\n\tLet the resurrection begin.<\/p>\n
\n\tJolting the box office<\/a> back to life in a major way, New Line\u2019s <\/a>The Conjuring: Last Rites<\/a> scared up a franchise-best $8.5 million in Thursday previews in yet another win for the Warner Bros. film empire. That\u2019s also the biggest franchise gross of the year to date for a horror film after passing up the $5.8 million earned in previews by Sony\u2019s 28 Years Later.<\/p>\n \n\tThe news only gets better from there. The R-rated film is showing no signs of slowing down at the Friday box office, and is now on course to top the chart with a franchise-best debut of $65 million-plus from 3,802 theaters (rivals think $70 million is even possible). That\u2019s almost double the $35 million projection provided by New Line and parent company Warners heading into the weekend, although most others thought it would do at least $50 million.<\/p>\n \n\tOverseas, the forecast calls for a $50 million debut from more than 60 markets against a net production budget of $55 million before marketing.<\/p>\n \n\tThe Conjuring: Last Rites<\/a> stars Vera Farmiga<\/a> and Patrick Wilson<\/a>\u00a0in their final turn as real-life paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Lorraine, but that doesn\u2019t mean the franchise is going anywhere. Last Rites is billed as the ninth and final title in Phase One of The Conjuring Universe, which has become the top-grossing horror franchise in box office history after collecting more than $2.3 billion in global ticket sales, not adjusted for inflation. Next up is Phase Two.<\/p>\n \n\tDirected by series regular Michael Chaves, Last Rites \u2014 a sequel to The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me to Do It \u2014 is based on the Warrens\u2019 investigation of the Smurl haunting in Pennsylvania. Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy also star, with Atomic Monster\u2019s James Wan and DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran<\/a> returning to produce.<\/p>\n \n\tIn 2013, the very first Conjuring<\/a> movie opened to $41 million domestically, not adjusted for inflation. No subsequent franchise title has been able to topple that record. That is, until now.<\/p>\n \n\tCritics haven\u2019t been so kind to the new Last Rites movie \u2014 the same could be said for most installments \u2014 but early audience reaction is promising.<\/p>\n \n\tThe horror title isn\u2019t the only new offering on the marquee scaring up strong numbers as the fall box office gets underway. Disney\u2019s re-release of the acclaimed 2020 filmed version of <\/a>Lin-Manuel Miranda<\/a>\u2018s groundbreaking stage musical Hamilton<\/a> is singing to strong numbers, earning $850,000 in Thursday previews.<\/p>\n \n\tBased on early returns, Hamilton is now on track to come in second for the weekend with a pleasing $9 million to $10 million, on par with last weekend\u2019s 50th Anniversary re-release of Steven Spielberg\u2019s legendary Jaws.<\/p>\n \n\tHamilton is booked in 1,825 theaters domestically, including over 100 premium large-format screens.\u00a0Promoted as\u00a0a one-week limited engagement, the run will likely be extended based on demand.<\/p>\n \n\tSept. 5, 1:50 p.m.: Updated with revised weekend projections.<\/p>\n \n\tThis story was originally published today at 8:28\u00a0a.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Let the resurrection begin. 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