The Conjuring: Final Rites shattered field workplace expectations, changing into the very best opening weekend in The Conjuring franchise and likewise the largest opening for a horror film on the worldwide field workplace. After a semi-quiet Labor Day, wrapping up a fairly lackluster conclusion to the summer season, The Conjuring: Final Rites gave the field workplace the main enhance it wanted and confirmed each the worth of horror movies and likewise how precious that post-Labor Day weekend will be. Horror films, notably these launched by Warner Bros., have constantly carried out nicely within the first weekend following Labor Day and the kickoff of the autumn film season.
For 2026, Warner Bros. has already reserved the date for Clayface, the third movie within the ever-growing DCU following Superman and Supergirl. It definitely looks like an odd decide, provided that the franchise has two Superman-related properties, and is adopted by a mid-budget horror movie based mostly on a Batman villain, fairly than Batman himself or a standard superhero. Nonetheless, it exhibits that the DCU is keen to take probabilities and have a extra numerous line-up of titles than the traditional strategy of the MCU. The Conjuring: Final Rites and the previous few years of Warner Bros. films, which kicked off the month of September, point out that Clayface could possibly be a shock hit for the studio and one other win for the DCU.
Warner Bros. Has Conquered the First Weekend After Labor Day
Historically, the weekend after Labor Day was usually thought of one of many weaker frames for opening a blockbuster movie. It’s because viewers turnout usually slows after the summer season film season ends, as youthful moviegoers return to highschool. Moreover, after a three-day weekend, most households or single adults return to their common schedule. That is why 3:10 to Yuma, grossing $14 million in its post-Labor Day weekend again in 2007, was seen as a giant deal.
Horror movies, nonetheless, occupy a singular area of interest, as they do not goal a youthful viewers, so that they need not fear about children being again in class; they want to attract in adults. With Halloween rising in reputation and extra folks wanting to begin festivities earlier, releasing a horror film (or horror-adjacent like final fall’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) capitalizes on that early pleasure. It additionally permits a film to play all through September and probably into October earlier than the rise in horror movies that actually need to capitalize on Halloween.
Warner Bros., specifically, has actually seized on the primary Friday after Labor Day, simply as Marvel Studios enjoys the primary weekend of Might, Pixar enjoys the June/Father’s Day weekend releases, and Christopher Nolan loves the third weekend in July. When Warner Bros. and New Line Photos launched It on September 7, 2017, it turned a cultural phenomenon. To this present day, it nonetheless holds the September file for the largest opening weekend and the largest opening for a horror movie domestically with $123.4 million. It stayed primary for 2 weeks, remaining within the home high 10 till the week after Halloween. It grossed $327.4 million domestically and $702.7 million worldwide off a $35 million funds.
Warner Bros. has maintained this streak, besides in 2020 and 2021, as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. New Line Cinema launched The Nun and The Nun 2 in 2018 and 2023, respectively. Regardless of being on the smaller finish, the critically acclaimed Barbarian turned a word-of-mouth hit after a gentle post-Labor Day weekend opening. Whereas not a horror movie, 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was capitalizing on the early Halloween buzz and held the second-largest opening weekend for September. The truth is, with It, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, It Chapter Two, and now The Conjuring: Final Rites, Warner Bros. has the 4 greatest September opening weekends. See the launched movies and their opening weekends under:
- 2018 — The Nun ($53.8 million)
- 2019 — It Chapter Two ($91 million)
- 2022 — Barbarian ($10 million)
- 2023 — The Nun II ($32.6 million)
- 2024 — Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ($111 million)
- 2025 — The Conjuring: Final Rites ($84 million)
Warner Bros. is on a scorching streak, they usually clearly are betting on Clayface to maintain the yearly profitable streak going. The percentages look good for the DCU’s first foray into the horror style.
Bodes Properly for the DCU’s ‘Clayface’
Clayface has been set for that now coveted post-Labor Day weekend, opening on Sept. 11, 2026. The film, directed by James Watkins (Communicate No Evil) and written by Mike Flanagan (Physician Sleep), starring Tom Rhys Harries (The Return), will heart on the Batman villain. Clayface has been pitched not solely as a physique horror film but additionally as an R-rated movie that showcases the range of the DCU movie slate. It permits a number of genres to coexist within the universe, probably that includes a horror film villain like Clayface in an all-ages Batman story, whereas additionally going down in the identical universe as Superman or the Lanterns.
Clayface additionally will not value that a lot, both, because the estimated funds is $40 million. Whereas it will be nice for it to recoup its funds in a single weekend, even when it opens within the vary of The Nun II‘s $32.6 million, that will nonetheless be thought of successful. In spite of everything, Morbius someway managed to make $39 million in its opening weekend, so except Clayface turns right into a Kraven the Hunter-level catastrophe, its chances are high good. Weapons managed to usher in $43 million in its opening weekend, so it is not out of the realm of risk for Clayface if it might money in on the rising reputation of the DCU, horror followers’ willingness to try to see each new movie within the style, and probably a robust advertising marketing campaign. Clayface has the potential to proceed Warner Bros.’ domination over this primary weekend of the autumn field workplace season.
There may be nonetheless appreciable doubt about Clayface amongst some DC followers. Some have even forged doubt on why Warner Bros. would not launch the movie in October, nearer to Halloween, like different supervillain-themed spin-off movies reminiscent of Venom and Joker. The choice by Warner Bros. to launch Clayface on this now extremely worthwhile launch window not solely demonstrates the studio’s confidence within the venture but additionally means that this film shall be a real horror movie and a promising begin to subsequent 12 months’s Halloween season. Clayface arrives in theaters on September 11, 2026.
Clayface
- Launch Date
-
September 11, 2026
- Director
-
James Watkins