Box office enthusiasts and horror movie fans are eagerly anticipating the release of The Nun II, the latest installment in the ever-expanding Conjuring Universe. Long-range tracking for the film suggests a promising start at the box office, with expectations of an opening weekend gross of over $30 million.
Box Office Projections
The Nun II is on course to debut with an opening weekend haul exceeding $30 million. While this may fall short of the $53.8 million that its predecessor, The Nun, earned in 2018, it still indicates a strong start for this horror flick. It’s worth noting that the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike has impacted the film’s production, making this projection even more impressive.
Comparatively, The Nun II’s potential opening surpasses the last two Conjuring films, Annabelle Comes Home (2019) and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), which opened with $20.2 million and $24.1 million, respectively. This positive trend suggests that the Conjuring Universe continues to captivate audiences and maintain its popularity in the horror genre.
Cast and Plot
Directed by Michael Chaves, The Nun II brings back familiar faces from the first film, with Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, and Bonnie Aarons reprising their roles as Sister Irene, Maurice Theriault, and the sinister Valak, respectively.
Joining the cast are Storm Reid (The Last of Us) and Anna Popplewell (The Chronicles of Narnia) as Sister Debra and Kate. The story follows Sister Irene as she confronts Valak once again, four years after the events of the first film, set in a French boarding school.
Is The Curse of La Llorona Part of the Conjuring Universe?
Director Michael Chaves addressed the question of whether The Curse of La Llorona is part of the Conjuring Universe. He explained that the confusion stemmed from an error during the film’s premiere at SXSW, where it was incorrectly introduced as the next entry in the Conjuring universe.
Chaves clarified that the film couldn’t be formally included in the franchise because it didn’t involve one of the core producers, Peter Safran, who, alongside James Wan, is instrumental in shaping the Conjuring Universe.
Future of the Conjuring Universe
Beyond The Nun II, the Conjuring Universe has more in store for fans. Warner Bros. has already announced a fourth Conjuring film, titled Last Rites, with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga returning as Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Additionally, the Conjuring Universe is set to expand into television with an untitled series in development for the Max streaming service. This series will continue the established storyline from the films, although specific character appearances remain undisclosed.
The Nun II gears up for its release on September 8, 2023, the Conjuring Universe shows no signs of slowing down. With strong box office projections, a dedicated fan base, and future projects in the works, this horror franchise continues to be a formidable presence in the genre, promising more spine-chilling tales for years to come.