September has become horror box office’s launching pad. This year, the genre is serving up both big franchise sequels and surprising newcomers. The Conjuring: Last Rites crashed hard in its second weekend, but Zach Cregger’s Weapons kept steady momentum after Labor Day. Plus, Stephen King’s The Long Walk just arrived, and Hell House LLC: Lineage is still playing in limited release.
The takeaway? Horror isn’t slowing down — it’s gearing up for October’s biggest scares.
How The Conjuring: Last Rites Fell Fast
The Conjuring: Last Rites has now earned $130.58 million domestic as of Sunday, September 14, according to Box Office Mojo. But here’s the problem: its second weekend dropped about 69.5% from that massive $84.0 million opening.
That’s one of the steepest drops in the entire Conjuring franchise history. When a horror sequel falls that hard, it usually means word-of-mouth isn’t great, or audiences got what they wanted from one viewing. Either way, Last Rites is losing steam faster than Warner Bros. probably hoped.
Why Weapons Keeps Working
Zach Cregger’s Weapons tells a different story. The Barbarian director’s latest has reached $147.45 million domestic and $259.55 million worldwide. Daily numbers are slowing down, sure, but it’s still one of 2025’s biggest original horror hits.
Weapons proves audiences will show up for fresh scares when the execution delivers. Cregger built serious credibility with Barbarian, and horror fans trusted him with their ticket money again. That trust paid off.
The Long Walk Takes Its First Steps
Stephen King adaptations always get attention, and The Long Walk opened with $11.7 million across 2,845 theaters this past weekend. Lionsgate spent about $20 million making it, so the movie needs to keep walking to reach profitability.
The good news? King’s stories have serious staying power when they connect with audiences. The Long Walk has weeks to build momentum before October’s horror avalanche arrives.
Even Small Horror Finds Its Place
Hell House LLC: Lineage opened August 20 in limited release and has earned $310,031 domestically so far. Its opening weekend brought in about $152,884. Those numbers sound tiny next to franchise blockbusters, but they matter.
Micro-budget horror like Hell House LLC keeps theaters busy and gives niche audiences exactly what they want. It’s proof that horror works at every budget level.
What September Tells Us About Horror
This month shows horror’s range perfectly. The Conjuring: Last Rites proves even beloved franchises can stumble with steep drops. Weapons shows original stories still draw crowds when they deliver quality scares. The Long Walk adds fresh Stephen King energy to the mix. And Hell House LLC: Lineage keeps the genre’s indie side alive.
None of these movies are slowing horror down. They’re building anticipation for October’s packed lineup.
Flix FAQs
Q: How much has The Conjuring: Last Rites made so far?
A: $130.58 million domestically as of September 14.
Q: What was the second-weekend drop for Last Rites?
A: About 69.5% compared to its $84.0 million opening weekend.
Q: Who directed Weapons?
A: Zach Cregger, who also directed Barbarian.
Q: What are the current box office numbers for Weapons?
A: $147.45 million domestic and $259.55 million worldwide.
Q: How did The Long Walk perform in its opening weekend?
A: It earned $11.7 million from 2,845 theaters.
Q: How is Hell House LLC: Lineage doing at the box office?
A: It has earned $310,031 domestically since its August 20 limited release.
The Bigger Picture
September 2025 confirms horror’s versatility at the box office. The Conjuring: Last Rites shows how even legacy franchises can struggle with steep audience drop-offs, while Weapons proves original films still have serious drawing power. The Long Walk brings fresh Stephen King energy with a solid debut, and micro-budget releases like Hell House LLC: Lineage keep every corner of the genre active.
Horror isn’t winding down — it’s building momentum for what looks like a packed October slate. The genre’s diversity is its strength, serving everyone from franchise fans to indie horror lovers.
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