After a minor (and understandable) blip during the pandemic,The ConjuringUniverse appears to be back on track thanks toThe Nun II. The film passed a couple of significant box office milestones this weekend, despite direct competition from the third installment in director-starKenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot series,A Haunting in Venice. Not only didThe Nun IIhold on to the top spot at the domestic box office for the second weekend in a row, it also passed the $100 million mark in international territories, and crossed the $150 million mark globally.
Witha running domestic total of $56 million, and $102 million from international markets, the horror sequel has now made $158 million worldwide in just around 10 days of release. While it held off competition from India’sJawanlast weekend, it brushed aside the challenge presented byA Haunting in Venicethis time around, as it added another $30 million to its account over the weekend.
The movie is currently playing in 72 overseas markets, with the top-performing overseas territories being Mexico ($9.3 million), Brazil ($4.4 million), Indonesia ($4.4 million), Italy ($3.2) and newcomer France ($3.1 million in the opening weekend alone). Major markets still to open are Germany (September 21) and Austria (September 22), followed by Korea (September 27) and finally Japan (October 13). According to Warner Bros. the movie is outpacing fellowConjuringUniversefilms in like-for-like markets, except forThe Nun.
‘The Conjuring’ Film Series Is the Rare Post-Marvel Cinematic Universe That Has Worked
Released in 2018 and directed byCorin Hardy, the firstNunremains the highest-grossing entry in the series at the worldwide box office, with $365 million. It also holds the record for the biggest domestic opening in the series’ history ($53 million).The ConjuringUniverse is perhaps the only example of an objectively successful post-Marvel shared franchise. Each film in the series has grossed over $200 million worldwide, including the pandemic-era releaseThe Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and barring 2019’sThe Curse of La Llorona.
Both those films were directed byThe Nun II’sMichael Chaves, who recently claimed thatLa Lloronashouldn’t be considered a part of the Conjuring seriesat all. The movie ended its global run with $123 million, whileThe Conjuring 3grossed $206 million worldwide despite being released simultaneously on the Max streaming service as a part of W.B.’s controversial 2021 strategy. The franchise will continue withThe Conjuring: Last Rites, which currently does not have a release date. Set in 1950s France,The Nun IIfeatures the returningTaissa Farmigaas Sister Irene, andBonnie Aaronsas the titular Nun/Valak.
The Nun IIis currently in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
