The power of fear is alive and well, as "The Conjuring: Last Rites" conjured an astonishing $34.5 million on its opening day, including preview screenings. This mind-blowing figure surpasses previous records set by the franchise's 2018 spinoff, "The Nun," which kicked off with $22 million, marking a historical high for the series.

With forecasts predicting only $50 million for the weekend, "Last Rites" looks poised to blow past expectations and could even dethrone "The Nun"’s $53 million for the biggest opening weekend in the franchise's history. If trends hold, the film could also secure a spot among the top seven openings of 2025, possibly edging out competitors like "Thunderbolts," which debuted with $74 million.

Despite being the fourth main entry in the series (ninth if we count spin-offs), the lure of "The Conjuring" remains undeniable. Fans are thrilled to see Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson back in action as the famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, while director Michael Chaves returns for this spine-chilling installment after previously directing "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" and the spin-off "The Nun II."

Warner Bros. has hit another stride with this release, achieving seven consecutive openings over $40 million. Although reviews for "Last Rites" have been lukewarm, earning a franchise-low "B" grade from Cinema Score surveys, audience interest hasn’t waned. With a production budget of $55 million, the film is off to a thrilling start.

In a surprise twist, Disney's much-loved Broadway musical "Hamilton" has also hit the theaters this weekend after being available on Disney+ for nearly five years. Drawing $3.9 million in its initial showings across 1,825 locations, it’s set to land in second place with an estimated $9 million this weekend, a remarkable feat for a title that’s been previously accessible at home.

Following closely, Warner Bros. continues to shine with another horror title, "Weapons," grossing $1.5 million on Friday. In its fifth weekend, this original thriller has amassed over $140 million in North America.

Disney's comedy sequel, "Freakier Friday," lands in fourth place, earning $960,000 on Friday. Now at $85 million domestically, it’s on track to surpass "Snow White" and secure a place among the year’s top earners.

In the fifth slot, Sony Pictures’ "Caught Stealing" is expected to pull in about $3.2 million for its second weekend, facing a sharp 58% drop from its debut, struggling to find its footing after a tepid opening.

Finally, the PG-rated Christian film "Light of the World" opened in 2,075 locations, but only managed $700,000 on its first day, placing it eighth.