“The Nun 2,” the latest installment in the Conjuring Universe, made a strong debut in its opening weekend on September 8th, earning the top spot at the box office with a projected gross of $32 million. However, despite its success, it falls short of its predecessor, the original “The Nun,” which had a remarkable $58.3 million opening and a total worldwide gross of $365.5 million, making it the highest-grossing film in the Conjuring Universe.
The sequel continues the story of Sister Irene and Frenchie, reprised by Taissa Farmiga and Jonas Bloquet, and the malevolent demon Valak, often seen in the terrifying form of a nun, portrayed by Bonnie Aarons.
While “The Nun 2” may not match the staggering success of the first film, it still marks a positive turn for the Conjuring Universe. It boasts the best opening in the franchise since the original “The Nun,” surpassing other entries like “The Curse of La Llorona,” “Annabelle Comes Home,” and “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.” Notably, the latter’s box office was impacted by its simultaneous release on HBO Max for the first month.
Despite limited promotion from its cast, partly due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, “The Nun 2” managed to perform well. The absence of cast promotion likely affected its box office performance, indicating that it could have fared even better with their support.
Although the film received a lukewarm Rotten Tomatoes score of 45%, its opening weekend success suggests a potentially bright future for the Conjuring Universe. If the upcoming “The Conjuring: Last Rites” proves to be even more commercially successful, the franchise may see a resurgence, possibly leading to more sequels and spinoffs.
In conclusion, while “The Nun 2” falls short of its predecessor’s box office numbers, it still signifies an upward trajectory for the Conjuring Universe. Its opening weekend success, despite challenges, hints at the potential for continued growth and expansion within this supernatural horror franchise.