The Conjuring movies in order

In 2013, horror movie, The Conjuring opened in cinemas. The supernatural horror film, based (loosely) around the cases of real-life demonologists, Ed and Lorrain Warren, told the story of a young family who get caught up in the midst of a disturbing incident in their new acquired family home.

In the movie, the Warrens are called out to a farmhouse in Rhode Island to investigate the situation. When they arrive, they quickly become aware all is not right, and it will require their skills and experience with the paranormal to help the family.

Upon making its debut, The Conjuring received positive reviews from critics and a great reception from audiences. The movie took over $319 million at the worldwide box-office, from a budget of $20 million, making it a sizeable hit.

Due to the critical and commercial success of The Conjuring, further movies soon followed, expanding one film into a whole cinematic universe. This universe incorporated sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, which zipped back and forth across the same timeline.

But if you’re a complete newbie to The Conjuring Universe, you may be wondering where do you start if you wish to watch the films. You may also be asking yourself, in what order do I watch The Conjuring movies?

Well, keep reading, because all of the answers are set out below. Whether you’ve watched a few Conjuring movies or none at all, this post will help you out.

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The Conjuring Universe movies

The Conjuring (2013)

As noted above, the first movie in the popular horror series was 2013’s The Conjuring. The film introduced demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are called out to investigate a case in Harrisville, Rhode Island.

In the movie, the year is 1973 and Roger and Carolyn Perron have moved into a farmhouse with their five daughters and their dog. But shortly after moving into the property, they experience a paranormal event, which terrifies them.

After the Warrens arrive, they discover the house once belonged to an accused witch named Bathsheba Sherman. Bathsheba appears to be the route of the haunting, leading the Warrens to take action. (112 mins)

Annabelle (2014)

With The Conjuring being a big hit with audiences, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema – the studios behind the movie – pressed ahead with another film. But rather than jump straight to a direct sequel to The Conjuring, the next instalment was positioned as a spin-off prequel.

Titled Annabelle, this second film would take a step back from the Warrens and would instead focus its story around a supposedly possessed doll. The doll – named Annabelle – appeared briefly in The Conjuring, and it seemed time to tell her origin tale.

In the movie, John Form and his wife Mia are expecting a baby. Ahead of the baby’s arrival, John presents Mia with a rare vintage porcelain doll.

A short while later, a series of paranormal events take place around the Forms. Desperate for help, John turns to parish priest, Father Perez, to uncover the cause of the problem. (99 mins)

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Following the release of Annabelle, The Conjuring Universe turned its attention back to the Warrens for the horror sequel, The Conjuring 2. Set a few years after the events of its predecessor, Ed and Lorraine Warren are called out to the London borough of Enfield, in the UK, to tackle a new case involving a haunting.

In the movie, the year is 1977 and the Hodgson family being to experience strange phenomena in their house. The phenomena appears to centre around teenager Janet, who displays signs of demonic possession.

After investigating the Hodgson home, the Warrens suspect a very powerful entity is at work. That entity is the demon Valak who takes the form of a nun. (134 mins)

Annabelle: Creation (2017)

Although 2014’s Annabelle was not a critical success, the film was popular at the box-office. As a result, for movie number four it was time to return to the porcelain doll for yet another prequel movie.

Set before the events of Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation centred its story around dollmaker Samuel Mullins and his wife Esther, who are grieving the loss of their seven-year-old daughter Annabelle. In the film, the Mullins open their home to six homeless children, but soon find themselves with a demon on their hands too. (110 mins)

The Nun (2018)

With The Conjuring movies continuing to prove financial successes at the box-office, it was time to expand the series for movie number five. Created as a spin-off of The Conjuring 2, the next movie in the collection was 2018’s The Nun, which told the back-story of the demon Valak.

Set in 1952, before the events of Annabelle: Creation, The Nun moved the action to Romania, where a cloister of nuns are experiencing something sinister at Saint Cartha’s monastery. Keen to get to the bottom of the situation, The Vatican sends Father Burke and Sister Irene to investigate. (96 mins)

The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

This next entry in The Conjuring Universe is a bit of an oddity, in that it appears in the series in an unofficial capacity. The movie is The Curse of La Llorona, which places its story in Los Angeles in 1973, where Anna and her children become the unwitting target of a malevolent force known as La Llorona.

In the movie, Anna fears for the safety of her children, so calls upon the assistance of Father Perez. Perez was previously involved with the Annabelle case, so knows a thing or two about the paranormal.

Now I know what you’re thinking: Why is The Curse of La Llorona an ‘unofficial’ movie? Well, the reason The Curse of La Llorona is regarded as an ‘unofficial entry’ in The Conjuring Universe is because a.) it wasn’t officially marketed as part of the universe, and b.) director Michael Chaves has repeatedly said it is not part of the series.

However, despite this, Tony Amendola reprises the role of Father Perez from 2014’s Annabelle, and the movie makes a brief reference to the Annabelle doll. So, ‘official’ or ‘unofficial’ this film can be included as an adjacent entry in The Conjuring Universe if so desired. (93 mins)

Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Shortly after the release of The Curse of La Llorona, another Annabelle movie arrived in cinemas. The movie – titled Annabelle Comes Home – was set after the events of the previous Annabelle films, and between the events The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2.

In this movie, the Warrens are called out to another case leaving their daughter Judy at home. A short while later, the spirit of Annabelle causes trouble for Judy, along with other spirits including the Ferryman. (106 mins)

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

For the next entry in The Conjuring Universe, the movie series jumps forward to 1981, where Ed and Lorraine Warren are involved in the exorcism of 8-year-old David Glatzel. The exorcism does not go well, and the demon enters the body of Arne Johnson – the boyfriend of David’s sister.

A month later, Arne stabs and kills his landlord. When the case goes to caught, demonic possession is used as Arne’s defence, with Arne’s lawyer suggesting ‘the Devil made him do it‘. (112 mins)

The Nun II (2023)

For the next film in the series, The Conjuring Universe turned its attention back to the Nun/Valak for the appropriately titled, The Nun II. The Nun proved to be a box-office hit back in 2018 (even if it didn’t fare so well with critics), and this prompted more Nun-action.

Set a few years after the events of its predecessor, and before Annabelle: Creation, the movie saw Sister Irene investigate a series of deaths in Europe. The deaths are connected to the demon, Valak, leading Sister Irene on a path towards her old enemy. (110 mins)

The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

The final movie in The Conjuring Universe is The Conjuring: Last Rites, which picks up after the events of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. The film brings Ed and Lorraine Warren back to the franchise for ‘The case that ended it all’. (135 mins)

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The Conjuring Universe movies in production order

To date, and including the ‘unofficial’ entry, The Curse of La Llorona, there are ten movies in The Conjuring Universe. Should you wish to watch the movies in production order, then follow this list:

• The Conjuring (2013)
• Annabelle (2014)
• The Conjuring 2 (2016)
• Annabelle: Creation (2017)
• The Nun (2018)
• The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
• Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
• The Nun II (2023)
• The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

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The Conjuring Universe movies in chronological timeline order

As The Conjuring Universe movies were released in a non-linear order, with some films acting as sequels, and others acting as prequels, it can be difficult to keep track of the timeline. However, should you wish to watch The Conjuring Universe movies in timeline order, then follow this list:

• The Nun (2018)
• The Nun II (2023)
• Annabelle: Creation (2017)
• Annabelle (2014)
• The Conjuring (2013)
• Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
• The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
• The Conjuring 2 (2016)
• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
• The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

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Who are the cast of The Conjuring Universe movies and are all the movies the work of the same director?

The two most notable cast members in The Conjuring Universe are Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who play Ed and Lorraine Warren respectively. The two actors (and their characters) are considered the core duo in The Conjuring Universe, and the glue which holds everything together.

Other notable actors in The Conjuring Universe include Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Joey King, Annabelle Wallis, Tony Amendola, Alfre Woodard, Madison Wolfe, Frances O’Connor, Franka Potenta, Simon McBurney, Robin Atkin Downes, Bonnie Aarons, Anthony LaPaglia, Miranda Otto, Joseph Bishara, Demián Bichir, Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velásquez, Sean Patrick Thomas, Mckenna Grace, Michael Cimino, Ruairi O’Connor, Sterling Jerins, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell, Ben Hardy, and Mia Tomlinson.

In terms of the directors, The Conjuring Universe movies are the work of the following:

• James Wan directed The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2
• John R. Leonetti directed Annabelle
• David F. Sandberg directed Annabelle: Creation
• Corin Hardy directed The Nun
• Michael Chaves directed The Curse of La Llorona, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Nun II, and The Conjuring: Last Rites
• Gary Dauberman directed Annabelle Comes Home

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And finally, which is the best movie in The Conjuring Universe?

According to IMDb, The Conjuring Universe movies are rated as follows:

• The Conjuring (2013) – 7.5/10
• Annabelle (2014) – 5.5/10
• The Conjuring 2 (2016) – 7.3/10
• Annabelle: Creation (2017) – 6.5/10
• The Nun (2018) – 5.4/10
• The Curse of La Llorona (2019) – 5.3/10
• Annabelle Comes Home (2019) – 5.9/10
• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) – 6.3/10
• The Nun II (2023) – 5.6/10
• The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) – Not yet rated

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Editor/writer/occasional demonologist (but only on weekends)

Alex Wiggan

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