The Conjuring: Last Rites is a 2025 horror film inspired by the Smurl family’s reported haunting, not a documentary account of a proven supernatural event. It places a haunted mirror and an adult Judy Warren at the center of the screen story; accounts of the reported case describe disturbances in the Smurls’ home from 1974 to 1989, with Ed and Lorraine Warren becoming involved in 1986.
What is the real story behind The Conjuring: Last Rites?
Directed by Michael Chaves, the film stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Lorraine and Ed Warren. Its story opens with the Warrens investigating a haunted mirror in 1964, then jumps to 1986, when the mirror reappears as a confirmation gift for Heather Smurl in Pittston, Pennsylvania. The Smurl family experiences frightening events, while adult Judy Warren and her relationship with Tony also figure in the plot. These are elements of the film’s dramatization, not independently established facts about the reported case. Apple TV’s listing gives the film’s synopsis and cast.
![The Conjuring: Last Rites [Blu-ray] [2025]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Bt+v5n7QL._SL160_.jpg)
Warner Bros. describes the movie as the ninth entry in the Conjuring universe and says the franchise has earned more than $2 billion theatrically. That total is the studio’s promotional figure, not an independently audited estimate. The film opened in North American theaters on September 5, 2025, after an international release beginning September 3, according to the official Warner Bros. movie page.
Was the Smurl haunting real?
The Smurl family and its allegations were real; the supernatural cause was not proven by the sources describing the case. CNA reports that Jack and Janet Smurl said a demonic presence disturbed their West Pittston home from 1974 to 1989, and that Ed and Lorraine Warren began investigating there in 1986. A reported haunting is an account of what people said they experienced, not confirmation that a demon or other supernatural force was present. CNA’s account attributes the claims to the family.
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#1 Best Overall
- Runtime: 137 minutes
The available case descriptions are journalistic accounts, rather than independently verified records establishing paranormal events. It is therefore more accurate to say that the Smurls reported disturbances and that the Warrens investigated their claims than to say that a demonic haunting was demonstrated.
How does the movie differ from the reported case?
The screen story reshapes the case, particularly its timeline and the role of the mirror and Judy Warren. The reported disturbances are described as spanning 1974–1989, while the film’s main Smurl-family events take place in 1986. LOS40’s September 9, 2025 comparison identifies the haunted mirror and Judy’s involvement with her fiancé as changes or inventions for the film; the film listing, meanwhile, makes the mirror central and includes Judy and Tony. LOS40’s comparison is a journalistic account of the differences, not primary case documentation.
Rank #2
- Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson
| Comparison | Film | Reported case |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | The Smurl-family plot is set in 1986, following a 1964 opening involving the mirror. Apple TV’s film listing. | Jack and Janet Smurl reportedly described disturbances from 1974 to 1989; the Warrens began investigating in 1986. CNA and LOS40. |
| Mirror | A haunted mirror resurfaces as a confirmation gift and drives the plot. Apple TV’s film listing. | LOS40 identifies the mirror as a film invention; it is not part of the reported case account cited here. |
| Judy and Tony | Adult Judy and her relationship with Tony appear in the story. Apple TV’s film listing. | LOS40 describes Judy’s role and her fiancé’s involvement as changes for the film, not features of the reported case account. |
| Supernatural cause | Characters experience frightening events within a horror narrative. | The sources establish that the Smurls reported disturbances and that the Warrens investigated; they do not establish a demonic cause. |
Why did the filmmakers return to the Smurl case?
James Wan, filmmaker and creator of the Conjuring franchise, described the choice as a return to the series’ roots. CNA quoted him saying: “It just felt full circle for me to come back and use this particular case, the Smurl case, as the last one. It just felt right.” CNA also reports that the 1991 television movie The Haunted introduced Wan to Ed and Lorraine Warren. His explanation is about the franchise’s creative history, not evidence for the alleged haunting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How long is The Conjuring: Last Rites, and where can you watch it?
The film runs 135 minutes (2 hours, 15 minutes) and is rated R for bloody/violent content and terror in the US listings from Apple TV and the Associated Press. Warner Bros.’ official page currently presents digital and disc options, and the distributor announced US HBO Max streaming beginning November 21, 2025. That dated announcement does not establish current availability in every country, so check local services and retailers for the edition and format available where you live.
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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
Sources: Warner Bros. official movie page; Warner Bros. Discovery Pressroom announcement; Apple TV listing; Associated Press review; CNA Lifestyle interview; and LOS40 comparison.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Runtime: 137 minutes
Rank #4
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