The Conjuring: Last Rites – The Final Chapter Arrives in 2025
1. Context
From New Line Cinema comes The Conjuring: Last Rites, the ninth installment in the massive $2 billion global Conjuring Universe. Directed by franchise veteran Michael Chaves and produced by longtime horror architects James Wan and Peter Safran, the film marks a chilling and emotional conclusion to the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Scheduled for theatrical and IMAX® release by Warner Bros. Pictures in North America on September 5, 2025, and internationally beginning September 3, 2025, Last Rites promises to deliver one final haunting based on real events — this time, it’s personal.
2. The Failure of the Conjuring Universe
Since the release of The Conjuring in 2013, audiences have been captivated by the real-life cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren, played with extraordinary chemistry by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. Their portrayals brought humanity and depth to stories filled with terror, launching not only a blockbuster trilogy (The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, The Devil Made Me Do It) but also a full-fledged cinematic universe including Annabelle, The Nun, and more.
Over more than a decade, the Warrens have remained the emotional center of this universe — a duo whose love, faith, and courage grounded even the most horrifying encounters with the supernatural. However, movies were not as convincing after the original, ‘ Conjuring’ movie . And these Movies stayed as a cash grab for the studio thereafter along with Nun movies.
3. The Final Case: The Smurl Family Haunting
In The Conjuring: Last Rites, Ed and Lorraine Warren take on what may be their most intense — and final — investigation: the Smurl family haunting in 1980s Pennsylvania. This disturbing case involves claims of violent paranormal attacks in a suburban home, marking a terrifying chapter in the Warrens’ real-life files.
This story not only offers pure supernatural terror, but also explores the emotional and spiritual toll of a lifetime spent battling darkness. With the inclusion of their daughter Judy Warren (Mia Tomlinson) and her boyfriend Tony Spera (Ben Hardy), the film becomes a family-centered farewell — a fitting last rite for the Warrens.
The returning cast includes Steve Coulter as Father Gordon, along with Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Beau Gadsdon, John Brotherton, and Shannon Kook.
4. The End Game of The Conjuring
Director Michael Chaves revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the filmmakers once considered going full Avengers: Endgame with this final chapter — bringing back all of the past franchise villains for a massive, shared-universe showdown.
“Even as we were developing it, we were throwing a bunch of ideas out: ‘How shamelessly big can we make it?’ ‘How epic can we make it?’ ‘Is this the culmination of all the demons coming to face them?’” Chaves shared.
“I felt strongly that the biggest, most emotional story we could tell was the most personal story.”
Instead of spectacle, Last Rites opts for a grounded, heartfelt farewell to the characters that built this universe.
5. Teaser Review & Emotional Farewell
The newly released teaser showcases the iconic chemistry between Wilson and Farmiga, promising both classic Conjuring-style horror and a deeply emotional sendoff. The tone is somber, the stakes feel personal, and the visuals echo the franchise’s signature blend of spiritual drama and creeping dread.
Filming wrapped in November 2024, and Vera Farmiga shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute to her longtime co-star, capturing the end of a cinematic era:
“Roundabout 5000 days ago, this guy and I signed a WB contract and said ‘I do’ to embodying Ed and Lorraine Warren. Today, he wraps. I have another 12 hours of laughter and insanity with him and then abruptly, he will walk off set, peel off sweat-soaked demonologist garb, shave off his sideburns, flash that dazzling smile and bid our fake marriage adieu.”
“Yeah… I got them feels today. It was a match made in heaven, PWilz. A hell of an era. Here’s to 12 years.”
— @VeraFarmiga, November 2024
Amrita Sarkar (pronounced Aam-ri-to), is a content creator, B.Com graduate, CA aspirant, and PGDM student who has discovered a fresh passion for digital writing. With a sharp eye for trends and a deep curiosity for how the internet shapes our lives, Amrito writes insightful pieces on digital media, internet culture, and personal observations. This blog is his creative outlet—where analysis meets storytelling.