

Unlike many of the previous films that drifted away from the Warrens’ personal lives, offering only small glimpses here and there, Last Rites takes the opposite approach. We still get a central case, of course, but the Warrens’ own family story is intertwined with it from the very beginning, making the case feel deeply personal.

The story traces back to one of Ed and Lorraine’s earliest encounters—an antique mirror that reemerges decades later, just after the birth of their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson). Earlier entries only scratched the surface of Judy’s psychic abilities, inherited from her mother. But here, as an adult, she’s forced to confront those visions head-on when a sinister force tied to her parents’ past resurfaces.

As mentioned, The Conjuring cemented itself in modern horror thanks to its genuinely frightening atmosphere, grounded tension, and ability to unsettle even the most hardened horror fan. Beyond scares, it also drew power from being rooted in the real-life cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Though controversial and often criticized, their legacy in the paranormal world—and now the horror genre—is undeniable. Last Rites taps directly into what has always made this series resonate: the Warrens’ relationship, heightened by Wilson and Farmiga’s enduring chemistry.

This installment also pauses to consider what life might look like for the Warrens without the constant burden of battling darkness—a life where they could focus on Judy, her visions, and her future. Framed as the farewell to the franchise, the film reflects on where the Warrens began and where they ultimately end up. Along the way, it explores Ed’s ongoing heart issues, Lorraine’s connection to her daughter, and Judy’s attempts to reconcile her parents’ sacrifices with her own path forward.

The pacing isn’t always flawless—some stretches drag, and at times the narrative wanders from the main case. Yet Wilson and Farmiga keep the film engaging from start to finish, as they have in every installment. Tomlinson also shines, stepping into Judy’s adult role with a performance that captures both her growth and the heavy inheritance of her parents’ work. Through her, we’re reminded of just how much Ed and Lorraine sacrificed in dedicating their lives to helping family after family.

The family at the center this time is the Smurls, who unknowingly bring that cursed mirror into their home. Their household is large—parents Jack and Janet, their four daughters, and Jack’s parents—evoking the classic Conjuring setup of ordinary families besieged by extraordinary terror.

The supernatural threat itself is frightening, but what really drives the film is the Warrens’ internal struggle—the tension between their spiritual gifts and the toll those gifts take on their lives. The climax underscores this balance, showing how their faith, love, and Judy’s awakening abilities converge to defeat the evil force. There are a handful of effective jump scares, but the true weight of the film lies in centering the Warrens’ family story, which proves a fitting focus for the franchise’s conclusion.

While the Smurls’ suffering is harrowing and sympathetic, the story always circles back to the Warrens, inviting us to imagine both what they endured in reality and how these actors channel that weight on screen. The film ultimately offers a surprisingly optimistic and heartfelt sendoff, more hopeful than previous entries.

Though far from perfect—its pacing issues and reliance on expected scare tactics keep it from reaching the heights of the first film—The Conjuring: Last Rites still carries entertainment value within the universe it helped build. Fans will know what to expect going in, but that familiarity is part of the appeal. Nothing will ever match the raw impact of the original, yet this film succeeds as a closing chapter. It’s a satisfying farewell to one of horror’s most iconic screen couples, and fittingly, it’s gone on to claim not just the franchise’s biggest opening, but the largest opening weekend in horror film history.