The Conjuring Universe spans ten films, including nine released titles and one upcoming installment, all centered on the real-life paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren. The franchise extends far beyond the core series, branching into standalone films featuring iconic entities like Annabelle and the demon Valak. Understanding how to navigate these interconnected stories requires knowing the difference between chronological timeline and release order.
Whether viewers are watching for the first time or revisiting familiar territory, the question of viewing order significantly impacts the experience. The franchise offers two distinct pathways: chronological order, which follows the in-universe timeline, and release order, which builds suspense through strategic reveals. Each approach offers unique advantages depending on what viewers seek from their horror experience.
This guide covers every film in the Conjuring Universe, including the main series, Annabelle spin-offs, The Nun films, and the loosely connected Curse of La Llorona. Details about the upcoming The Conjuring: Last Rites are included where confirmed by official sources.
Conjuring movies in order to watch
Choosing the right starting point depends on whether viewers prioritize story continuity or dramatic reveals. The following overview grid and key insights help clarify the decision.
9 released + 1 upcoming
The Conjuring (2013)
The Nun II (2023)
Chronological for lore enthusiasts
Release order introduces Annabelle in The Conjuring before her standalone films, creating maximum impact for first-time viewers. Chronological order reveals Valak’s origin in 1952 before the demon’s 1977 appearance in England.
Key insights for choosing your order
- Chronological order enhances the horror experience by revealing how entities like Valak came to exist before encountering them in the main series
- Release order builds suspense through strategic reveals, with Annabelle’s introduction in the first film paying off in later spin-offs
- The Annabelle trilogy and The Nun duology function as semi-independent stories that enhance but do not require the main films
- The Curse of La Llorona connects only loosely via Father Perez, a character who appears in Annabelle’s story
- James Wan directed the first two mainline films before passing directing duties to others while remaining involved as producer
- Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star throughout the main Conjuring series as Ed and Lorraine Warren
- The upcoming The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) concludes the Warrens’ story, set after the 1981 events of The Devil Made Me Do It
| Aspect | Chronological Order | Release Order |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Film | The Nun (1952) | The Conjuring (2013) |
| First Annabelle Film | Annabelle: Creation (1958) | Annabelle (2014) |
| First Warren Story | Annabelle Comes Home (1972) | The Conjuring (2013) |
| Total Runtime | Approximately 20 hours | Approximately 20 hours |
| Best For | Rewatches, lore hunters | First-time viewers |
The Conjuring timeline (chronological order)
The chronological timeline places events in the order they occur within the Conjuring Universe’s fictional history. Events span from 1952 to 1981, with the upcoming film extending into ancient origins referenced throughout the series. Following this order reveals how key entities emerged before their appearances in the main Warren cases.
The Nun duology
The Nun series introduces the demon Valak, depicted in its 2018 installment as a malevolent force encountered by Father Burke and Sister Irene in Romania. The story establishes Valak’s origin following a nun’s death at a Romanian abbey. According to Wikipedia, Valak would later manifest as the Nun, becoming one of the franchise’s most recognizable antagonists.
The Nun II (2023) moves the story to France in 1956, where Sister Irene faces Valak once again. The sequel continues Sister Irene’s battle against the demon established in the first film.
Annabelle trilogy
Annabelle: Creation (2017) serves as the origin story for the possessed doll, depicting a dollmaker’s family in 1958 who unknowingly unleash a demon that inhabits the Annabelle figure. The film predates the other Annabelle films by decades within the universe’s timeline.
Annabelle (2014) shows the doll’s possession by a Satanic cult in 1970, leading to the Warrens securing it in their artifact room. The events connect directly to the main series, as Annabelle first appears in The Conjuring as a key artifact under the Warrens’ care.
Annabelle Comes Home (2019) takes place in 1972, when Annabelle escapes the Warrens’ artifact room and unleashes trapped spirits on their daughter Judy. The film brings together elements from both the Annabelle and Conjuring storylines.
The Conjuring main series
The Conjuring (2013) depicts the Warrens investigating the Perron family haunting in 1971 Rhode Island, where a witch’s spirit terrorizes the family. This film establishes the characters of Ed and Lorraine Warren as played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
The Conjuring 2 (2016) moves the investigation to England in 1977, where the Warrens face Valak during the Hodgson case. The film also references the famous Amityville haunting that factored into real Warren case files.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) covers the 1981 murder trial in which the defense claimed demonic possession. The film draws from actual court records and represents a significant real-life case from Ed and Lorraine Warren’s archives.
The Conjuring: Last Rites, scheduled for September 5, 2025, concludes the Warrens’ story in events occurring after 1981. Sources indicate the film references ancient origins dating back to 304 AD. Cinemark reports that this will be the final mainline film in the franchise.
The Conjuring movies in release order
Release order follows the actual theatrical chronology, presenting films as audiences originally experienced them. This approach shaped how the Conjuring Universe developed and how reveals were structured across the franchise.
- The Conjuring (2013) — The 1971 Rhode Island haunting introduces Ed and Lorraine Warren, establishing the franchise’s tone and characters
- Annabelle (2014) — The first spin-off focuses on the possessed doll before the Warrens’ full backstory was explored
- The Conjuring 2 (2016) — Valak appears as the Nun for the first time, creating a connection to the previously released The Nun (2018)
- Annabelle: Creation (2017) — The origin story reveals how the Annabelle doll came to exist decades before Annabelle (2014)
- The Nun (2018) — Set in 1952, this film predates all other franchise entries and establishes Valak’s origin
- The Curse of La Llorona (2019) — A loosely connected standalone featuring Father Perez, who appeared in the Annabelle films
- Annabelle Comes Home (2019) — Returns Annabelle to the Warrens’ artifact room while exploring the family’s dynamic
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) — The third mainline film shifts from pure haunting to supernatural court case
- The Nun II (2023) — Continues Sister Irene’s battle against Valak in France
- The Conjuring: Last Rites (September 5, 2025) — The upcoming conclusion to the main Warren story
Release order introduces Annabelle within The Conjuring before her standalone films, preserving the surprise element for viewers encountering the franchise for the first time. Directv notes that this approach builds suspense through strategic reveals designed by the original filmmakers.
The Nun movies in order
The Nun duology forms its own mini-franchise within the larger universe, focusing specifically on the demon Valak and the nun character that became a franchise icon. Both films center on Sister Irene and Father Burke’s encounters with Valak across different locations and time periods.
The Nun (2018)
Set in Romania in 1952, The Nun follows Father Burke and Sister Irene as they investigate a young nun’s suicide at a Catholic abbey. The investigation uncovers Valak, depicted as a demonic entity taking the form of a nun. The film operates as both a prequel to the main series and an origin story for the antagonist introduced in The Conjuring 2.
The Nun II (2023)
The sequel moves the action to France in 1956, where Sister Irene once again faces Valak. The film continues exploring the demon’s nature and capabilities while maintaining connections to both the original Nun and the larger Conjuring narrative. According to IMDb, the Nun series represents one of the franchise’s most successful spin-off ventures.
Annabelle movies in order
The Annabelle trilogy explores the possessed doll introduced in The Conjuring. Each film builds upon the previous entries while functioning as semi-independent stories that enhance the overall mythology without requiring extensive knowledge of the main Warren series.
Annabelle: Creation (2017) serves as the origin, depicting events in 1958 when a dollmaker and his family provide shelter for a young nun and orphanages abandoned by the Catholic Church. Annabelle (2014) shows the doll’s possession in 1970, while Annabelle Comes Home (1972) brings the artifact to the Warrens’ famous artifact room where Judy Warren encounters its malevolent presence.
Is it better to watch the Conjuring in chronological order?
The answer depends largely on viewer priorities. Both approaches offer distinct advantages that serve different viewing goals and experiences.
Chronological viewing allows audiences to understand the mythology behind entities like Valak before encountering them in the main films. Release order preserves dramatic reveals and builds the universe as original audiences experienced it.
When chronological order works best
- Rewatches where surprises have already been experienced
- Lore-focused viewers who want to understand entity origins first
- Those who prefer understanding story context before major reveals
- Viewers who watched the films in release order and now want to see connections
When release order works best
- First-time viewers encountering the franchise
- Those who value director-intended pacing and suspense structure
- Viewers who prefer traditional franchise viewing conventions
- Anyone wanting the experience shaped by marketing and theatrical release
What makes the Conjuring Universe unique
The Conjuring Universe differs from other horror franchises through its foundation in real-life paranormal investigations. Ed and Lorraine Warren operated as paranormal investigators from 1952 until Ed’s death in 2006, with their cases documented through recordings, photographs, and court testimony. The franchise draws from their extensive case files while dramatizing events for theatrical presentation.
James Wan and Peter Safran have maintained producing involvement throughout the franchise’s expansion, providing continuity across different directors and storylines. This consistent creative oversight has allowed the universe to grow while maintaining thematic cohesion around supernatural investigation, family dynamics, and faith-based conflict.
The franchise’s success stems partly from its balance between standalone appeal and interconnected storytelling. Spin-offs like The Nun and Annabelle can be enjoyed independently while offering additional context for main series events. This structure allows casual viewers to enter the universe through various entry points without feeling completely lost.
Confirmed sources and franchise details
The Conjuring Universe information draws from multiple authoritative sources including Wikipedia’s comprehensive franchise documentation, theatrical records, and official studio announcements from Warner Bros.
The Conjuring Universe consists of interconnected films centered on real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, with spin-off films focusing on specific entities from the main series.
— Wikipedia: The Conjuring Universe
Box office performance demonstrates the franchise’s sustained audience appeal, with multiple films achieving significant commercial success. The Conjuring (2013) established a template that subsequent films followed, balancing atmospheric horror with character-driven storytelling centered on the Warren relationship.
Summary
The Conjuring Universe offers two valid viewing approaches: chronological order following the 1952 to 1981 in-universe timeline, and release order presenting films as they debuted in theaters from 2013 onward. First-time viewers typically benefit from release order, which preserves dramatic reveals and builds suspense through strategic introduction of characters and entities. Experienced viewers and lore enthusiasts often prefer chronological order, which contextualizes the mythology and reveals entity origins before their main series appearances.
The franchise continues through September 2025 with The Conjuring: Last Rites, which will conclude the Warren storylines while potentially introducing new elements tied to ancient origins referenced throughout the series. No further films have been confirmed as of the latest available information.
The Conjuring film series
The Conjuring film series consists of the main Conjuring trilogy (The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) plus the upcoming The Conjuring: Last Rites, with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga starring as Ed and Lorraine Warren throughout.
Do you have to watch The Conjuring movies in order?
No, viewers do not have to watch the films in any specific order. The franchise’s spin-offs are designed to function semi-independently, allowing entry through any film. However, following either chronological or release order enhances the experience through proper context and reveals.
How many films are in the Conjuring Universe?
The Conjuring Universe includes nine released films plus one upcoming title. The main series has four films (three released, one upcoming), with five spin-offs including the Annabelle trilogy, The Nun duology, and The Curse of La Llorona.
What order should I watch The Nun and Annabelle?
The Nun should be watched before The Conjuring 2 to understand Valak’s origin, while Annabelle connects most directly to The Conjuring and Annabelle Comes Home. Both trilogies can be watched alongside the main series in either chronological or release order.
When is The Conjuring: Last Rites release date?
The Conjuring: Last Rites is scheduled for theatrical release on September 5, 2025. The film will conclude Ed and Lorraine Warren’s story within the franchise and is directed by Michael Chaves.
Is The Curse of La Llorona part of The Conjuring Universe?
The Curse of La Llorona (2019) connects loosely to The Conjuring Universe through Father Perez, a character who appears in the Annabelle films. The connection is indirect, and the film can be watched independently from the rest of the franchise.
What year does The Nun take place?
The Nun (2018) takes place in 1952, making it the earliest-set film in the Conjuring Universe. The Nun II (2023) follows four years later in 1956.
Who plays Ed and Lorraine Warren?
Patrick Wilson plays Ed Warren and Vera Farmiga plays Lorraine Warren throughout the main Conjuring series. Both actors have appeared in all four mainline films as of 2024.
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