How to Watch All the Conjuring Movies in Order
The Conjuring Universe spans multiple mainline films, spin-offs, and a period drama, which can make choosing what to watch next feel overwhelming. This guide explains the recommended viewing order, which stories are essential, and where each movie is available to stream or buy. If you want to experience the core mythology and character arcs as the filmmakers intended, start with the key entries and decide about the bonus features based on how deeply you want to explore the lore.
Watch the Main Conjuring Films First
For the most cohesive supernatural mystery experience, begin with the primary series that launched the franchise. These movies focus on Ed and Lorraine Warren and their most notorious cases, forming the backbone of the universe. You do not need to see every spin-off to understand central themes of faith, family, and evil, but viewing them in release order preserves escalating stakes and continuity of artifacts and settings.
- The Conjuring (2013)
- The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
The Conjuring (2013)
The first film introduces paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren through the Perron family case in Harrisville, Rhode Island. It sets up Warren artifacts, recurring demonology references, and the moral dilemma of confronting evil without relying solely on religious ritual. This case is frequently regarded as the most restrained and atmospheric in the series.
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Loosely based on the Enfield Poltergeist in London, the second installment expands the scope geographically and thematically, emphasizing skepticism versus belief. It deepens the idea that some cases require collaboration across institutions and introduces a more methodical approach to documenting phenomena that will reappear in later installments.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
The third mainline film steps into a courtroom setting, confronting the legal and theological implications of demonic influence. It continues the motif of ordinary people facing extraordinary threats and marks an evolution in the series by connecting conspiracy, moral ambiguity, and institutional doubt.
Core Spin-Offs and Character Entries
Once you have watched the main trio, you can explore adjacent stories that share continuity. These films illuminate different families and eras while referencing key Warren artifacts. They assume familiarity with the central mythology but can be enjoyed for their distinct settings and stakes.
| Title | Year | Relation to Core Story |
|---|---|---|
| Annabelle (2014) | 2014 | Explores the origin of a key Warren artifact through a period-set haunted doll story. |
| Annabelle: Creation (2017) | 2017 | Prequel that deepens the doll’s tragic backstory and links to broader demonic themes. |
| The Nun (2018) | 2018 | Set in a Romanian abbey, it expands the universe geographically and introduces a recurring iconography tied to the Warren legacy. |
| The Crooked Man (2020) | 2020 | Begins a secondary trilogy focused on a darker entity and a detective’s personal bargain; less directly tied to Warren artifacts. |
Optional Add-Ons and Supporting Films
If you want a near-complete picture, you can include later entries that refine the shared timeline. These films often carry a more localized threat and tend to stand alone tonally while preserving iconography and rules established earlier. Some of these follow new protagonists and serve as bridges to the ongoing lore.
- The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
- The Turning (2020)
- K-12 (2019)
- Insidious: The Last Key (2018)
- The Haunting of Hill House (2018) series
- Locke & Key (2020) series
Where to Stream or Buy Conjuring Movies
Availability varies by region and changes over time, so check your local platforms before searching. In many areas, the primary series and key spin-offs rotate among major subscription services and digital storefronts. Typically, newest releases start on premium rental or purchase platforms, then move into subscription catalogs once their window narrows.
General Streaming Guidelines
- Main series often appear on subscription tiers after a rental window.
- Spin-off prequels and origin stories may sit in mixed rental catalogs longer.
- Older or more niche entries sometimes appear only on niche platforms or via purchase.
Suggested Viewing Order
To follow intended narrative progression and escalating stakes, start with The Conjuring (2013), then The Conjuring 2 (2016), and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021). After that, watch the Annabelle duology, followed by The Nun to solidify artifact lineage and demon hierarchy. If you want to broaden the universe, add The Crooked Man trilogy, then optional entries like The Haunting of Hill House or Locke & Key for adjacent lore and tone variation.
What You Gain from This Order
Following a structured sequence preserves the impact of reveals, deepens emotional investment in recurring characters, and clarifies how artifacts move across timelines. You will better recognize callbacks, subtle world-building details, and thematic through-lines such as family, ritual, and institutional doubt. This approach also lets you pause at spin-offs according to your tolerance for tonal shifts and standalone horror.
Final Recommendations
If you are new to the Conjuring Universe, begin with the three main films and then decide whether to explore spin-offs based on your interest in origin stories or expanded mythology. If you value tight continuity, prioritize release order and treat standalone entries as palate cleansers rather than required content. Whichever path you choose, consistently checking platform availability will reduce interruptions and help you watch efficiently across services and devices.