The Conjuring: How A Perfect Horror Movie Launched A Blockbuster Franchise

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The Conjuring is a leading name in contemporary horror, and the series remains incredibly popular 13 years after the first film was released. Horror movies are currently in an interesting place – while the 21st century has been good for the genre overall, it’s shifted in the last 6 to 10 years.

Horror movies are experiencing a shift, thanks to studios like Neon and A24. Once relegated to smaller audiences, atmospheric folk horror and thought-provoking psychological horror are now achieving mainstream success. This new wave makes older, more straightforward films like The Conjuring seem a bit old-fashioned, though the franchise remains popular.

The Conjuring Is A Perfect Horror Movie

The Conjuring is a standout horror film and a true success story for modern Hollywood. It’s rare for a horror movie made in the last twenty years to be considered among the all-time greats, but this film absolutely deserves to be in that conversation. It skillfully uses familiar horror elements and delivers them with exceptional execution.

Many modern horror films try to blend genres like psychology, science fiction, or drama, and in doing so, often lose what makes horror truly frightening. However, The Conjuring is different. It prioritizes genuine horror, making it the core of the entire film experience.

How The Conjuring Became One Of Hollywood’s Biggest Franchises

I’ve noticed that horror movies rarely plan out a whole universe like Marvel or the MonsterVerse does. Those franchises think about future movies and prequels before the first one even hits theaters! With horror, it’s usually different. If the first movie does well, then they’ll make a sequel. And if that one’s a hit, maybe we’ll get three movies total. It’s a much more ‘wait and see’ approach.

It didn’t take long for The Conjuring to become a major franchise. The first film earned $319 million, almost guaranteeing a sequel. When The Conjuring 2 exceeded even that amount, it opened the floodgates, and thanks to director James Wan, the series quickly became one of the most successful horror franchises ever.

The Conjuring Will Return With A Prequel

The newest installment in The Conjuring series, The Conjuring: Last Rites, came out on September 5, 2025, and quickly became the most successful film in the franchise. Because of its success, another movie is on the way: The Conjuring: First Communion is scheduled for release on September 10, 2027.

This new movie tells the story of how Ed and Lorraine Warren first began their work as paranormal investigators. It’s currently unknown who will play them – will it be Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, or the younger actors, Orion Smith and Madison Lawlor, who portrayed them in a previous film?

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2026-01-25 19:10