The Definitive 10-Movie Guide: How To Watch The Conjuring Universe In Chronological Order (Updated 2025)

Are you ready to dive into the darkest corners of paranormal history? The Conjuring Universe has cemented its place as the most successful horror franchise of all time, captivating audiences with its blend of supernatural terror and compelling, allegedly true-life stories of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. As of , the franchise spans 10 interconnected films, including the highly anticipated final chapter, making the viewing order a complex, yet rewarding, puzzle for fans.

Getting the order right is crucial to understanding the overarching narrative of the demons, haunted objects, and cursed individuals that link these terrifying tales. Whether you prefer the straightforward experience of release order or the deep-dive into the fictional timeline, this guide provides the definitive, up-to-date roadmap for navigating every chilling chapter, from the darkest origins of Valak the Demon to the final, terrifying case of the Warrens.

The Complete Conjuring Universe Filmography and Key Entities

The Conjuring Universe is a sprawling cinematic world built upon the case files of real-life demonologists, Ed and Lorraine Warren. The franchise's success is staggering, having generated over $2 billion at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing horror series in history.

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The core of the universe revolves around the investigators themselves—portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga—and the demonic entities they confront. The films are connected by recurring characters, objects (like the infamous Annabelle doll), and the relentless presence of the demon Valak. Below is the complete list of all 10 films, including the upcoming finale, *The Conjuring: Last Rites*.

• 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) - Upcoming

Option 1: The Release Order (For the Original Experience)

Watching the films in their release order is how the original audience experienced the universe, allowing for the intended reveals and narrative surprises, particularly how the spin-offs (like *Annabelle* and *The Nun*) were introduced after the main *Conjuring* films had established the core mythology and characters.

This order is perfect for a first-time viewer who wants to experience the franchise as it was built, with each subsequent film expanding the lore and connecting the dots retroactively.

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1. The Conjuring (2013)
2. Annabelle (2014)
3. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
4. Annabelle: Creation (2017)
5. The Nun (2018)
6. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
7. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
8. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
9. The Nun II (2023)
10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

Option 2: The Chronological Timeline (For Deepest Lore)

The chronological order is the preferred method for viewers who want a seamless, continuous narrative that tracks the events as they happened within the fictional universe. This order reveals the origins of the most terrifying entities, beginning with the earliest supernatural events and leading directly into the Warrens' most famous cases. This viewing experience provides the deepest understanding of the franchise's topical authority.

1. The Nun (1952)

This film is the true beginning of the timeline, set in a remote Romanian abbey where a young novitiate, Sister Irene, confronts the demon Valak. It establishes the ancient evil that will plague the Warrens decades later.

2. Annabelle: Creation (1955)

Set a few years after *The Nun*, this is the origin story of the demonic doll. It shows how the spirit of a little girl, Annabelle Higgins, becomes attached to the doll, setting the stage for its future terror.

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3. The Nun II (1956)

The sequel continues Sister Irene's story as she once again faces Valak, who is now terrorizing a French boarding school. This film bridges the gap between the original events and the later Warren cases.

4. Annabelle (1967)

The first spin-off released, but chronologically the fourth film. It follows a young couple who become the targets of the possessed Annabelle doll before it ends up in the Warrens' possession.

5. The Conjuring (1971)

The film that started it all. This is the first time we meet Ed and Lorraine Warren as they investigate the terrifying haunting of the Perron family in their Rhode Island farmhouse. This case is pivotal to the entire universe.

6. Annabelle Comes Home (1972)

Set shortly after the Warrens bring the Annabelle doll back to their Artifact Room. The doll awakens other malignant entities in the room, targeting the Warrens' daughter, Judy Warren, and her babysitters.

7. The Curse of La Llorona (1973)

While often considered a standalone film, it features Father Perez from *Annabelle* and references the Warrens' work, placing it firmly within the universe's timeline. It introduces the entity La Llorona, the "Weeping Woman."

8. The Conjuring 2 (1977)

The Warrens travel to London to investigate the famous Enfield Poltergeist case. This film heavily features the demon Valak, who takes the form of the Nun and the Crooked Man, directly connecting the spin-offs to the main series.

9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (1981)

The third main *Conjuring* film, based on the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the first time a murder suspect used demonic possession as a legal defense. This case marks a significant shift in the Warrens' investigations.

10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (TBA - 2025)

The final chapter in the main *Conjuring* trilogy is set to be released in September 2025. It is reportedly based on the Smurl Haunting, a terrifying case from the 1980s that the Warrens investigated, marking their last major cinematic case.

The Real-Life Cases and Entities that Inspire the Terror

The enduring success of the franchise lies in its claim to be based on "true stories." Ed and Lorraine Warren were prominent American paranormal investigators who claimed to have worked on over 10,000 cases during their career, with the Amityville haunting being one of their most famous.

The films take significant creative license, but the core events and many of the entities are rooted in the Warrens' documented case files, which adds a chilling layer of realism for the audience.

The Real-Life Entities and Hauntings

The franchise has created a pantheon of memorable and terrifying demons, ghosts, and cursed objects. Understanding these entities provides deeper topical authority and insight into the universe's mythology:

• Annabelle the Doll: The real Annabelle is a Raggedy Ann doll, not the porcelain doll seen in the films. The Warrens kept it in a locked glass case in their Occult Museum, where it remains to this day.
• Valak the Demon: The primary antagonist of *The Nun* and *The Conjuring 2*, Valak is an ancient, powerful entity often taking the form of a demonic nun. In *The Conjuring 2*, it was tied to the terrifying events of the Enfield Poltergeist in London, which the Warrens investigated in the late 1970s.
• The Perron Family Haunting: The basis for the first film, the Perron family claimed to have been terrorized by a witch named Bathsheba Sherman in their Rhode Island home. The film is considered a relatively faithful adaptation of the core events.
• The Smurl Haunting: The inspiration for the upcoming *The Conjuring: Last Rites*, this case involved the Smurl family in Pennsylvania who claimed to be tormented by multiple demons and entities, a case that drew massive media attention in the 1980s.

These real-life connections, from the Amityville case to the Smurl family's ordeal, are what ground the supernatural horror and keep audiences coming back for more, eager to see which of the Warrens' legendary cases will be brought to the screen next, culminating in the highly anticipated 2025 release.