Warner Bros and Roadshow Films have announced that The Conjuring 2 has become the highest grossing horror film of all time at the AUS/NZ box offices.
The film, directed by horror master and Melbourne’s own James Wan, has taken in over $10.75 million at the Australian box office, beating out 2001’s The Others which finished on $10.73 million; 1999’s The Blair Witch Project, which finished on $10.24 million, 2013’s The Conjuring, which finished on $8.87 million and 2007’s Paranormal Activity, finishing on $8.63 million.
In New Zealand, the film has grossed $2.215 million, overtaking 1996’s classic horror film Scream.
The Conjuring 2 tells the story of another real case from the files of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles as Lorraine and Ed Warren, who travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits, in one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations.
This is great news for Wan and company, who continue to churn out hit after hit, but also for the Australian film industry.
$10.73 million might not sound like much in the big scheme of things and pales in comparison to the takings films pull in overseas, but for our population it’s a huge figure, especially for an MA rated film.
It’s nice to see the horror genre attract large audiences, being one of the few genres that give the audience a complete viewing experience by engaging the body and mind during a screening when done right, and James Wan knows how to do it right.
Wan recently produced the horror film Lights Out, which earned a sequel only days after its release and he can next be seen directing the DC Comics tentpole film Aquaman, due for release in 2018.
COMMENTS