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LAST was first this weekend as moviegoers made it clear they’ll go to theatres if something’s playing they want to see.

That something was Warner Bros./New Line/Atomic Monster’s R rated horror chiller THE CONJURING: THE LAST RITES, which kicked off the fall with a sizzling $83M at 3,802 theatres, including a broad IMAX & PLF footprint ($21,831), per Comscore. Hollywood handicappers started out thinking $40M+, escalated Friday to $65M+ and soared to $80M Saturday.

It also did $104M internationally for a worldwide cume of $187M. Media pundits expected $50M from overseas! BUDGET BUZZ: $55M to produce. LAST’s tracking best for first choice with under-25 women (17 points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 56%, but paying audiences are happier at 79%.

Domestic ticket sales this weekend were $124M, according to Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. That’s up 80.4% from the prior weekend and down 18% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $6.14B, up 3.90% from $5.91B in 2024. The prior weekend showed 2025 up 4.3% vs. last year. Looking back to 6/8, 2025 was up 26.08%, per Comscore.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney’s PG-13 bio-drama HAMILTON opened #2 to $10M at 1,825 theatres ($5,479), per Comscore. It’s a strong showing for this reissue of the 2020 filmed version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical that originally played on Disney+.

HAMILTON’s tracking best for first choice with under-25 women (equal to norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are applauding at 98% and so are  audiences at 99%.

WB/New Line Cinema’s WEAPONS was #3 in weekend five with $5.37M (-48.7%) at 3,284 theatres ($1,635). It’s done $143M domestically & $251.5M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $38M to pick up.

Next weekend (9/12) 🐝🐝🐝🐝: Sony/Crunchyroll’s R rated animated action adventure DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY CASTLE will open at about 3,000 theatres with Hollywood handicappers anticipating $40-50M in ticket sales. It’s tracking best for first choice with under-25 men (nine points over norm).

DEMON opened in Japan 7/18, per Sony/Crunchyroll, breaking boxoffice opening weekend records for highest opening day, first day & single day results ever for Japan. Distributed in Japan by Toho/Aniplex, it generated 17.6B yen (US$120M) in boxoffice revenue through 8/4, topping the boxoffice for three consecutive weekends.

Focus Features/Carnival Films’ PG drama DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, is opening at about 3,500 theatres. It’s tracking best for first choice with over-25 women (one point over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are cheering at 92%.

Directed by Simon Curtis (MY WEEK WITH MARILYN), its ensemble cast is led by Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery & Jim Carter.