The Conjuring: Last Rites shattered box office expectations, becoming the highest opening weekend in The Conjuring franchise and also the biggest opening for a horror movie at the worldwide box office. After a semi-quiet Labor Day, wrapping up a rather lackluster conclusion to the summer, The Conjuring: Last Rites gave the box office the major boost it needed and showed both the value of horror films and also how valuable that post-Labor Day weekend can be. Horror movies, particularly those released by Warner Bros., have consistently performed well in the first weekend following Labor Day and the kickoff of the fall movie season.
For 2026, Warner Bros. has already reserved the date for Clayface, the third film in the ever-growing DCU following Superman and Supergirl. It certainly seems like an odd pick, given that the franchise has two Superman-related properties, and is followed by a mid-budget horror film based on a Batman villain, rather than Batman himself or a traditional superhero. However, it shows that the DCU is willing to take chances and have a more diverse line-up of titles than the conventional approach of the MCU. The Conjuring: Last Rites and the past few years of Warner Bros. movies, which kicked off the month of September, indicate that Clayface could be a surprise hit for the studio and another win for the DCU.
Warner Bros. Has Conquered the First Weekend After Labor Day
Traditionally, the weekend after Labor Day was often considered one of the weaker frames for opening a blockbuster film. This is because audience turnout typically slows after the summer movie season ends, as younger moviegoers return to school. Additionally, after a three-day weekend, most families or single adults return to their regular schedule. This is why 3:10 to Yuma, grossing $14 million in its post-Labor Day weekend back in 2007, was seen as a big deal.
Horror films, however, occupy a unique niche, as they don’t target a younger audience, so they don’t need to worry about kids being back in school; they need to draw in adults. With Halloween growing in popularity and more people wanting to start festivities earlier, releasing a horror movie (or horror-adjacent like last fall’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) capitalizes on that early excitement. It also allows a movie to play throughout September and possibly into October before the increase in horror films that really want to capitalize on Halloween.
Warner Bros., in particular, has really seized on the first Friday after Labor Day, just as Marvel Studios enjoys the first weekend of May, Pixar enjoys the June/Father’s Day weekend releases, and Christopher Nolan loves the third weekend in July. When Warner Bros. and New Line Pictures released It on September 7, 2017, it became a cultural phenomenon. To this day, it still holds the September record for the biggest opening weekend and the biggest opening for a horror film domestically with $123.4 million. It stayed number one for two weeks, remaining in the domestic top 10 until the week after Halloween. It grossed $327.4 million domestically and $702.7 million worldwide off a $35 million budget.
Warner Bros. has maintained this streak, except in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New Line Cinema released The Nun and The Nun 2 in 2018 and 2023, respectively. Despite being on the smaller end, the critically acclaimed Barbarian became a word-of-mouth hit after a soft post-Labor Day weekend opening. While not a horror film, 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was capitalizing on the early Halloween buzz and held the second-largest opening weekend for September. In fact, with It, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, It Chapter Two, and now The Conjuring: Last Rites, Warner Bros. has the four biggest September opening weekends. See the released films and their opening weekends below:
- 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: Last Rites ($84 million)
Warner Bros. is on a hot streak, and they clearly are betting on Clayface to keep the yearly winning streak going. The odds look good for the DCU’s first foray into the horror genre.
Bodes Well for the DCU’s ‘Clayface’
Clayface has been set for that now coveted post-Labor Day weekend, opening on Sept. 11, 2026. The movie, directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil) and written by Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep), starring Tom Rhys Harries (The Return), will center on the Batman villain. Clayface has been pitched not only as a body horror movie but also as an R-rated film that showcases the diversity of the DCU film slate. It allows multiple genres to coexist in the universe, potentially featuring a horror movie villain like Clayface in an all-ages Batman story, while also taking place in the same universe as Superman or the Lanterns.
Clayface also won’t cost that much, either, as the estimated budget is $40 million. While it would be great for it to recoup its budget in one weekend, even if it opens in the range of The Nun II‘s $32.6 million, that would still be considered a hit. After all, Morbius somehow managed to make $39 million in its opening weekend, so unless Clayface turns into a Kraven the Hunter-level disaster, its chances are good. Weapons managed to bring in $43 million in its opening weekend, so it isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Clayface if it can cash in on the growing popularity of the DCU, horror fans’ willingness to try and see every new film in the genre, and possibly a strong marketing campaign. Clayface has the potential to continue Warner Bros.’ domination over this first weekend of the fall box office season.
There is still considerable doubt about Clayface among some DC fans. Some have even cast doubt on why Warner Bros. wouldn’t release the film in October, closer to Halloween, like other supervillain-themed spin-off films such as Venom and Joker. The decision by Warner Bros. to release Clayface in this now highly profitable release window not only demonstrates the studio’s confidence in the project but also suggests that this movie will be a genuine horror film and a promising start to next year’s Halloween season. Clayface arrives in theaters on September 11, 2026.
