It’s finally to finally let some old spirits lie mouldering in their graves: Nine films and more than a decade into what we’ve taken to calling the “Conjuring cinematic universe,” following the original release of James Wan’s The Conjuring in 2013, the main series will finally come to a close with September’s The Conjuring: Last Rights. And when we say “the main series,” we mean “the ones following Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s depictions of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren,” rather than the various spin-offs that have revolved around everything from evil nuns to … evil dolls. All of whom we have no doubt will put in final appearances in Last Rites, by the way.
Disappointingly, The Conjuring: Last Rites is not a welcome return to the series for the prolifically working Wan, but rather another entry from director Michael Chaves, who helmed 2021’s decidedly underwhelming penultimate installment The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. That film received notably lower ratings from both critics and audiences and felt like a “beginning of the end” moment for the franchise, which has now come full circle in Last Rites. There aren’t any particular plot elements to report, but the trailer makes it clear that the Warrens are up to their now very familiar business, helping another family that is tangling with demonic disturbances and possession. Farmiga’s voice can be heard intoning that “something’s changed; something’s different,” which is of course studio horror movie code for “Nothing has changed, don’t worry.”
The Conjuring: Last Rites should put to bed this heroic cinematic depiction of Ed and Lorraine Warren, figures who have attracted more attention and criticism in recent years for unearthed claims of sexual assault against Ed, which Lorraine Warren reportedly (and contractually) demanded could not be suggested in any films in the series, which has itself recolored the Conjuring series in a somewhat negative light. Notably, even retiring the Warren characters (and their committed portrayal by Farmiga and Wilson, two genre icons at this point) might not stop other entries in series such as Annabelle or The Nun, which has starred Vera Farmiga’s significantly younger sister Taissa. In the meantime, you can enjoy a parade of familiar franchise clichés in the first trailer below. Last Rites hits U.S. theaters on Sept. 5, 2025.
