BURBANK, CA – October 19, 2014 – New Line Cinema’s “Annabelle” has surpassed the $150 million mark at the worldwide box office, earning more than $166.1 million to date and counting. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

(In the Philippines, “Annabelle” also continued to make a killing at the box-office, grossing P139.54-million nationwide, as of Oct. 19, 2014. That further tightened its grip to the national record of all-time highest-grossing foreign horror film).

Director John R. Leonetti’s supernatural thriller, produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, enjoyed the largest opening weekend this year at the domestic box office for a horror film, at $37.1 million. The demonic doll, who first debuted in last summer’s global hit “The Conjuring,” has currently scared up more than $74.1 million at the domestic box office.

Internationally, “Annabelle” has taken in just over $92 million in 51 markets, including the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Australia and much of Asia, with a number of markets yet to open, including Mexico. The film set new opening records for the horror genre in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Chile and Colombia.

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “Who doesn’t love a creepy doll? Annabelle is back and audiences have certainly missed her, judging by their enthusiastic welcome in theaters across the country. We’re happy to have unleashed the spirit of Halloween a little early this year, and congratulate New Line and the filmmakers on reaching this impressive benchmark.”

Kwan Vandenberg stated, “There’s an appetite for scary movies the world over and ‘Annabelle’ has really struck a chord. With several markets still to open, the film is on a strong trajectory that should continue to gain momentum as new audiences everywhere experience the thrills and chills it provides.”

Still showing across the Philippines, “Annabelle” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

MANILA, Oct. 14, 2014 – New Line Cinema’s supernatural thriller “Annabelle” has just become the biggest-grossing foreign horror movie ever released in the Philippines.

The film about a doll possessed by an evil spirit has terrified the local box-office to the tune of P121.13-million as of yesterday, Oct. 13, this according to Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. Philippines which distributed the movie.

The gross of previous record-holder “Insidious: Chapter 2” at P113-million was actually surpassed by “Annabelle” after only 12 days of release. Going into its third week, the demonic doll is tracking to dominate the coming weekend again as audiences’ appetite for a good scare seems boundless.

“We expect to continue excellent box-office performance for `Annabelle’ as the Halloween season ushers in,” says Soliven. “The combination of an engrossing story, great filmmaking and reliable association with last year’s hit horror film `The Conjuring’ propelled `Annabelle’ to succeed. The film delivered in a huge way.”

About “Annabelle”:

She terrified you in “The Conjuring,” but this is where it all began for “Annabelle.” Capable of unspeakable evil, the actual doll exists locked up in an occult museum in Connecticut—visited only by a priest who blesses her twice a month.

In the film, John Form has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia -- a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long. On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now...Annabelle.

Annabelle Wallis (“X-Men: First Class”) and Ward Horton (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) star as the Forms. Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard (“Twelve Years a Slave”) stars as Evelyn, a neighbor who owns a bookstore.

“Annabelle” reunites the filmmakers behind 2013’s hugely successful supernatural thriller “The Conjuring.” John R. Leonetti, who served as cinematographer on “The Conjuring,” directed the film. James Wan, director of the global hit, produced “Annabelle” with Peter Safran. Gary Dauberman wrote the script.

Still showing across the Philippines, “Annabelle” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Annabelle, the infamous doll at the center of one of paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren’s most profiled cases, made her terrifying screen debut in James Wan’s box office sensation “The Conjuring.” Even while shooting the film, Wan and producer Peter Safran were already entertaining the idea that the not-so-innocent doll needed an entire movie of her own.

Wan, who has always been fascinated with the Annabelle case, says, “We know she’s so bad that, even after all this time, she still has to be kept locked up ...but, how did she get that way?”

Safran adds, “How does something so charming, so sweet, become a conduit for pure evil and destruction?”

Now, New Line Cinema’s supernatural thriller “Annabelle” answers those questions by tracing where it all began for the terrifying doll.

Wan and Safran approached Wan’s longtime director of photography, John R. Leonetti, to direct the film. “I have been very fortunate to have had John there right by my side, shooting on most of my films, so it was a natural progression for John to direct ‘Annabelle,’” Wan attests. “His visual style, his passion for this story and his innate ability to connect with cast and crew was the total package and we were very fortunate to have him on this film.”

Leonetti, who crafted chilling shots for Wan on “The Conjuring” and “Insidious” films, among others, was just as intrigued with the sinister doll’s beginnings and translating that to the screen, this time as director.

“I’m a huge horror fan,” says Leonetti. “I also love collaborating with James and Peter and am thrilled they had faith in me to take the helm. I couldn’t wait to bring all that I’ve experienced shooting with James, who is the master of scares, and put it into this project.”

Safran notes, “John and James have worked together so extensively they really have a mind meld going, and the three of us worked so closely on ‘The Conjuring’ that there’s a certain trust among us as a creative team. They’re tremendous partners in the process.”

Leonetti immediately responded to screenwriter Gary Dauberman’s script positing how the doll had turned devious. “Gary’s take on how this might have all started was great; the story was suspenseful and had such a cool psychological layer,” he comments.

Dauberman had been eager to work with the team that had frightened him so intensely with the previous film. “I couldn’t wait to play in this playground with these guys,” he offers. “Everybody loves a good scare, and that was our number one goal.”

Leonetti adds, “Annabelle is an incredible way to facilitate fright because she’s real, and nothing is scarier than that.”

“Everyone’s had a toy that they’ve thought was alive at night,” says Annabelle Wallis, who stars in the film as an expectant stay-at-home wife who also happens to collect dolls. “It definitely resonated with me and I think will resonate with a lot of other people too.”

Ward Horton stars opposite Wallis. The story also made a big impression on him. “I loved the script,” he offers. “It rattled me to the core at the same time that it made me care about the characters.”

Alfre Woodard had never done a supernatural thriller, but “thought it would be fun. To tell you the truth this film really disturbed me because it creates a very convincing reality where truly alarming paranormal events take place.”

Leonetti notes, “There are realms beyond our senses we can’t comprehend and there are entities we can’t fathom. The mythology of demonology will always fascinate people—and mess with their heads…especially a possessed doll that is beautiful and creepy all at the same time. We had a lot of fun with that.”

Opening across the Philippines on October 01, 2014, “Annabelle” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

“The Conjuring” and “Insidious” cinematographer John R. Leonetti makes his feature directorial debut with New Line Cinema's upcoming horror-thriller “Annabelle.”

The new film begins before the evil was unleashed in “The Conjuring.” John Form (Ward Horton) has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia (Annabelle Wallis)—a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long.

On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now...Annabelle.

The first-time director talks about his inspiration, mentor James Wan and the craft of making horror films, in the following interview.

Question: You have been working with James Wan as a cinematographer on a number of films. What was it about “Annabelle” that made you want to make the switch to director on this film?

John Leonetti: It’s fun doing these movies with James, like “Insidious” and “The Conjuring.” I love crafting these films as a cinematographer. But this script was so amazing, first of all. When they approached me about it—it just came out of the blue; I didn’t solicit it—I said, ‘Well, let me read the script.’ So I did. It was so good that I couldn’t believe that [screenwriter] Gary Dauberman had written the first draft in just six days.

It’s kind of a throwback to the past in terms of older movies like Polanski’s “Rosemary’s Baby.” It’s birthed by “The Conjuring,” I guess you could say, but the structure of this movie is different and one thing I really love is female protagonists. I’m a fan of women, and I’ve always been attracted to stories that are about women. And, honestly, as weakened as our heroine Mia becomes in the events surrounding this doll and the demon she has to confront, she is a very strong and has a very powerful soul in her own right.

But, really, it was the script, and then knowing that the family—I guess you could call it “The Conjuring” family from New Line—would be involved.

Q: When you’re directing, do you have to fight the urge to set up shots like a cinematographer or do you see it as more of a collaboration?

Leonetti: I do separate myself from it. However, having [cinematographer] Jimmy Kneist on the film, who’s really talented, was great. He’s someone that is open enough to let me add my three cents, yet he gets my vision and my sensibility enough to be able to just make it happen. I’m very specific about how I set up my shots. I didn’t storyboard the movie before we started, but I literally visualized, shot-listed, edited and cut the whole movie before we even started shooting. I’m very visual, obviously. That’s my day job. [Laughs] But when you’re working with a filmmaker like James Wan, you analyze how he’s directing these movies. He’s very visual as well. And we’ve been a pretty awesome team for five movies in a row.

Q: You’ve got like mind-meld going on...

Leonetti: Yeah, we do. [Laughs] So, when he visualizes something, I know I can give it to him. For someone else to come in and be me while I’m being James, if you will, it would be difficult for anybody because I know where I want to cut, where the transitions are, all those things.

It’s not to say that Tom Melkins, our editor, won’t be making variations on that, as he should, and make it better. That’s awesome, because the movie is not just about how it looks, but what the camera is doing at every moment and why. It’s building up suspense by getting inside Mia’s world, and following the characters and that freaking doll as well. [Laughs]

We’re so lucky to have such a great cast. They’re all amazing actors. But the thread throughout the movie is Mia and that demon and the suspense that builds around this conflict she’s facing essentially alone. And designing that, shot by shot, tasting each element as it comes, has to be very, very specific.

Q: “The Conjuring” has such a distinct look and feel to it. Was that a touchstone for you for “Annabelle”?

Leonetti: Oh, no question. Visually, it’s in the same zone as “The Conjuring” in terms of inspiration, conception and execution. Jimmy has been kind enough to embrace my cinematography on “The Conjuring,” to help maintain that continuity for a very specific reason. Not just the way the camera moves, but the way the film looks. Both stories take place around 1970, so the period is the same. The way we manipulate the color in the post process is very similar. So it’s going to have very much the same look and feel and, by the way, it’s just as beautiful.

Q: Can you talk about building the tension and mood of the film, and also engineering the scares in the film? Were those fun for you to devise?

Leonetti: Definitely. The script is written in a way that creates a template for how we pace the movie. And my motto on this movie is ‘less is more,’ patience in suspense, and James Wan knows about that as well, obviously. So it’s always about keeping a balance between the ticking Hitchcock bomb and a jump scare, and you don’t give anything away. So you have to carefully set things up and then it’s how you pay them off throughout the movie, and there are many layers to that. Sometimes it’s just disorienting the audience enough to create the environment to be scared, or to let them know what Mia doesn’t to the point where they say, ‘Oh, no, don’t go down those stairs!’ Whatever it is.

The other thing that we did, which was so wonderful, is to shoot the film almost entirely in continuity. We were able to watch it grow, so that by the third act, everybody emotionally and dramatically can know where we are, from me to the actors.

But, even more importantly, it’s Annabelle’s performance as Mia. I believe that as strong as the demon is, so is she. As much as it knocks the wind out of her sails and tries to take the legs out from underneath her, every time that happens inside, she puts up another pillar of strength. We don’t see it, but it’s there. And then it’s a matter of gauging and varying performance, all the way through the movie, where she’s really vulnerable and becomes stronger.

Opening across the Philippines on October 01, 2014, “Annabelle” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

She terrified you in “The Conjuring,” but this is where it all began for Annabelle. New Line Cinema has just unveiled the main trailer of its upcoming supernatural thriller “Annabelle” which may be viewed at http://youtu.be/E5NrTM-jl0k.

Capable of unspeakable evil, the actual Annabelle doll exists locked up in an occult museum in Connecticut—visited only by a priest who blesses her twice a month.

In the film, John Form has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia—a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long.

On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now...Annabelle.

Annabelle Wallis (“X-Men: First Class”) and Ward Horton (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) star as the Forms. Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard (“12 Years a Slave”) stars as Evelyn, a neighbor who owns a bookstore and is familiar with the occult. Rounding out the cast are Kerry O’Malley (TV’s “Those Who Kill”) and Brian Howe (“Devil’s Knot”) as neighbors Sharon and Pete Higgins; Tony Amendola (TV’s “Once Upon A Time”) as Father Perez; and Eric Ladin (TV’s “Boardwalk Empire,”) as Detective Clarkin.

“Annabelle” reunites the filmmakers behind 2013’s hugely successful supernatural thriller “The Conjuring.” James Wan, director of the global hit, is producing “Annabelle” with Peter Safran. John R. Leonetti, who served as cinematographer on “The Conjuring,” is directing.

Gary Dauberman wrote the script. Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter and Hans Ritter are the executive producers. Also joining Leonetti behind the scenes are director of photography James Kniest, production designer Bob Ziembicki, editor Tom Elkins, and costume designer Janet Ingram. Joseph Bishara composed the score.

Opening across the Philippines on October 08, 2014, “Annabelle” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.