The Conjuring: Last Rites Shocks Bollywood – ₹18 Crore Opening Day Smashes Indian Box Office Records!

When was the last time you saw a Hollywood horror film scare not just audiences, but even Bollywood biggies at the box office? That’s exactly what happened on 5th September 2025, when The Conjuring: Last Rites stormed into Indian theatres and collected a jaw-dropping ₹18 crore net on Day 1.

Yes, you read that right — in a five-way box office clash, the horror flick outperformed Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi 4, Sivakarthikeyan’s Madharasi, and other domestic releases, rewriting history books for both Hollywood and horror films in India.

Hollywood Horror Makes History in India

• ₹18 crore opening day – the biggest Hollywood opener of 2025 in India

• Beats Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning (₹16.5 cr)

• Surpasses Ajay Devgn’s Shaitaan (₹17.5 cr) to become the highest horror opener ever in India

This is a landmark moment. Indian audiences, once skeptical of English-language horror, have fully embraced the Conjuring franchise. The word-of-mouth, coupled with eerie trailers and Warner Bros’ smart marketing, has turned cinemas into haunted houses packed with screaming fans.

Baaghi 4 Fails to Punch Hard

Tiger Shroff’s much-hyped Baaghi 4 opened at ₹12 crore net, but failed to match the magic of its own predecessors (Baaghi 2 – ₹25 cr, Baaghi 3 – ₹17.5 cr).

Even with Sanjay Dutt, Sonam Bajwa, Harnaaz Sandhu, and a flashy “Buy One Get One” offer, the film’s occupancy was just 28%. Clearly, star power and discounts can’t save a weak script anymore.

Tamil Cinema Power – Madharasi Roars

Meanwhile, AR Murugadoss’s Madharasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, opened strong with ₹13.65 crore net on Day 1.

• Regional dominance: 62% occupancy in Tamil Nadu

• Worldwide gross: ₹21+ crore on Day 1

• Second biggest opener of Sivakarthikeyan’s career (after Amaran)

This shows again how South Indian cinema is setting new benchmarks, riding on solid content and loyal fanbases.

Industry Shockwaves

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta summed it up:

“In my 20s/30s, I could never imagine an English film outperforming a Hindi film. Today, an English horror film has done double the business of a Hindi action film.”

The message is clear:

• Content > Star power

• Horror is no longer “niche” in India

• Global franchises can dominate desi festivals
  

Weekend Projections

• The Conjuring: Last Rites projected at ₹58-61 crore weekend

• Could be the first Hollywood horror film to cross ₹100 crore in India

• Eid-e-Milad holiday on Monday will further boost collections

Meanwhile, Baaghi 4 is already slipping (₹9 cr on Day 2), while Madharasi is holding steady with strong night shows.

Box Office Scorecard (Day 1)

Film	Day 1 (₹ Cr)	2-Day Total
The Conjuring: Last Rites	17.5 – 18.0	₹35 Cr
Madharasi	13.65	N/A
Baaghi 4	12.0	₹21.25 Cr
The Bengal Files	1.75	₹4 Cr

Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab! (FAQs)

Q1. How much did The Conjuring: Last Rites earn in India on Day 1? It collected around ₹18 crore net, making it the biggest Hollywood opener of 2025 in India.

Q2. Did The Conjuring beat Bollywood films like Baaghi 4? Yes! It outperformed Baaghi 4 (₹12 crore) and even Sivakarthikeyan’s Madharasi (₹13.65 crore).

Q3. Is this the biggest horror film opening in India? Absolutely. It beat Ajay Devgn’s Shaitaan (₹17.5 crore) to set a new horror benchmark.

Q4. Will The Conjuring cross ₹100 crore in India? Trade analysts believe so. With strong word-of-mouth and a holiday boost, it’s well on track.

Q5. Why did Baaghi 4 underperform? Weak storyline, average reviews, and over-reliance on star power failed to attract big crowds despite promotions.