The Definitive 9-Movie Conjuring Universe Timeline: Chronological Order For 2025's 'Last Rites'

Are you ready to face the darkness? The sprawling, terrifying world of The Conjuring Universe is the highest-grossing horror franchise in history, but its non-linear storytelling makes following the timeline a genuine nightmare for new and veteran fans alike. As of late 2024, with the release of The Nun II and anticipation building for 2025’s grand finale, The Conjuring: Last Rites, understanding the correct chronological sequence is crucial to grasp the full, interconnected terror of the Warrens’ case files and the demons they fought.

This guide provides the definitive, updated chronological order for all nine canonical films, explaining exactly where each demonic entity—from Valak to Annabelle—fits into the horrifying history of the Warrens' supernatural investigations. Watching them in this order will transform your viewing experience, revealing the true, escalating power of the malevolent forces at play.

The Complete Conjuring Universe Chronological Order (Updated for 2025)

The shared universe, overseen by creator James Wan and producer Peter Safran, spans over three decades, from the early 1950s to the 1980s. This list presents the movies in the order the events occur within the universe's timeline, not their release date.

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• 1. The Nun (2018)
  • In-Universe Setting: 1952
  • The Terror: The origin of the demonic entity Valak, who takes the form of a terrifying nun, is explored at a secluded Abbey in Romania. This is the oldest event in the timeline and establishes the primary antagonist for the Warrens’ later cases.
• 2. Annabelle: Creation (2017)
  • In-Universe Setting: 1955 (with a 1943 prologue)
  • The Terror: This prequel details the origin of the infamous Annabelle doll. A dollmaker and his wife attempt to contact their deceased daughter, only to inadvertently invite a powerful demon to possess the doll.
• 3. The Nun II (2023)
  • In-Universe Setting: 1956
  • The Terror: Following the events in Romania, Sister Irene is called back into action to investigate a murder in France. The hunt for Valak continues, revealing the demon's link to the ancient relic, the Eyes of Saint Lucy, and its pursuit of Maurice (Frenchie), setting up a critical connection to The Conjuring films.
• 4. Annabelle (2014)
  • In-Universe Setting: 1967
  • The Terror: Set 12 years after the doll's 'creation,' this film follows a young couple, Mia and John Form, whose lives are terrorized by the now fully-active Annabelle entity after a satanic cult attack.
• 5. The Conjuring (2013)
  • In-Universe Setting: 1971
  • The Terror: The film that started it all. Demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren investigate a malevolent presence at the Perron family's farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. The entity is revealed to be the vengeful spirit of the satanic witch Bathsheba.
• 6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
  • In-Universe Setting: 1972
  • The Terror: The Warrens bring the Annabelle doll into their Artifact Room. While they are away, the doll awakens other evil entities in the room, targeting their daughter, Judy Warren, and her babysitters.
• 7. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
  • In-Universe Setting: 1977
  • The Terror: The Warrens travel to North London to assist the Hodgson family, who are being tormented by the Enfield Poltergeist. Lorraine Warren realizes the entity is a demonic spirit named Bill Watkins, manipulated by the same Valak entity from the Abbey in Romania.
• 8. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
  • In-Universe Setting: 1981
  • The Terror: The Warrens investigate the case of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the first time "demonic possession" was used as a defense in a U.S. murder trial. The investigation reveals a sinister plot involving Isla the Occultist and a cursed totem.
• 9. The Conjuring: Last Rites (Upcoming)
  • In-Universe Setting: Post-1981 (Exact date TBD, likely mid-to-late 1980s)
  • The Terror: Set to be the final chapter of the main The Conjuring trilogy, this film will presumably cover one of the Warrens’ later, most notorious cases, such as the Smurl Haunting, bringing the core series to a close. Its release is scheduled for September 5, 2025.

The Interconnected Web of Terror: Key Entities and Connections

The true genius of The Conjuring Universe lies in its commitment to a shared narrative, where seemingly separate hauntings are revealed to be linked by a few powerful, recurring demonic forces. Understanding these core entities is the key to unlocking the franchise’s topical authority.

Valak and the Nun Trilogy

The demon Valak is arguably the most significant antagonist in the entire franchise, second only to the Annabelle entity. Valak’s journey begins in 1952 in The Nun, where it is unleashed from a sealed tomb in the Romanian Abbey of St. Carta.

In The Nun II (1956), Valak possesses the character of Maurice (Frenchie). This is a critical, yet often missed, detail. The final scene of the first The Conjuring (1971) features a lecture by the Warrens showing footage of an exorcism of a man named Maurice—the same man possessed by Valak 15 years earlier. This single connection links the entire Nun trilogy directly to the core Conjuring films.

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The Annabelle Saga

The Annabelle doll is not the demon itself, but a conduit for a powerful malevolent entity. The three Annabelle films serve as prequels to The Conjuring, detailing the doll's devastating path before it was finally secured by the Warrens.

• Annabelle: Creation shows the demon first latching onto the doll.
• Annabelle shows the doll's first major haunting of the Form family.
• Annabelle Comes Home is the only one set after the Warrens take possession of the doll, acting as a direct sequel to the 1971 events of The Conjuring.

The inclusion of the Artifact Room in Annabelle Comes Home is a rich source of entities, introducing the Ferryman, the Samurai armor, the Haunted Piano, and the Bride, all of which could spawn future spin-offs.

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The Controversial Case: Is 'The Curse of La Llorona' Canon?

One film often listed alongside the main nine is The Curse of La Llorona (2019). While the movie features Father Perez from Annabelle (2014) and makes a brief mention of the Annabelle doll, the general consensus among fans, and even confirmed by producer Peter Safran, is that it is not officially canonical.

The film was initially marketed as part of the universe, but its narrative—centered on the Mexican weeping woman folklore—has no direct connection to the Warrens or the main demonic entities like Valak or Bathsheba, unlike every other film. For a true chronological marathon, you can skip La Llorona, or view it as a standalone, universe-adjacent story set around 1973.

Watching by Release Date vs. Chronological Order

While the chronological order provides a satisfying narrative arc of escalating evil, many fans prefer the release order, which is how the story was originally intended to unfold, with reveals and connections made retroactively in the prequels. If you want the experience of the original audience, use this sequence:

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

Ultimately, the choice is yours. The chronological timeline offers a fresh, deep dive into the origins of the evil, starting with Valak in 1952 and culminating with the final case of Ed and Lorraine Warren in the upcoming Last Rites. Either way, prepare for a long, terrifying journey through one of horror's most successful and meticulously crafted shared universes.