The Big Screen Showdown
The horror genre is once again proving its mettle at the box office as ‘The Nun II’ prepares to scare ‘Equalizer 3’ out of the top spot during its domestic debut. With expectations soaring as high as $30 million in domestic earnings for its opening weekend, ‘The Nun II’ is set to outshine ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ in a battle of supernatural frights.
This eerie sequel is a proud member of The Conjuring Universe, a cinematic realm that has seen substantial success, with all its films raking in over $200 million globally, except for the somewhat cursed ‘The Curse of La Llorona’. Despite receiving mixed reviews, ‘The Nun II’ managed to gather better feedback than its predecessor and is hailed as one of the franchise’s most impressive additions, standing shoulder to shoulder with the main Conjuring movies in terms of quality.
The Battle of the Box Office
Warner Bros. surely breathed a sigh of relief, hoping to avoid the fate that befell Universal’s recent horror offering, ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’. Several weeks ago, ‘Demeter’ suffered a nightmarish box office performance, barely scraping together $13 million domestically before vanishing into obscurity. However, ‘The Nun II,’ the latest entry in The Conjuring Universe, is on track to more than double that figure in its opening weekend alone, as it dethrones ‘The Equalizer 3’ from its lofty top spot.
The ominous journey began with $3.1 million in Thursday previews, setting ‘The Nun II’ on course for a $30 million domestic debut. This is happening in a relatively subdued period at the box office following a spectacular summer season. By way of comparison, its predecessor, ‘The Nun,’ astounded everyone with a franchise-best $53 million opening in 2018, after collecting $5.4 million from Thursday previews. Directed by Corin Hardy, ‘The Nun’ went on to accumulate an impressive domestic total of $117 million. Remarkably, it remains the highest-grossing movie in the Conjuring Universe on a global scale, boasting $363 million in earnings.
In summary, ‘The Nun’ continues to assert its dominance even within this expansive franchise. ‘The Nun II’ has garnered better reviews than its predecessor, currently holding a “rotten” 55% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, while the first film struggled with a mere 24% approval rating. Samantha Coley of FilmSweep was notably impressed by the sequel, declaring it the franchise’s best addition “outside the core movies” in her review.
A Moderate Opening by Franchise Standards
Directed by Michael Chaves, who previously helmed ‘The Curse of La Llorona’ and ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,’ two films that grossed $123 million and $206 million worldwide, respectively, ‘The Nun II’ seems poised for a similar opening range. It’s worth noting that ‘Conjuring 3’ opened in 2021 when Warner Bros. decided to simultaneously release each of its films on the Max streaming service. In terms of openings, ‘The Nun II’ is expected to perform on par with Chaves’ two previous movies. ‘Conjuring 3’ made $24 million in its first weekend, while ‘The Curse of La Llorona’ opened to $26.5 million.
The Conjuring Universe stands as one of the most successful shared franchises outside the Marvel cinematic universe. Excluding ‘The Curse of La Llorona,’ which some argue isn’t part of the franchise at all, not a single movie in this series has grossed less than $200 million worldwide. The supernatural journey will continue with the fourth Conjuring installment, titled ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites.’ Meanwhile, ‘The Nun II,’ set in 1950s France, features the return of Taissa Farmiga, with her sister Vera Farmiga leading the Conjuring movies. The cast also includes Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell, and Bonnie Aarons as the eponymous Nun.
Conclusion
As ‘The Nun II’ prepares to terrify audiences in its domestic debut, it’s clear that The Conjuring Universe remains a potent force in the horror genre. With improved reviews and a track record of success, this installment promises to uphold the franchise’s legacy of supernatural scares, securing its place among the most iconic horror film series in recent memory. So, if you’re a fan of heart-pounding frights and a cinematic universe that keeps you on the edge of your seat, ‘The Nun II’ is a must-see, ensuring that the horror genre continues to thrive on the big screen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Horror Box Office
Q: What is ‘The Nun II’ about, and how well is it expected to perform at the box office?
A: ‘The Nun II’ is a horror movie and part of The Conjuring Universe. It is expected to perform well at the box office, with an estimated $30 million in domestic earnings during its opening weekend. The film follows the success of its predecessor and has received better reviews, making it a strong addition to the franchise.
Q: How does ‘The Nun II’ compare to ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ in terms of box office performance?
A: ‘The Nun II’ is anticipated to outshine ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ at the box office. ‘Demeter’ had a disappointing debut with just $13 million domestically, while ‘The Nun II’ is on track to double that figure in its opening weekend.
Q: Is ‘The Nun II’ a standalone movie, or is it connected to other films in The Conjuring Universe?
A: ‘The Nun II’ is part of The Conjuring Universe, a successful cinematic franchise known for its supernatural horror elements. It shares continuity with other films in the franchise, adding depth to its storyline.
Q: Who directed ‘The Nun II,’ and what other films have they worked on?
A: ‘The Nun II’ was directed by Michael Chaves, known for his work on ‘The Curse of La Llorona’ and ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,’ both of which had successful box office runs.
Q: How does ‘The Nun II’ compare to its predecessor in terms of reviews and audience reception?
A: ‘The Nun II’ has received better reviews compared to the first film, with a “rotten” rating of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. In contrast, the original film received a lower approval rating of 24%. The sequel has garnered a more positive response from audiences and critics alike.
Q: What is the future of The Conjuring Universe, and are there any upcoming films in the franchise?
A: The Conjuring Universe is known for its continued success. The franchise will carry on with the release of the fourth Conjuring movie titled ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites,’ ensuring that fans of supernatural horror have more chilling experiences to look forward to.
More about Horror Box Office
- Official ‘The Nun II’ Website
- The Conjuring Universe
- Rotten Tomatoes Reviews for ‘The Nun II’
- Box Office Mojo for up-to-date box office earnings
- IMDb Page for Michael Chaves
- Samantha Coley’s Review on FilmSweep
