On September 5, 2025, The Conjuring: Last Rites, the fourth and purportedly final chapter of the main Conjuring series, stormed into theaters, delivering a chilling conclusion to the iconic horror franchise. Directed by Michael Chaves and starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film has already shattered box office records, grossing $244 million worldwide in its opening week. Billed as the Warrens’ last case, Last Rites dives into the harrowing Smurl family haunting of 1986, weaving a tale of demonic possession, cursed artifacts, and emotional farewells. Yet, despite its promise of closure, a tantalizing detail in the film’s final moments has sparked feverish speculation among fans: could there be more to come in the Conjuring Universe?
A Haunting Legacy Reaches Its Climax
Since its inception in 2013, The Conjuring franchise has redefined modern horror, blending real-life paranormal cases with cinematic terror to create a sprawling universe of fear. With nine films, including spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun, the series has amassed over $2.5 billion at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time. At its heart are Ed and Lorraine Warren, portrayed with magnetic chemistry by Wilson and Farmiga, whose real-life investigations into hauntings and possessions have captivated audiences for over a decade.
The Conjuring: Last Rites promised to be the definitive end to the Warrens’ story. Set in 1986, the film centers on the Smurl family, a working-class Pennsylvania household tormented by a malevolent force unleashed by an antique mirror. The movie opens with a flashback to 1964, where a pregnant Lorraine encounters the same cursed mirror during an investigation, triggering a vision of a demonic entity and the tragic stillbirth of her daughter, Judy, who miraculously revives. Fast-forward to 1986, and the mirror resurfaces in the Smurl household, bringing chaos—collapsing ceilings, blood-coughing visions, and an axe-wielding spirit that terrorizes the family.
The Warrens, now semi-retired after Ed’s heart attack in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, are reluctant to take on new cases. But when their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) and her fiancé Tony Spera (Ben Hardy) get entangled in the Smurl haunting, Ed and Lorraine are drawn back into the fray. What follows is a battle against a demon with a personal vendetta, one that has been stalking Judy since her birth, intent on claiming her soul. The film’s emotional weight, coupled with its signature Conjuring blend of atmospheric dread and jump scares, has left audiences both rattled and reflective.
A Mixed Reception: Thrills and Flaws
Critics and fans have greeted Last Rites with mixed reactions. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 57% approval rating, with reviewers praising its emotional depth and the performances of Wilson and Farmiga but criticizing its predictable jump scares and rushed climax. “Purportedly Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s final outing as the Warrens, Last Rites underwhelms as a climactic chapter but solidly upholds the franchise’s spooky standards,” reads the site’s consensus. Audiences, however, have been more forgiving, with some calling it “the scariest and most emotional chapter” of the series, particularly for its focus on the Warren family dynamic.
The film’s strengths lie in its early scenes, where director Michael Chaves leans heavily on atmosphere and sound design to build suspense. A standout sequence involves Janet Smurl (Rebecca Calder) performing household chores while eerie disturbances unfold around her, culminating in a chilling basement encounter with a shadowy presence. The chemistry between Wilson and Farmiga remains a highlight, their portrayal of Ed and Lorraine’s enduring love providing a heartfelt anchor amidst the supernatural chaos. However, some fans have echoed critics’ complaints, noting that the film’s second half falters with lackluster CGI and an overreliance on familiar tropes. “The ending felt super rushed,” one Reddit user lamented, “and the solution to the demon felt like they just pulled it out of nowhere.”
The Ending: A Farewell with a Twist
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Conjuring: Last Rites.
As the film races toward its climax, the Warrens uncover the demon’s true target: Judy. The entity, tied to the cursed mirror, has been biding its time since Lorraine’s encounter in 1964, seeking to possess Judy as revenge for the Warrens’ decades of exorcisms. In a tense sequence, Judy, overwhelmed by visions, attempts to hang herself in the Smurl family’s attic, only to be saved by her parents and Tony. With the Smurls evacuated, the Warrens confront the demon in a high-stakes exorcism, discovering that the mirror’s power can only be broken by a unified act of faith. In a symbolic gesture, the family joins hands and touches the mirror, banishing the demon in a blaze of light.
The film concludes with a joyous epilogue: Judy’s wedding to Tony, attended by familiar faces from the Conjuring Universe, including Carolyn Perron (Lili Taylor) and Peggy Hodgson (Frances O’Connor). Even franchise creator James Wan makes a cheeky cameo as a wedding guest, a nod to his role in shaping the series. As Lorraine shares a vision of their future—retirement, grandparenthood, and passing their legacy to the next generation—the film offers a poignant farewell to the Warrens, with onscreen text detailing their real-life deaths (Ed in 2006, Lorraine in 2019).
But it’s a post-credits detail that has fans buzzing. After the credits roll, a photo of the real Ed Warren appears next to the infamous mirror, accompanied by text revealing it to be a “conjuring mirror,” a tool used to summon spirits. This revelation, coupled with a scene where Ed hands Tony the keys to their room of haunted artifacts, has ignited speculation about the franchise’s future. “That mirror is basically screaming ‘sequel bait,’” one fan posted on Reddit. “And giving Tony the keys? They’re setting him up to take over!”
Speculation Runs Wild: Is This Truly the End?
Despite being marketed as the final chapter, the post-credits tease has fans questioning whether The Conjuring Universe is truly finished. The mention of the “conjuring mirror” suggests untapped potential for new stories, perhaps centered on the mirror’s origins or its ability to summon spirits. The handover of the artifact room keys to Tony Spera, who in real life became the curator of the Warrens’ occult museum, hints at a possible spin-off featuring Judy and Tony as the next generation of paranormal investigators. “They’re not done,” one X user declared. “That mirror is too big a Chekhov’s gun to leave hanging.”
The franchise’s history supports this optimism. While Last Rites marks the end of the main Conjuring series, the universe has thrived on spin-offs, with Annabelle and The Nun expanding the mythology. Reports of a Conjuring prequel and a TV series in development further fuel speculation, though James Wan’s involvement remains uncertain due to ongoing disputes with Warner Bros. over profits. Fans have also theorized about connections to unresolved threads, such as the demon Valak from The Nun or the mysterious “three demon heads” mentioned in Last Rites but never explained. “They could totally do a prequel about the mirror or a Judy and Tony spin-off,” another Reddit user suggested. “The universe is too big to just stop.”
A Franchise That Refuses to Die
The Conjuring: Last Rites delivers a bittersweet farewell to Ed and Lorraine Warren, balancing emotional resonance with the franchise’s signature scares. While it may not reach the heights of the first two films, its record-breaking box office and passionate fanbase prove the Conjuring Universe’s enduring appeal. The final detail—a cryptic nod to the conjuring mirror—has left audiences buzzing with theories, from prequels exploring the mirror’s origins to spin-offs starring Judy and Tony. Whether this is truly the end or merely a new beginning, one thing is certain: the Conjuring Universe has plenty of ghosts left to unleash, and horror fans will be eagerly watching for what comes next.
