'The Conjuring: Last Rites' advance box office report Day 1: Horror film to record Rs 15 crore opening in India; to beat 'Baaghi 4'

The Conjuring: Last Rites is set to shake up the Indian box office this weekend. The horror film, said to be the last in the epic 'Conjuring' franchise, is poised to scare off all the competition in Indian theatres, with this outing that is tipped to break all records and potentially become the highest-earning Hollywood horror film in India. Indian box office is bracing for a sensational opening as 'The Conjuring: Last Rites', races ahead in advance ticket sales, even beating out the Indian releases like 'Baaghi 4' and 'The Bengal Files'. Directed by Michael Chaves, who has already helmed multiple films in the series, the movie has taken an electrifying start. Before its first public screening, the film, according to sacnilk, had already crossed 300,000 tickets in advance sales, with close to 200,000 of those coming from leading multiplex chains. On BookMyShow alone, ticket sales had already crossed 225,000, and industry trackers expect it to surpass 'Mission Impossible' 250,000 mark. Current trends suggest bookings could potentially surpass even 'Deadpool & Wolverine' which recorded 500,000 ticket sales.This makes 'Last Rites' the most successful advance-selling horror release in Indian cinema history. Its momentum has taken industry observers by surprise the growing enthusiasm of Indian audiences for horror titles. Warner Bros. has backed the release with a massive rollout on over 2,200 screens across the country. Early forecasts suggest an opening of at least Rs 15 crores gross, with potential to edge closer to Rs 20 crores gross across all formats. If this holds, it would eclipse 'Fast X' (2023), which earned an estimated Rs 11.90 crores in advance sales. In short, the film is assured of a double-digit debut.To build additional buzz, the studio scheduled paid previews on Thursday, September 4, at 11:30 pm and 11:59 pm. Initial response to these late-night shows has been strong, and combined collections from previews and Day 1 are estimated to fall in the Rs 13–14 crores range.Strong word of mouth could push 'The Last Rites' towards an exceptional first weekend. Analysts believe it could even cross Rs 100 crores in India, which would make it the first Hollywood horror release to do so.The franchise’s box office history in India has been notable. 'The Conjuring 2' (2016) earned Rs 61.78 crores, a remarkable performance at the time. By contrast, 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It' (2021) struggled, largely due to its delayed pandemic-era release.The film will, however, face stiff competition domestically. Bollywood titles like 'Baaghi 4' and 'The Bengal Files' are also vying for audience attention this weekend. Tiger Shroff’s 'Baaghi 4' has reported Rs 8.47 crores in advance bookings (including blocked seats). Sacnilk estimates its Day 1 could land in the Rs 12–13 crore net range, though spot bookings may keep the figure between Rs 9–11 crores net. While the political film 'The Bengal Files' has recorded an estimated Rs 1.23 crore in advance sales.Even so, trade analysts believe 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' will have the upper hand over domestic titles during the weekend.On the global stage, the film is targeting a massive start as well. Industry projections range from $50 million to $55 million for its opening weekend, though Warner Bros. has offered a more conservative estimate of $35 million. Overseas markets across 66 territories are expected to contribute an additional $50 million, potentially pushing worldwide opening revenues past the $100 million milestone.Produced on a budget of $55 million, the film has a strong chance of setting a new record for the franchise’s biggest global launch. At present, the series’ best opener remains the 2013 original The Conjuring, which debuted to $41 million.Based on the infamous Smurl haunting, 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, reprising their roles as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The movie also marks the ninth and final chapter in 'The Conjuring' Universe.