Tag: Rotten Tomatoes

Films

The Conjuring: Last Rites Shatters Box Office Records with $8.5M Thursday Preview

Tanisha Cardozo

The Conjuring: Last Rites has officially opened in cinemas and is already causing a stir at the box office. The fourth and possibly final installment in the widely successful horror franchise brought in an impressive $8.5 million during its Thursday night previews in North America. This massive haul has now set a new record for R-rated horror movies in the post-pandemic era, overtaking Nope, which previously held the title with $6.7 million.

Starring the franchise’s stalwart duo Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film also features Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy. Released on September 5, The Conjuring: Last Rites continues the legacy of supernatural investigations and demonic terror that has made the series a fan-favorite.

While critics have been lukewarm, giving the movie a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, audiences have reacted much more positively. The film currently holds a 79% audience score, suggesting that longtime fans of the franchise are responding well to the story and performances.

According to box office projections and industry trackers like Luiz Fernando, the film is on pace to earn between $65 million and $70 million during its three-day opening weekend in North America. This would not only make it the biggest opening for any Conjuring movie but also the top debut for a horror film in 2025 — surpassing the earlier frontrunner, Final Destination: Bloodlines.

With its $8.5 million preview, The Conjuring: Last Rites also lands as the second-highest preview gross for any horror film in the post-COVID era, only behind Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s $13 million. Historically, it ranks fourth all-time in horror preview earnings, just behind IT ($13.5M), Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ($13M), and IT: Chapter Two ($10.5M).

If the opening weekend projections hold true, The Conjuring: Last Rites could close out the main franchise on a high note, both commercially and with fans — a rare feat for a horror series four films deep.

International

David Corenswet Soars into the Spotlight as the New Superman

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

July 2025 — Hollywood, USA:
 The cape is back—and so is hope for the DC Universe. In the highly awaited reboot Superman (2025), David Corenswet makes a triumphant debut as the Man of Steel under the direction of James Gunn. The result? A film that doesn’t just fly—it soars, grounded by a focus on character and connection.

For Corenswet, the role is nothing short of surreal. “Even saying ‘I’m playing Superman’ sounds weird,” he admitted. But stepping onto the soundstage, cape fluttering behind him, something shifted. “That’s the feeling that pulls the whole thing together,” he said, describing how the flowing cape became a physical embodiment of the transformation into Clark Kent’s alter ego.

The film takes Superman back to his roots at the Daily Planet, balancing the superhero’s public duties with the quiet strength of Clark Kent’s moral compass. Along the way, he faces off with Lex Luthor, played with icy brilliance by Nicholas Hoult, while navigating the complexities of global politics and personal identity.

Off-screen, Corenswet built a strong rapport with director James Gunn, who auditioned around 400 actors before selecting him. Gunn praised Corenswet’s deep commitment to the character—though he joked that the actor occasionally asks one too many questions. “But because they make him better, they make the movie better,” Gunn clarified. “The beautiful thing about our dynamic is, when I say ‘David, stop talking for a second,’ he totally gets it. No ego—just focus.”

This new Superman has already struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. The film boasts an impressive 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviews applauding its emotional depth, nuanced performances, and fresh storytelling.

More than just a reboot, Superman (2025) is a revival of everything fans love about the Man of Steel—hope, humanity, and a hero who knows the strength of kindness.

And at the heart of it all is David Corenswet, proving that the cape doesn’t just fit—it belongs.