Your ultimate roadmap to experiencing the entire Conjuring universe timeline
James Wan has built horror empires before. Saw revolutionized torture porn. Insidious redefined supernatural scares. But The Conjuring created something unprecedented: a sprawling cinematic universe that has terrified audiences worldwide since 2013.
This supernatural franchise has grown into a nine-film phenomenon grossing over $2 billion globally. What began as a 1970s ghost story inspired by real paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren has expanded into a complex timeline spanning decades of demonic encounters.
The Conjuring universe weaves together multiple storylines across different time periods. Some films follow the Warrens’ investigations directly, while prequels dive deep into the horrifying backstories of their most notorious cases. With The Conjuring: Last Rites arriving as the series finale, now’s the perfect time to experience the complete timeline.
Whether you want to follow the story chronologically from 1950s Romania or watch in release order, this guide covers every spine-chilling option.
How Many Conjuring Movies Are There?
The Conjuring universe contains nine total films spanning multiple sub-franchises:
- Three main Conjuring films following Ed and Lorraine Warren
- Three Annabelle movies exploring the cursed doll’s origins
- Two Nun films diving into Valak’s terrifying history
- One standalone spinoff with The Curse of La Llorona
The Conjuring: Last Rites will serve as the fourth and final main series entry when it releases September 5, 2025. Additionally, an HBO Max series is in development, though details remain scarce.
Most films are currently available for streaming on Max, making marathon viewing sessions easily accessible for horror enthusiasts.
The Conjuring Movies in Chronological Order
Ready to experience the timeline as it unfolds? Here’s your complete chronological viewing guide:
1. The Nun (2018)
Timeline: 1952, Romania
The earliest entry chronologically takes you to a remote Romanian abbey where ancient evil awakens. Demián Bichir stars as a Vatican priest investigating supernatural occurrences alongside Taissa Farmiga’s novice nun (sister of franchise star Vera Farmiga).
This prequel introduces Valak, the demonic nun entity that would later terrorize the Warrens in The Conjuring 2. The film explores how this malevolent force first emerged into our world, setting the stage for decades of supernatural chaos.
2. Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Timeline: 1955, California
Three years after The Nun‘s events, we witness the true origin of the franchise’s most infamous haunted object. A dollmaker opens his home to six orphans and their caretaker nun, unknowingly unleashing an ancient evil that has been waiting for the perfect vessel.
Annabelle: Creation serves as both origin story and masterclass in building dread. The film reveals how the innocent-looking doll became a conduit for supernatural terror, explaining the dark history that makes it so dangerous in future films.
3. The Nun 2 (2023)
Timeline: 1956, France
One year after Annabelle: Creation and four years following her first encounter with Valak, Sister Irene faces the demonic nun once again. This sequel expands Valak’s influence beyond Romania, showing how the entity continues spreading its corruption across Europe.
The film bridges important gaps in the timeline while delivering fresh scares that connect directly to later Conjuring universe events.
4. Annabelle (2014)
Timeline: 1967, Southern California
Twelve years later, the cursed doll finds new victims. A young couple brings Annabelle into their home, unaware of the supernatural horror they’re inviting into their lives.
This film shows how the doll’s malevolent influence operates in a suburban setting, demonstrating that no location is safe from its supernatural reach. The 1960s setting provides a perfect backdrop for the era’s social tensions and growing supernatural awareness.
5. The Conjuring (2013)
Timeline: 1971, Rhode Island
The film that launched the entire universe introduces Ed and Lorraine Warren at the height of their paranormal investigation careers. The couple helps the besieged Perron family deal with a malevolent presence in their Rhode Island farmhouse.
The Conjuring establishes the template for all future films: meticulous period detail, character-driven horror, and supernatural scares rooted in allegedly true events. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s chemistry as the Warrens becomes the franchise’s emotional anchor.
6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Timeline: 1972, Connecticut
Just one year after the Perron family case, the Warrens’ young daughter Judy becomes the target when Annabelle and other artifacts in the couple’s supernatural collection break free during her parents’ absence.
This film serves as a horror showcase for the Warrens’ entire artifact room, introducing multiple supernatural threats while keeping the focus on family and protection. McKenna Grace delivers a standout performance as Judy Warren.
7. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
Timeline: 1973, Los Angeles
The most disconnected entry in the franchise draws from Latin American folklore. A social worker in 1970s Los Angeles must protect her children from La Llorona, a weeping woman who steals children in the night.While largely standalone, the film connects to the larger universe through Father Perez (Tony Amendola), who appeared previously in Annabelle. This connection, though minimal, officially places it within the Conjuring timeline.
8. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Timeline: 1977, England
Four years later, the Warrens travel to England to investigate the famous Enfield Poltergeist case. Now internationally recognized after the Amityville incident, they face one of their most challenging supernatural encounters.
The Conjuring 2 introduces Valak the Nun, whose terrifying presence would later spawn the prequel films. James Wan returned to direct this sequel, maintaining the high-quality scares and period authenticity that defined the original.
9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Timeline: 1981, Connecticut
The timeline concludes in the early 1980s with the Warrens’ most legally complex case. Based on the real trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who claimed demonic possession as a murder defense, this film pushes the couple into uncharted territory.
The story begins with an exorcism gone wrong, forcing a demon to seek a new host in Johnson. The Warrens must prove supernatural possession in a court of law, blending legal thriller elements with supernatural horror.
How to Watch The Conjuring Movies by Release Date
Prefer experiencing the franchise as audiences discovered it? Here’s the theatrical release timeline:
- 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 2 (2023)
Release order viewing lets you experience the franchise’s evolution naturally. You’ll see how each film built upon previous entries while expanding the universe’s scope and mythology.
How to Watch The Annabelle Movies in Order
The Annabelle trilogy forms its own complete arc within the larger universe. Here’s how to approach these films:
Chronological Order
- Annabelle: Creation (1955)
- Annabelle (1967)
- Annabelle Comes Home (1972)
Release Order
- Annabelle (2014)
- Annabelle: Creation (2017)
- Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
The chronological approach provides a complete origin-to-present narrative about the cursed doll. Release order lets you experience the mystery as it was revealed, starting with the doll’s 1960s terror before learning its 1950s origins.
Future of The Conjuring Universe
The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
The main Conjuring series concludes with The Conjuring: Last Rites, arriving September 5, 2025. Franchise veteran Michael Chaves returns to direct this final chapter in the Warrens’ cinematic story.
While plot details remain under wraps, the title suggests a conclusion to the supernatural investigators’ most significant cases. This film promises to bring closure to storylines that have developed across multiple entries.
HBO Max Series
A television series set within the Conjuring universe received the green light for Max streaming service in 2023. Details about cast, timeline placement, and storyline remain secret, but the series represents the franchise’s expansion beyond theatrical releases.
The show could explore cases that didn’t warrant full film treatment or dive deeper into the Warrens’ extensive paranormal investigation history.
Choosing Your Viewing Experience
Watch Chronologically If You Want:
- Complete narrative coherence
- Full character development arcs
- Maximum understanding of interconnected storylines
- The satisfaction of seeing how everything connects
Watch by Release Date If You Want:
- The intended mystery reveals
- Natural franchise evolution
- Surprises and plot twists as designed
- The communal experience of discovery
Both approaches offer valid ways to experience this supernatural universe. Chronological viewing provides narrative satisfaction, while release order maintains the filmmakers’ intended pacing and reveals.
The Conjuring universe stands as modern horror’s most successful shared mythology. Whether you’re a newcomer seeking the complete experience or a returning fan preparing for the final chapter, this timeline ensures you won’t miss a single supernatural encounter.
You can find all movies within The Conjuring universe available to stream on HBO Max
Ready to face your fears? Choose your viewing order and prepare for a journey through decades of demonic terror that will leave you questioning what lurks in the shadows.
