The Conjuring: Last Rites is a less frightening entry than the franchise’s best work, and its climax is the part most reviewers find underwhelming. Its strongest asset is Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Lorraine and Ed Warren, whose performances keep the film engaging even when the scares fade. It is presented as the Warrens’ last case, though the sources behind this review do not establish whether the franchise will return to them.
Is The Conjuring: Last Rites scary?
Less consistently than the earlier films, according to the two main aggregate summaries on Rotten Tomatoes, checked October 8, 2026. The critics’ consensus says the film “solidly upholds the franchise’s spooky standards” but underwhelms as a climactic chapter. The audience summary makes a similar point: the eerie atmosphere and performances remain, but the conclusion falls short of the scare power of earlier films. These are summaries of many reviews and ratings, not a verdict every critic or viewer shares.
![The Conjuring: Last Rites [Blu-ray] [2025]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Bt+v5n7QL._SL160_.jpg)
The gap is easiest to see in how the film is paced. The atmosphere, period setting, and family-haunting material give the film its unsettling texture, and that is the part the consensus credits. The weaker part is the payoff. When a film built on dread gets to its final stretch, the lack of a strong, earned release is what makes the scares feel smaller in hindsight. That is the specific complaint behind the “less scary” reading, and it is a judgment about the climax, not a claim that the film contains no frightening material. The content guidance below makes that clear.
Is it worth watching?
Yes, if you come for the Warrens, the franchise’s tone, and two actors who understand their characters. It is a weaker choice if you want the scare intensity of the earlier films or a finale that resolves the series’ larger arc. Fandango’s box-office analyst Shawn Robbins, quoted by the Associated Press in 2025, described the franchise’s appeal this way: once the ominous music plays under the Warner Bros. logo, audiences know they are in for a wild ride. That expectation is what the film has to meet. Based on the critical and audience summaries, it meets it more reliably in tone than in its climax.
#1 Best Overall
- Runtime: 137 minutes
Are Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson good in it?
Yes, and they are the reason the film holds together. Bill Goodykoontz, film critic for the Arizona Republic, wrote in a review published September 18, 2025: “Thanks to Wilson and Farmiga, who know the exact register of intensity to play these characters, it’s easy to remain invested in Ed and Lorraine, their work and their love slightly out of time.” That line describes the core of the film’s appeal. The Warrens’ relationship and their working partnership are what viewers remain invested in when the haunting itself loses momentum. Mia Tomlinson as Judy Warren and Ben Hardy as Tony Spera support the leads, but the emotional weight sits with Farmiga and Wilson.
Is this really the final Conjuring movie with Ed and Lorraine?
The film is presented as the Warrens’ last case. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ consensus describes it as “purportedly” the couple’s final outing, a hedge that signals the label comes from the film’s framing rather than a settled fact. The sources used for this review do not establish whether the franchise will return to Ed and Lorraine after this entry. Treat “final” as the film’s own marketing and story positioning, and check current studio announcements before assuming the series is closed.
Rank #2
- Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson
What the film is and how it is framed
The Conjuring: Last Rites is a 2025 entry in the Conjuring universe, which the official Warner Bros. film site calls its ninth entry. It was directed by Michael Chaves and produced by James Wan and Peter Safran. The screenplay is credited to Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, and the story to Johnson-McGoldrick and Wan. The North American theatrical release was September 5, 2025, with international release beginning September 3, 2025. These are studio-published credits and dates.
The plot, as the Associated Press described it, is set in Pennsylvania in 1986 and centers on the Smurl family and a carved mirror. The supernatural premise is a dramatized story, not evidence that the events occurred. AP’s review also noted the period songs and the blend of affectionate family material with gore, which is a fair way to understand the film’s tonal balance: it leans on family warmth as much as on horror mechanics, and the Warrens’ presence is what ties those two modes together.
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![The Conjuring / The Conjuring 2 [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Denmark ]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41VkDfu14VL._SL160_.jpg)
- The Conjuring / The Conjuring 2
- The Conjuring / The Conjuring 2
The critical and audience numbers
The figures below come from different sources and dates. They are not interchangeable, and the first two are the only ones that describe the film’s current standing.
| Measure | Figure | Source and date | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatometer (critics) | 57% from 192 reviews | Rotten Tomatoes, checked October 8, 2026 | Aggregate of published reviews; can shift as reviews are added |
| Popcornmeter (audience) | 76% from 5,000+ verified ratings | Rotten Tomatoes, checked October 8, 2026 | Verified audience ratings; can shift over time |
| Opening-period Tomatometer and CinemaScore | 55% Rotten Tomatoes and B CinemaScore | Associated Press, 2025 opening-period report | Historical figure from opening weeks; not the current score |
| Franchise theatrical gross | More than $2 billion | Warner Bros. official film site, accessed 2026 | Studio-attributed claim, not an independent audit |
Content and rating in the UK
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) classifies the film as “strong horror, violence, injury detail.” That is UK guidance, not a US rating. Its detailed consumer advice flags the following:
Rank #4
- Frequent supernatural threats and intense possession scenes
- Loud jump scares
- Bloody images and injury
- Suicide under demonic influence and attempted suicide
- Illness, bereavement, and stillbirth
Parents and viewers sensitive to these themes should read the full BBFC advice before watching, since the content is more intense than the film’s “less scary” reputation might suggest.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch
When checked, Rotten Tomatoes listed HBO Max for streaming and Fandango for rental or purchase. Availability changes by territory and date, so confirm the current service in your country before planning a viewing. For UK readers, the BBFC record lists the film for home entertainment on physical media and on video-on-demand and streaming services.
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- Runtime: 137 minutes
Bottom line
The Conjuring: Last Rites is a worthwhile watch for franchise fans and for anyone drawn to Farmiga and Wilson, but it is not the scare-driven or conclusive finale its premise suggests. Its atmosphere and performances keep it grounded; its climax is where it falls short.
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