If you've spent the last decade jumping out of your skin every time a door creaks, you're not alone. We’ve finally reached the end of the road for Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Conjuring: Last Rites 2025 hit theaters on September 5, 2025, and honestly, it felt like saying goodbye to old family friends—if those friends lived in a museum of haunted dolls and spent their weekends getting thrown against walls by demons.
It's over. Really.
Michael Chaves, the director who has basically become the architect of this universe lately, was pretty blunt about it. He told everyone that this is the "final chapter." No more mainline movies. No more Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson sideburns. Just a $494.7 million box office victory lap that proved people are still terrified of 1980s Pennsylvania.
What Actually Happens in The Conjuring: Last Rites 2025?
Most people thought the series would just keep going forever, like a supernatural soap opera. But Last Rites takes a weirdly personal turn. Instead of just "family moves into house, house is mean, Warrens show up," this one digs into the Smurl haunting.
If you aren't a hardcore ghost nerd, the Jack and Janet Smurl case from 1986 is legendary. It’s messy. It’s controversial. The movie focuses on the family’s home in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, where eight people were basically under siege.
The film doesn't hold back. We’re talking:
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- Entities that can actually throw people (and animals, sadly) across a room.
- A sustained axe-threat sequence that is genuinely hard to watch.
- Lorraine’s past visions finally catching up to her.
- A heavy focus on an adult Judy Warren, played by Mia Tomlinson.
Judy isn't just a kid in a cardigan anymore. She’s grappling with her mother’s "gifts," which is a nice touch because it makes the stakes feel way more intimate than just "save the strangers."
The Smurl Haunting: Fact vs. Hollywood
Look, the real Smurl case was a circus. The family claimed they were being terrorized by a demon that could manifest as a "black, formless mass" and a "shaggy dog-like creature." In the movie, this translates to some of the most aggressive violence we've seen in the franchise.
Characters get choked. People get burned. There’s even a scene where someone vomits blood and glass. It's intense.
While the real-life Warrens were criticized by skeptics for "sensationalizing" the Smurl case back in the 80s, the movie leans into that chaos. It treats the haunting as a final test of faith for Ed and Lorraine. It's less about the "investigation" and more about the toll 5,000 days of demonology takes on a marriage.
Why This Was the "Highest Grossing" Farewell
Money talks. The Conjuring: Last Rites 2025 didn't just end the series; it crushed it. It became the highest-grossing film in the entire franchise, raking in nearly $500 million.
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Why? Because it played on nostalgia.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have this chemistry that you just can’t fake after 12 years. When Farmiga posted on Instagram about Wilson peeling off his "sweat-soaked demonologist garb" for the last time, fans lost it. That emotional connection is what carried a movie that, let's be real, still relies on the same slow-creeping camera shots and loud bangs we've seen since 2013.
Is the Franchise Actually Dead?
Kinda. Sorta. Not really.
While the main story of Ed and Lorraine is "done," the money is too good for Warner Bros. to just walk away. If you stayed through the credits or follow the trade news, you know about The Conjuring: First Communion.
It’s a prequel. Scheduled for September 10, 2027.
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It won't feature Wilson and Farmiga in the lead roles—at least not in the way we're used to—since it's focusing on a younger version of the duo. But for now, Last Rites is the definitive end of the modern era.
How to Watch It Now
If you missed the theatrical run, you’ve got options. It hit Digital HD back in October 2025 and is currently floating around on Max (formerly HBO Max). The 4K Blu-ray came out in late November, and honestly, the "injury detail" and shadows look way better on physical media if you’re a completionist.
Quick Facts for Your Next Trivia Night:
- The Budget: Only about $55 million.
- The Location: Despite being set in Pennsylvania, they filmed the whole thing in the UK (Bovingdon and Cassiobury Park).
- The Runtime: 135 minutes. It’s a long one, so grab a snack.
- The Rating: R, obviously. The "blood and glass" scene alone earned that.
If you’re planning a marathon, start with the 2013 original and work your way up. You’ll see the evolution of the Warrens from confident experts to a tired, aging couple who just want to protect their daughter. It’s a rare horror trilogy (plus one) that actually cares about its characters.
To get the full experience of the finale, look for the "behind-the-scenes" features on the Blu-ray that detail the real-life Smurl family interviews. It adds a layer of dread when you realize the people this is based on actually lived through that nightmare—or at least believed they did.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check out the Max streaming library to see if The Conjuring: Last Rites is currently available in your region.
- If you're a collector, look for the Steelbook edition which includes a retrospective on the Warrens' 12-year cinematic journey.
- Keep an eye out for casting news regarding The Conjuring: First Communion to see who will be stepping into the roles of young Ed and Lorraine.