New Line Cinema’s “Annabelle: Creation” has taken the “Conjuring” universe past the $1 billion benchmark at the global box office, the studio announced Friday.
“We are thrilled with the success of ‘Annabelle: Creation’ and enormously proud to continue bringing this hugely popular ‘Conjuring’ franchise to theaters everywhere,” said Sue Kroll, president of worldwide marketing and distribution at Warner Bros. “We congratulate our colleagues at New Line Cinema, our astute marketing and distribution teams, and everyone who put their collective creative energies together to tell such wonderfully frightening stories for movie audiences around the world to enjoy.”
“Creation” on its own has earned $110 million worldwide after it opened to a stellar $35 million earlier this month. In addition, “Creation” scored the highest industry opening weekend of all time for a horror film in numerous international markets. The first “Conjuring” film, starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, has grossed $318 million globally.
Next up in the series is the “Conjuring” spin-off “The Nun,” which will be based on the character appearing in the second film. “The Nun” will be directed by Corin Hardy and will be released in theaters July 13, 2018. The studio is also in active development on “The Conjuring 3” and “The Crooked Man,” the latter of which is also drawn on a character appearing in “The Conjuring 2.”
James Wan directed the first two “Conjuring” films, with Peter Safran and Rob Cowan producing. However, Wan did not direct the first “Annabelle” film but produced alongside Safran, with John R. Leonetti directing. “Creation” was directed by David F. Sandberg and produced by Wan and Safran.
Fun fact: New Line could sell 9,174,311 Annabelle dolls for $1 billion.