The Conjuring Universe expands with each new release, making it easy to lose track of which movie came when. This guide shows the main Conjuring movies in order so you can follow the story beats and supernatural timeline without confusion.
Whether you are revisiting the horror franchise or discovering it for the first time, watching in the right sequence helps the character connections and mythological clues land with maximum impact.
| Movie | Year | Primary Focus | Key Entity |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Conjuring | 2013 | Haunted farmhouse case | Perron family |
| The Conjuring 2 | 2016 | Enfield poltergeist investigation | Hodgson family |
| The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | 2021 | Murder trial with demonic claims | David Glatzel |
| Annabelle | Cursed doll origin story | Annabelle doll | |
| Annabelle Comes Home | 1973 | Housebound haunting | Annabelle doll |
| The Nun | 2018 | Valak haunting a Romanian abbey | Valak |
| The Crooked Man | 2023 | New supernatural antagonist | The Crooked Man |
Origins of the Conjuring Universe
The Foundational Hauntings
The series begins with grounded, case-based horror rooted in reported true events. Each origin story builds dread through period settings and meticulous production design.
Early entries rely on slow tension, allowing the entities themselves to become the protagonists of fear rather than relying solely on jump scares.
Core Franchise Storyline
Connecting the Paranormal Cases
The main Conjuring movies follow paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they travel across locations to confront iconic supernatural threats. The chronological order emphasizes how each case deepens their familiarity with malevolent forces.
From the haunted farmhouse to a possessed doll and a sprawling poltergeist outbreak, the narrative links entities into a shared mythology that grows darker with each encounter.
Spinoffs and Prequels
Filling in the Backstory
Spinoff films like Annabelle and The Nun explore the origins of key artifacts and entities before they appear in the main investigations. These movies expand the timeline and deliver distinct atmospheric tones while feeding into the central lore.
The Crooked Man introduces a new strain of evil that tests the Warrens’ understanding of demonic influence and demonstrates how the universe continually evolves.
Watching Order Recommendations
- Start with The Conjuring (2013) to establish the Warrens’ world.
- Follow with The Conjuring 2 (2016) for the escalation in intensity.
- Watch Annabelle (2014) and Annabelle Comes Home (1973) to explore the doll’s dark legacy.
- Continue with The Nun (2018) to see the backstory of Valak.
- Experience The Crooked Man (2023) as a modern expansion of the mythology.
- View The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) for a legal thriller angle within the universe.
Modern Relevance and Legacy
The Conjuring movies in order reveal how the franchise balances standalone scares with a deepening mythos that connects entities, investigators, and settings across years and genres.
FAQ
Reader questions
Should I watch The Conjuring movies in release order or chronological order?
Release order aligns with production and cinematic buildup, while chronological order follows the in-universe timeline; most fans prefer release order for the intended suspense curve.
Where does The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It fit in the overall sequence?
It takes place after the events of The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2, positioning itself as a later case in the Warrens’ careers with legal and supernatural stakes intertwined.
Are the Annabelle movies necessary to understand the main Conjuring storyline?
They are not strictly required, but they enrich the background of the universe by detailing the doll’s origins and the malevolent forces that later intersect with the Warrens.
What is the significance of The Crooked Man in the larger timeline?
It introduces a fresh antagonist that expands the scope of the mythology and demonstrates how the Warrens’ encounters continue to evolve beyond traditional hauntings.