7 facts you probably didn't know about 'The Conjuring' franchise

The Conjuring transformed horror movies forever when it arrived in cinemas. The supernatural thriller hit the theatres in 2013 with a huge impact. It scared viewers around the globe with its terrorizing tales and demonic encounters.

The director James Wan created something truly memorable with this paranormal masterpiece. The film featured Ed and Lorraine Warren as professional paranormal investigators. The real-life ghost hunters became instant fan favourites among horror lovers.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson portrayed the Warren couple with remarkable chemistry. Their acting made the supernatural scares even more intense and believable.

The movie earned massive profits at the global box office. Critics praised traditional horror settings and atmospheric tension. The Conjuring avoided cheap gore tactics that dominated urban horror. Instead, it used eerie atmospheric building techniques and jump scares.

The remarkable success led to several sequels and scary spin-offs. The Conjuring 2 arrived in theaters in 2016. The Annabelle films followed with their own supernatural stories. The Nun also joined the expanding franchise universe after that.

7 shocking facts about The Conjuring franchise that will leave you speechless

1) The production budget was remarkably small

A still from the movie (Image via Apple TV)

The Conjuring cost only $20 million to produce, as per Variety. This amount comes off as incredibly tiny compared to other big horror movies. Most modern scary films require bigger productions. The exceptionally low cost made the eventful profits even more impressive.

The seasoned filmmakers used practical effects whenever possible. They carefully avoided expensive graphics and digital enhancement.

The authentic physical sets created much better fear than digital replacements. The authentic old farmhouse added raw creepiness to every sequence.

James Wan understood how to stretch the limited budget most accurately. He strategically utilized available funds through careful atmosphere instead of expensive special effects. The intelligent approach worked far better than any viewer expected in the beginning.

2) Multiple box office records were shattered

This horror thriller earned over $319 million at the global box office, as reported by Variety. This impressive figure completely shocked everyone working in Hollywood. Horror movies very rarely make such big global profits. The Conjuring quickly became one of the highest-grossing scary films ever created.

The opening weekend garnered $14.9 million across domestic theatres. This incredible number broke all records for the former R-rated horror movies.

The previous movie that broke the record was The Purge, making $34.1 million just months prior. The remarkable success surprised even veteran studio executives entirely.

International markets enthusiastically embraced the movie as well. Foreign viewers welcomed the Warren story with open arms. The universal human fear of supernatural entities translated perfectly across several cultures. The movie maintained strong earnings throughout its time in theatres.

3) Genuine paranormal activity plagued production

Several unexplained strange events occurred throughout the entire production process. The crew and cast members regularly reported several unexplained incidents on the set.

These mysterious experiences perfectly mirrored the film's central supernatural themes. James Wan's beloved dog started acting strangely while he wrote the script. The perplexed puppy continuously stared at empty corners and growled menacingly.

The writers Carey and Chad Hayes experienced persistent technical issues during important interviews. Their essential phone calls with Lorraine Warren kept cutting out mysteriously.

The real Perron family decided to visit the location of the shooting during production. Carolyn Perron immediately felt the same dark presence from her real experiences.

She later required emergency medical care after suffering an unexplained fall. Several cast members noticed unusual cold winds that did not move the leaves on the trees, but they felt the breeze.

The equipment also malfunctioned for no logical reason during key filming days. Cameras stopped working at crucial moments during essential scenes. The sound equipment picked up strange noises that nobody could identify satisfactorily.

4) The original script had a different focus

The former script versions centered entirely on the Perron family's terrifying perspective. The original screenplay followed their nightmarish experiences in the haunted Rhode Island farmhouse.

Carolyn and Roger Perron were initially meant to be the main characters, but the writers later shifted the entire focus to Ed and Lorraine Warren instead.

This small creative transformation proved absolutely brilliant for the final take. The Warren couple ultimately became the beating heart of The Conjuring franchise's progress.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson's exceptional performances completely justified this crucial decision. Their raw portrayal of the Warren couple created honest emotional depth. The viewers immediately connected with their caring relationship and shared mission. The significant script transition changed a simple family horror tale into something huge.

5) Multiple title changes happened during development

The Conjuring experienced many significant name changes during its lengthy development process. The ambitious production initially started as The Untitled Warren Files Project. This simple temporary title completely lacked any raw marketing appeal.

James Wan personally suggested The Warren Files as a more crisp alternative. However, studio executives wished for something more marketable and catchy.

The final chosen name, The Conjuring, perfectly captured the supernatural elements. It cleverly hinted at mystery and dark magic practices. The evocative word also strongly implied calling evil spirits from the other world.

6) Lead actors prepared with Lorraine Warren

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga met Lorraine Warren personally before filming. They spent three complete days learning about her extensive paranormal investigation techniques.

This intensive preparation helped them comprehend their complex characters with much more intensity. Lorraine happily shared years of accumulated ghost hunting experiences with both seasoned actors. She carefully explained her natural psychic abilities with a lot of depth.

Farmiga carefully adapted Lorraine's distinctive mannerisms and eccentric tonality. She closely studied the real person's characteristics, gazes, and movements. The committed actress wanted to capture Lorraine's raw essence as accurately as possible.

7) The rating created studio concerns

The Conjuring received an R rating from the MPAA review board. This disappointing decision initially upset the executives. They had hoped explicitly for a more commercially friendly rating instead. The rating given later limits the potential target audience.

The supernatural movie earned its restrictive R rating purely for being very terrifying. It contained absolutely no graphic sexual content or nudity. The violence was restricted throughout the runtime, and the language consistently stayed neat and appropriate.

The Conjuring ultimately reached a broader audience despite these significant age restrictions. The impactful scares were definitely worth the notably limited viewer reach.

The Conjuring became a horror pinnacle through strong planning and frightening jump scares.

About the author

Mannjari Gupta is a Listicle writer in the entertainment division at Sportskeeda. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and brings four years of experience in digital media, having worked with platforms like Pocket FM, Pepper Content, FilmyFiles, and BookGeeks.

Mannjari's passion for her field is driven by her belief that different genres fuel her imagination, enhancing her writing skills. She prioritizes thorough research and ethical reporting, ensuring that her articles reflect factual information rather than personal opinions.

Fascinated by powerful female-led empires, she admires figures like the Kardashians and Martha Stewart for their ability to redefine influence and build lasting legacies. If given a time machine, she'd delve into the Kardashian universe, not for the drama but to witness their ability to transform criticism into entrepreneurial success.

Outside of writing, Mannjari is a trained classical dancer specializing in Kathak. She also enjoys reading and relaxing during her leisure time.

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Edited by Mannjari Gupta