the conjuring 4: last rites

Warner Bros and James Wan returned to one of modern horror cinema’s most profitable universes with The Conjuring: Last Rites. The fourth main entry in the Conjuring franchise reunites Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Lorraine and Ed Warren. Michael Chaves directed while producers included Wan and Peter Safran. The movie positions itself as a final, high stakes case for the Warrens and it arrived into theaters with franchise momentum and big expectations.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return to carry the film with their long running portrayals of the Warrens. Michael Chaves directs, reuniting a director who is familiar with the Conjuring tone from his previous work in the same universe. The screenplay credits include Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, and the film lists James Wan among its producers, signaling a clear creative line back to the original films.

The film opens with a haunting prologue in the 1960s, tying back to a cursed mirror that immediately signals this case will be personal for Lorraine Warren. What looks like a routine investigation quickly spirals into something that cuts deep into her family life. The scene sets a darker, more tragic tone than previous entries, hinting at the personal cost of the Warrens’ work.

The main story takes place in the 1980s, when the Smurl family moves into a new home in Pennsylvania. What begins with small disturbances grows into relentless, terrifying activity that centers around a mysterious mirror the family brings into the house. Strange sounds, apparitions, and aggressive encounters shake their faith and their safety. The Warrens are called in, and what follows is one of their most challenging battles yet.

As the haunting escalates, the film weaves in references to earlier cases and explores the toll these investigations have taken on Ed and Lorraine. Their daughter Judy plays a larger role than in past films, reminding audiences that behind every exorcism and every headline there is a family paying the price.

The Conjuring: Last Rites opened in early September 2025. Its opening weekend exceeded early projections and became one of the franchise’s stronger debuts. Estimates reported an $84 million domestic opening, which made it one of the best openings for a horror title this year. By mid September the film had already crossed notable box office thresholds both domestically and internationally, keeping it among the top grossers in the fall schedule. Markets such as the Philippines and India posted especially strong early returns.

Critics were split but leaned positive overall. Review aggregators framed the movie as a competent and often effective addition to the franchise. Praise centered on Farmiga and Wilson’s committed performances and on the film’s mood and atmosphere. Some reviewers criticized the movie for relying on familiar beats and for not reinventing what the Conjuring universe already does well. That said, many critics noted that when the film focuses on character and sustained dread it achieves real chills.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie landed in the low 60s, putting it squarely in “mixed but decent” territory. Metacritic reflected a similar score, with reviews ranging from high praise to sharp criticism.

What critics liked:

• Performances: Farmiga and Wilson are consistently highlighted as the film’s greatest strength.
• Atmosphere: Many critics praised the mirror sequences and the eerie, slow-burn build-up.
• Emotional depth: The prologue and the family-centered drama gave the movie more weight than a standard haunted house story.

What critics disliked:

• Familiar formula: Haunted objects, possession, and dramatic exorcism scenes are staples of the franchise, but some reviewers felt Last Rites didn’t offer enough new ideas.
• Pacing issues: Several noted that the first half takes too long to build, while the climax rushes through too much too quickly.
• Overreliance on jump scares: While effective at times, others argued the film leaned too heavily on loud jolts instead of sustained dread.

Fans of the franchise were largely pleased to see the Warrens back together on screen. Audience scores tracked higher than some recent horror releases, reflecting strong franchise loyalty and appreciation for the lead actors. Online fan discussion gravitated toward calls that this entry both honors prior films and closes thematic arcs for the central characters. Social reaction on forums and social media showed a mix of discussion about plot details, references to the lore, and reactions to scary sequences.

The Conjuring films have always mixed personal grief and faith with supernatural threat. Last Rites emphasizes family, legacy, and the emotional cost of facing evil. Where earlier entries leaned heavily on a single iconic haunting, this film widens the scope to suggest the Warrens are confronting consequences from many previous encounters. Stylistically it opts for slow burn tension and practical effects rather than an abundance of CGI.

The Conjuring: Last Rites is designed to satisfy fans who want a polished, emotional, and scary chapter that honors the franchise’s strengths. It does not reinvent the wheel, but it does polish the wheel and deliver solid performances and moments of genuine fright. For viewers who follow the Warrens, this movie is meaningful. For casual horror fans it offers a well made, atmospheric night at the movies that delivers on the promise of the Conjuring brand.