Although blockbuster season officially came to a close Labor Day Weekend, “the darkest chapter” in The Conjuring universe isn’t intending on going quietly.
While early tracking had Valak the Defiler headed toward a respectable opening weekend haul – somewhere between $30 million and $40 million – the latest intel is suggesting The Nun could very well bow as high as $50 million. According to Variety, Corin Hardy’s (The Hallow) gothic horror has a decent shot at trouncing the nearly $42 million earned by The Conjuring on opening weekend, as The Nun is projected to debut betwixt $36 million to $45 million.
However, it should be noted there’s evidence denoting that a $50 million opening weekend’s entirely plausible, with some indicating that the film could gross in excess of the half-century mark. Regardless of where it’ll land, though, The Nun should easily take the weekend, as the Jennifer Garner-led Peppermint is expected to earn between $10 million and $15 million, and God Bless the Broken Road, a paltry $3 million.
Ultimately, The Nun will come nowhere near the absolutely monstrous bow of Andy Muschietti’s IT, which debuted to the tune of $123 million last September, and is the all-time record holder for that month. Given the relatively small budget of the pic though – which, of course, is nothing new to The Conjuring universe – if Corin Hardy’s gothic horror is indeed capable of earning $50 million, it would unquestionably put another feather in the cap of the franchise, and undoubtedly set The Crooked Man along the fast track.
Slated to have you down on bended knee to Valak the Defiler, look for The Nun – starring Taissa Farmiga as Sister Irene, Demián Bichir as Father Burke, and Bonnie Aarons as the titular prioress – to keep you sleepless beginning Friday, September 7th.