The Conjuring: Last Rites: Last Movie? True Story, Release Date

After more than a decade of conjuring jump scares and creaking doors, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are hanging up their EMF detectors. The Conjuring: Last Rites promises to be the Warrens’ final case—but with decades of real haunting material to draw from, the real question is which story earns the last word. This breakdown covers what the film delivers, the disturbing true-life events that inspired it, and whether it sticks the landing.

Director: Michael Chaves · Stars: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga · Release Year: 2025 · Based On: Smurl family haunting · Series Status: Final main series film

The key facts table below summarizes the film’s essential metadata.

Will Conjuring 4 be the last movie?

Warner Bros. and New Line have positioned The Conjuring: Last Rites as the final chapter focused on Ed and Lorraine Warren’s fieldwork, bringing the main series to a close after four films spanning over a decade. The announcement aligned with the film’s marketing push, framing it explicitly as the Warrens’ last documented case.

The Times of India coverage notes this is the third Conjuring film directed by Michael Chaves, whose previous entries The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) and The Curse of La Llorona (2019) established his grip on the franchise’s tone. Whether the studio pursues further Conjuring Universe spin-offs remains unconfirmed, but the door is technically open: Annabelle, The Nun, and The Curse of La Llorona have all operated as standalone entries, and none depend on the Warren characters specifically.

Is Last Rites really the last Conjuring?

The distinction matters: Last Rites concludes the mainline series anchored to Ed and Lorraine Warren, but the Rotten Tomatoes critic consensus observes the film “underwhelms as climactic chapter but upholds spooky standards” while acknowledging it marks “Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s final outing as Warrens.” The framing suggests a franchise reset rather than a full shutdown. Spin-offs could plausibly mine the same universe without returning to the couple who anchored the original series.

Is Conjuring 5 coming out?

As of publication, no fifth main Conjuring film has been announced. The CBR review characterizes Last Rites as “an emotionally satisfying conclusion to the Warrens’ arc,” language that reads as an endpoint rather than a setup. That said, horror franchises have a pattern of returning after farewell announcements—the industry will determine whether audience demand justifies continuation.

The implication: the Warrens’ story ends here, but the Conjuring universe itself may not. Studios rarely permanently close profitable intellectual property.

Is The Conjuring: Last Rites based on a true story?

Yes—and the real-life source is among the most extensively documented hauntings the Warrens ever investigated. The film draws directly from the Smurl family case, a 15-year nightmare that unfolded at 330 Chase Street in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. The family moved into the home in August 1973; disturbing phenomena began within months and escalated to what they described as demonic torment by 1986.

Inside the Real-Life Haunting

The timeline tracks a pattern of escalating horror. Biography.com documents that Ed and Lorraine Warren began their investigation in January 1986, and Ed reported a 30-degree temperature drop, a visible black mass, a jumping mattress, and objects flying across rooms. The Warrens concluded four benevolent spirits and one violent demon haunted the Smurl family.

Reported phenomena included loud noises, foul smells, violent attacks including a dog thrown against a wall, dark shadows, and messages appearing in mirrors, according to Economic Times. Family patriarch Jack Smurl claimed he was sexually assaulted by a demon, children were reportedly thrown down stairs, and blood-curdling screams and animal grunts were said to fill the house.

A local journalist published a paperback book on the Smurl case in December 1986. A TV movie adaptation titled The Haunted aired in 1991, predating the theatrical Conjuring films by years. A local priest reportedly claimed that prayers drove out the entities by October 1986, after which the Smurl family moved away in 1988. The new occupant reported no further activity.

What this means: the film compresses over a decade of contested events into a single narrative arc, drawing from material that has been adapted before and remains disputed. The Warrens’ involvement in 1986 serves as the dramatic focal point—and it’s the period the film chooses to dramatize.

What is the release date of The Conjuring: Last Rites?

The India theatrical release landed on September 5, 2025, with US theaters following on September 9, 2025, according to Horror Press. The film received IMAX screenings at launch, a positioning common for franchise entries seeking premium theatrical experience.

The Conjuring: Last Rites where to watch

Biography.com confirms the film is now available to buy or rent on digital platforms, indicating the post-theatrical window has opened. Physical media availability has not been confirmed at time of publication.

The pattern: major horror releases follow a theatrical window of approximately 45 days before digital availability, though exact timing varies by region and distribution agreement. US audiences can expect purchase and rental options through major platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Vudu.

Is The Conjuring: Last Rites worth watching?

Critical response lands squarely in mixed territory. The Rotten Tomatoes critic consensus states Last Rites “underwhelms as climactic chapter but upholds spooky standards”—a verdict that acknowledges the film’s competence while questioning whether it earns its finale status.

The Conjuring: Last Rites reviews

CBR finds it “an emotionally satisfying conclusion to the Warrens’ arc but not the best or worst in series,” praising solid jump scares and subtle dread alongside character investment. The Rotten Tomatoes notes “performances maintain eerie atmosphere but scare power falls short of earlier films”—a trade-off that frustrates franchise veterans expecting escalation.

The Cosmic Circus offers a warmer read, calling it “a hauntingly beautiful, melancholic farewell with surprising depth”—praise that emphasizes emotional payoff over pure horror mechanics. Horror Press frames it as “a sentimental sendoff blending scares and family drama, evoking the first two films” while acknowledging it doesn’t exceed them.

The trade-off: fans prioritizing scares above all may find Last Rites underwhelming. Those invested in the Warren characters and the emotional weight of their final case will likely find more to appreciate.

What happened to Lorraine and Ed’s daughter in real life?

Ed and Lorraine Warren’s daughter Judy Spera (born Judy Warrens) has largely remained outside public attention compared to her parents’ paranormal careers. She is documented as having worked alongside her parents at the Warrens’ Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. The film does not directly address her storyline, as the Smurl case predates any narrative focus on family continuity.

Why can’t you go to the Conjuring House anymore?

The Conjuring House at 274 Transylvania Road in Monroe, Connecticut, became a site of intense public curiosity following the film series. However, the property has been closed to public tours since 2022 after disputes involving ownership changes, neighbor complaints about traffic, and concerns over commercialization. The house remains privately owned and inaccessible to visitors.

The implication: the real-life locations tied to the Warrens’ legacy have become contested ground between fan interest and residential reality. The Conjuring House closure reflects a broader tension between horror tourism and neighborhood preservation.

The Conjuring franchise built its reputation on grounded terror, real case sourcing, and the chemistry between Wilson and Farmiga. Last Rites delivers the character closure that fans have anticipated since the series’ 2013 debut—but the horror craft itself registers as workmanlike rather than inspired. Critics broadly agree the film doesn’t surpass the original Conjuring, though it avoids the series’ weaker entries.

For horror fans who’ve followed the series: Wilson and Farmiga’s emotional conclusion is worth the ticket price, but those prioritizing the franchise’s scariest moments may want to revisit The Conjuring (2013) or The Conjuring 2 (2016) instead.

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Speculation about whether The Conjuring: Last Rites marks the Warrens’ finale intensifies, with release date and cast details offering key insights into its true Smurl origins and 2025 premiere.

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