The Conjuring debuted in 2013 to much box office and critical success. Under director James Wan, renowned for his earlier hits with Saw and Insidious, The Conjuring set the stage for a new horror movie franchise that continues to fright audiences worldwide.
As we delve deeper into the realm of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, one question inevitably arises: In what order should you watch The Conjuring movies?
In this article, we’ll guide you through the daunting maze of sequels, prequels, and spin-offs—ensuring you’re ready to navigate a universe where demonic possession runs rampant. Join us as we unravel the chilling tapestry of The Conjuring franchise and help you unlock the perfect sequence for your next spine-tingling movie marathon.
What is The Conjuring universe?
The Conjuring universe is a cinematic franchise created by filmmaker James Wan. At its core, the series revolves around the paranormal investigations of real-life couple Ed and Lorraine Warren (portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga).
The world-renowned Warrens don’t appear in every Conjuring universe film. However, each installment interconnects and expands on the Warrens’ encounters. That’s where malevolent entities like Annabelle and Valak the Nun come into play.
List of The Conjuring universe movies
- 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)
We include The Curse of La Llorona on our list of The Conjuring universe movies because it connects to the first Annabelle film. But director Michael Chaves told Dread Central the film doesn’t belong in the franchise because of its lack of The Conjuring producer Peter Safran’s involvement.
Beyond The Conjuring universe, the Annabelle doll has cheeky appearances in DC Extended universe movies Aquaman (2018), Shazam! (2019), and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023).
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Watch The Conjuring universe in release order
In this section, we’ll guide you through watching The Conjuring movies in order based on release date. Thanks to JustWatch, we’ve included links to streaming services and video-on-demand (VOD) retailers that offer each film online.
Watch The Conjuring universe in chronological order
Watching The Conjuring movies in chronological order is less jarring than in release order. However, there are several inconsistencies throughout the franchise timeline. As Annabelle: Creation director David F. Sandberg humorously wrote on Reddit, “Let’s just say that if god can work in mysterious ways, then the devil probably does too.”
Check out the complete Conjuring chronological timeline below. Although some installments feature time jumps, we arranged each movie according to the year it primarily takes place.
- 1952 – The Nun
- 1956 – The Nun II
- 1958 – Annabelle: Creation
- 1970 – Annabelle
- 1971 – The Conjuring
- 1972 – Annabelle Comes Home
- 1973 – The Curse of Llorona
- 1977 – The Conjuring 2
- 1981 – The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
Rent or buy The Conjuring universe movies
You can unlock the eerie tales of The Conjuring universe with multiple on-demand viewing options. As the JustWatch links highlight above, each film is available for digital rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Cable and satellite TV subscribers may also find some installments available through your provider’s on-demand service.
For collectors, physical copies of The Conjuring movies are available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD Blu-ray. Online retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart carry multiple formats of each film.
Pro tip: Nothing’s scarier than missing your favorite movies due to device limitations. Visit our Best Smart TVs guide to browse our favorite TVs on the market.
How to watch The Conjuring universe FAQ
Does Max have The Conjuring universe?
Yes, movies in The Conjuring universe are usually available to stream on Max. But occasionally, even Warner Bros. Pictures titles leave Max due to existing licensing agreements and content shuffling.
How is La Llorona connected to The Conjuring?
The Curse of La Llorona connects to The Conjuring universe by using actor Tony Amendola as Father Perez, who previously appeared in Annabelle. The film even features a flashback of Father Perez during his not-so-joyous time with the vintage porcelain doll.
What will be the next Conjuring movie?
After The Nun II, the next film in The Conjuring universe will be The Conjuring: Last Rites. Warner Bros. announced the film’s title at CinemaCon 2023, but the actors’ and writers’ strikes delayed the film’s production.
