The Ultimate Insidious Movie Timeline: Chronological And Release Order (Plus The Next Film In 2025)

Are you ready to journey back into The Further? The Insidious film franchise, created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, has delivered some of the most spine-chilling horror of the last decade, but its non-linear storytelling—jumping between prequels, sequels, and mid-quels—has left many fans confused about the correct viewing order. As of December 2025, the franchise has five main entries, with a sixth film officially on the way, making it the perfect time to clarify the timeline.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the two definitive ways to watch the entire Insidious saga, including the most recent film, Insidious: The Red Door (2023), and the exciting, confirmed release date for the next installment, *Insidious 6*, scheduled for August 2025. Whether you want to experience the story as it was released or follow the harrowing life of psychic Elise Rainier and the tormented Lambert Family in chronological sequence, we have the definitive list for you.

The Complete Insidious Movie List by Release Date

For first-time viewers, watching the Insidious films in their original release order is often the best way to experience the story's intended scares, twists, and reveals. This order allows the viewer to discover the mythology of The Further and the character of Elise Rainier as the filmmakers originally intended, even though the later films are prequels. The most recent film, Insidious: The Red Door, was released in 2023 and serves as the final chapter for the Lambert Family.

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• 1. Insidious (2011): The film that started it all, introducing the Lambert family—Josh (Patrick Wilson), Renai (Rose Byrne), and their son Dalton—and the terrifying world of The Further.
• 2. Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013): A direct sequel that immediately follows the events of the first film, exploring the secrets of Josh Lambert's past and the fate of the family.
• 3. Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015): A prequel focusing on a young psychic, Quinn Brenner, and how Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) was reluctantly drawn back into her ghost-hunting career before meeting the Lamberts.
• 4. Insidious: The Last Key (2018): A prequel and direct sequel to Chapter 3, this film delves into Elise Rainier’s own childhood trauma and takes her on a haunting journey back to her family home in Five Keys, New Mexico.
• 5. Insidious: The Red Door (2023): The most recent installment, set ten years after Chapter 2, which sees a now-college-aged Dalton Lambert (Ty Simpkins) and his father Josh confront their repressed past and the demons of The Further once and for all.

Insidious Movies in Chronological Timeline Order

For fans who want to follow the story's events in the order they actually happen within the Insidious universe, the chronological viewing order is the way to go. This sequence primarily follows the life and work of the beloved paranormal investigator, Elise Rainier, from her earliest cases to her final fate and beyond. This order provides a deeper understanding of the franchise's lore and the origins of its most terrifying entities, like the Bride in Black and the Lipstick-Face Demon (also known as the Red Face Demon).

1. Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)

Setting the Stage: This film is the true beginning of the Insidious timeline. It takes place a few years before the haunting of the Lambert family. It shows Elise Rainier coming out of her self-imposed retirement to help a teenage girl named Quinn Brenner who is being targeted by a dangerous entity known as the Man Who Can't Breathe. This chapter is vital for understanding Elise's renewed dedication to her work and her first meeting with her paranormal investigation partners, Specs and Tucker.

2. Insidious: The Last Key (2018)

Elise's Origin Story: Following Chapter 3, this film chronicles Elise, Specs, and Tucker traveling to Elise's childhood home in Five Keys, New Mexico. The haunting there is deeply personal, forcing Elise to confront the horrific abuse she suffered as a child and the entity she accidentally released from The Further—a powerful demon called KeyFace. The film ends just moments before the events of the original Insidious, effectively bridging the gap to the main storyline.

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3. Insidious (2011)

The Lambert Family's Nightmare Begins: This is where the story shifts to the Lambert Family. Dalton Lambert falls into a mysterious coma, which is later revealed to be an astral projection that has made him a target for malevolent spirits in The Further, particularly the Lipstick-Face Demon. Elise is called in to help and ultimately sacrifices herself to save Josh Lambert, who is revealed to have his own history with The Further and a menacing entity known as the Bride in Black.

4. Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

The Battle for Josh's Soul: Picking up immediately after the first film's shocking ending, Chapter 2 explores the consequences of Josh's journey into The Further. The film reveals that the spirit of a serial killer, Parker Crane (The Bride in Black), has possessed Josh's body. The rest of the family, with the help of Specs, Tucker, and the spirit of Elise Rainier, must fight to save Josh and Dalton by shutting the door to The Further for good.

5. Insidious: The Red Door (2023)

The Final Chapter (For Now): Set a decade after Chapter 2, the Lambert family is fractured. Josh and Renai are divorced, and Dalton is heading to college. However, the repressed memories of their trauma begin to surface, and the demons, including the Red Face Demon, return to torment them. Josh and Dalton must use their astral projection abilities one last time to permanently seal the red door that connects their world to The Further, finally bringing peace to the Lambert bloodline.

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The Future of The Further: What's Next for the Insidious Franchise?

The scares are far from over. Even after the seemingly conclusive ending of The Red Door, the Insidious universe is expanding with at least two new projects currently in development, proving the topical authority of the franchise remains strong.

Insidious 6 (The Next Main Film)

The biggest news for fans is the official confirmation of a sixth main installment. Sony Pictures has confirmed that *Insidious 6* is scheduled to hit theaters on August 29, 2025. While plot details remain scarce, this film marks the continuation of the core franchise, though it is currently unknown if it will focus on a new family, a new case for Specs and Tucker, or perhaps an entirely new direction following the conclusion of the Lambert story arc. The film is a clear signal that the world of The Further is too profitable and terrifying to leave behind.

Thread: An Insidious Tale (Spin-off)

In addition to the main sequel, a new spin-off film titled *Thread: An Insidious Tale* is also in development. This project is set to star Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani and will be directed by Jeremy Slater, the creator of the Marvel series *Moon Knight*. The film's plot is rumored to revolve around a couple who use astral projection to go back in time and prevent their daughter's death, only to face the terrifying consequences of meddling with The Further. While a release date is currently TBA, its development shows Blumhouse's commitment to building out the Insidious universe beyond the core films.

Key Entities and Lore to Master The Insidious Universe

To fully appreciate the complex narrative of the Insidious films, it is essential to understand the core concepts and entities that connect the timeline:

• The Further: This is the central location of the franchise—a dark, purgatorial dimension inhabited by the souls of the dead and various powerful demons. It is a place without time, which is why characters can appear in different time periods.
• Astral Projection: The ability possessed by Dalton and Josh Lambert (and other psychics) to leave their physical bodies and travel through The Further. This ability is what makes them targets for the spirits.
• Elise Rainier: The heart of the franchise, played by Lin Shaye. She is a powerful psychic medium who helps those afflicted by The Further. Her story is primarily told through the prequels (*Chapter 3*, *The Last Key*) and her post-mortem appearances in the sequels.
• The Red Face Demon (Lipstick-Face Demon): The primary antagonist of the first two films and a recurring threat in The Red Door. This powerful entity seeks to possess those with the ability to project into The Further, specifically Dalton Lambert.
• The Bride in Black (Parker Crane): A malevolent entity and ghost of a serial killer who possesses Josh Lambert in the first two films. His backstory is explored in Chapter 2.

Whether you choose the chronological path to follow Elise Rainier's tragic journey or stick to the release order for the original scares, the Insidious franchise offers a rich, terrifying, and deeply connected horror experience. Just remember to keep the door to The Further closed.