If you have ever tried to watch The Conjuring movies in order and ended up staring at your screen like Annabelle just blinked, you are not alone. This horror franchise looks simple at first: haunted house, spooky doll, nervous priest, dramatic flashlight, scream, repeat. Then suddenly there are prequels, sequels, spin-offs, demon nuns, a weeping ghost, and Ed and Lorraine Warren walking into yet another house where the real estate listing definitely forgot to mention “portal to evil.”
The good news is that watching The Conjuring Universe in order is not as scary as the movies themselves. You just need to decide whether you want to watch the films by release date or by story timeline. Both methods work, but they create very different viewing experiences. Release order lets you enjoy the franchise the way audiences originally discovered it. Chronological order turns the whole thing into one long haunted-history lesson, beginning in the 1950s and ending with the Warrens’ later cases.
This guide explains the best way to watch The Conjuring movies in order, including the Annabelle movies, The Nun films, the main Warren cases, and the optional-but-connected The Curse of La Llorona. Lock the doors, silence your phone, and maybe move that old doll from the chair before we begin.
The Best Way to Watch The Conjuring Movies
For first-time viewers, the best order is usually release order. That is how the franchise introduces its monsters, mysteries, and emotional stakes. You meet Ed and Lorraine Warren first, then slowly discover the stories behind Annabelle, Valak, and the darker corners of their paranormal world.
For returning fans, chronological order is a fun rewatch option. It rearranges the films by the year in which each story mostly takes place. This helps you see how the supernatural threats develop across decades, from the origins of Valak in The Nun to the Warrens’ later investigations in The Conjuring: Last Rites.
There is one important wrinkle: The Curse of La Llorona is often treated as an extended-universe entry rather than a core chapter. It connects through Father Perez from Annabelle, but it is not always included in official franchise collections. If you want the fullest possible experience, include it. If you want the tightest mainline Conjuring marathon, skip it without guilt. The ghost will probably understand. Probably.
How to Watch The Conjuring Movies in Release Order
Watching by release date is the cleanest choice for beginners because it preserves the franchise’s reveals. The scares, callbacks, and character introductions land in the order filmmakers intended. Here is the release order:
| Order | Movie | Release Year | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Conjuring | 2013 | Meeting Ed and Lorraine Warren |
| 2 | Annabelle | 2014 | Learning more about the cursed doll |
| 3 | The Conjuring 2 | 2016 | Valak’s terrifying franchise debut |
| 4 | Annabelle: Creation | 2017 | The doll’s origin story |
| 5 | The Nun | 2018 | Valak’s backstory |
| 6 | The Curse of La Llorona | 2019 | Optional extended-universe chapter |
| 7 | Annabelle Comes Home | 2019 | The Warrens’ artifact room unleashed |
| 8 | The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | 2021 | A darker legal-case horror story |
| 9 | The Nun II | 2023 | More Valak mythology |
| 10 | The Conjuring: Last Rites | 2025 | The later Warren storyline |
Why Release Order Works So Well
Release order begins with The Conjuring, and that is a smart move. The 2013 film is the franchise’s haunted foundation: a strong family-in-danger story, a memorable setting, and Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga giving Ed and Lorraine a warmth that keeps the movies from becoming just a parade of creaking doors. The first movie also introduces Annabelle in a way that makes viewers curious rather than overwhelmed.
From there, the franchise expands like a very profitable haunted attic. Annabelle explores the doll. The Conjuring 2 introduces Valak. Annabelle: Creation and The Nun jump backward to explain origins. By the time you reach Annabelle Comes Home, you understand why the Warrens’ artifact room has the energy of a supernatural storage unit with terrible customer service.
This order also lets you feel how the franchise evolved. The early movies lean heavily on haunted-house tension. The spin-offs widen the mythology. The later films bring more action, more lore, and more emotional closure for the Warrens. If you are new to the series, release order is the safest and most satisfying path.
How to Watch The Conjuring Movies in Chronological Order
If you want the story in timeline order, start decades before the Warrens’ most famous cases. Chronological order is especially useful if you already know the major scares and want to understand how the demons, cursed objects, and investigations fit together.
| Timeline Order | Movie | Main Setting | Timeline Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Nun | 1952 | Introduces Valak in Romania |
| 2 | Annabelle: Creation | 1955 | Explains the doll’s demonic origin |
| 3 | The Nun II | 1956 | Continues Sister Irene’s battle with Valak |
| 4 | Annabelle | 1967 | Shows the doll terrorizing a young family |
| 5 | The Conjuring | 1971 | The Perron family case |
| 6 | Annabelle Comes Home | 1972 | Annabelle causes chaos in the Warrens’ home |
| 7 | The Curse of La Llorona | 1973 | Optional connected chapter |
| 8 | The Conjuring 2 | 1977 | The Enfield poltergeist case |
| 9 | The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | 1981 | A possession case tied to a murder trial |
| 10 | The Conjuring: Last Rites | 1986 | A later case for Ed and Lorraine Warren |
Why Chronological Order Is Great for Rewatching
Chronological order turns the franchise into a supernatural timeline. You begin with The Nun, where Valak’s shadow falls across a monastery in Romania. Then Annabelle: Creation explains how grief, a dollmaker, and one very bad supernatural bargain lead to the creation of horror cinema’s least huggable collectible.
After The Nun II, the timeline moves into the Annabelle arc, then finally arrives at the Warrens. This makes the main Conjuring films feel like the result of evil forces already spreading for years. Instead of meeting Annabelle as a mysterious object in the Warrens’ room, you already know she has a résumé. It is not a good résumé, but it is certainly detailed.
The only downside is that chronological order can spoil some mystery for first-time viewers. For example, watching Valak’s origin before The Conjuring 2 changes how that film plays. You may understand more, but you lose some of the “what on earth is that?” panic that made the original viewing experience so effective.
Should You Include The Curse of La Llorona?
The Curse of La Llorona is the odd cousin at the haunted family reunion. It is connected to the wider universe through Father Perez, who also appears in Annabelle. However, its story is mostly self-contained and does not heavily involve Ed and Lorraine Warren, Annabelle, Valak, or the major Conjuring mythology.
Include it if you are doing a completionist marathon. It fits best after Annabelle Comes Home in chronological order or in its natural 2019 release slot if you are watching by release date. Skip it if you only care about the core Warrens, Annabelle, and Valak storylines. You will not be lost without it.
The Short Version: Essential Conjuring Watch Order
If you do not have time for every film, focus on the main Warren story and the strongest mythology chapters. This shorter order gives you the backbone of the franchise:
- The Conjuring
- Annabelle: Creation
- The Conjuring 2
- The Nun
- Annabelle Comes Home
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
- The Nun II
- The Conjuring: Last Rites
This version trims the franchise without removing its most important threads. You get the Warrens, Annabelle, Valak, the artifact room, and the later cases. It is still a serious horror commitment, but at least your couch will not legally qualify as your new permanent address.
Mini Guide to Each Conjuring Movie
1. The Conjuring
The movie that started it all follows Ed and Lorraine Warren as they investigate the Perron family haunting in Rhode Island. It is still one of the franchise’s best entries because it balances jump scares with character, atmosphere, and slow-building dread. Watch it first if you are new.
2. Annabelle
This spin-off explores the cursed doll’s influence before she becomes locked away in the Warrens’ artifact room. It is not the most beloved entry, but it helps expand the mythology and gives Annabelle more screen time than any sensible person requested.
3. The Conjuring 2
Set mainly around the Enfield poltergeist case, The Conjuring 2 raises the emotional stakes for Ed and Lorraine while introducing Valak, the demonic nun. It is essential viewing and one of the most important films in the franchise.
4. Annabelle: Creation
This prequel is widely considered one of the stronger spin-offs. It explains how Annabelle became linked to demonic evil and delivers a tighter, creepier story than the first Annabelle film.
5. The Nun
The Nun travels back to 1950s Romania to explore Valak’s origin. The movie leans into gothic horror: fog, crosses, candlelight, and a general sense that nobody in the building has ever heard of proper workplace safety.
6. The Curse of La Llorona
This optional chapter follows a mother trying to protect her children from the legendary weeping spirit. It is lightly connected to the franchise, so treat it as bonus material rather than required homework.
7. Annabelle Comes Home
This film turns the Warrens’ artifact room into a haunted playground. When Annabelle awakens other objects, the movie becomes a fun “monster-of-the-week” entry with plenty of supernatural chaos.
8. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
The third main film shifts from haunted-house horror to a possession case linked to a murder trial. It is more investigative and less housebound than the first two Warren movies, which makes it feel different in tone.
9. The Nun II
This sequel continues the Valak storyline and gives Sister Irene another terrifying confrontation with the demon. Watch it after The Nun if you are following the Valak arc, or in release order if you want the intended franchise rhythm.
10. The Conjuring: Last Rites
Last Rites places Ed and Lorraine in a later chapter of their paranormal career. It works best after you have seen the main Conjuring films because much of its appeal comes from the accumulated emotional history of the Warrens.
Best Themed Marathons for The Conjuring Universe
The Warren Case Files Marathon
Watch The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and The Conjuring: Last Rites. This is the best option if you mainly care about Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The Annabelle Marathon
Watch Annabelle: Creation, Annabelle, and Annabelle Comes Home. This order follows the doll’s timeline from origin to artifact-room disaster. It may also convince you to stop buying vintage toys.
The Valak Marathon
Watch The Nun, The Nun II, and The Conjuring 2. This order gives you Valak’s story from origin to major confrontation with the Warrens.
My Recommended Viewing Experience
The best way to watch The Conjuring movies in order is not just about the list. It is about the mood. These films are built for atmosphere, and atmosphere is fragile. Watch one of them at noon while eating nachos and checking email, and suddenly Valak feels less like a demon and more like a stressed coworker in dramatic makeup. Watch at night, with lights low and distractions gone, and the same movie becomes a full-body workout for your nerves.
For a first marathon, I recommend splitting the franchise across several nights instead of trying to inhale every movie in one sitting. Start with The Conjuring and Annabelle on night one. Continue with The Conjuring 2 and Annabelle: Creation on night two. Save The Nun, Annabelle Comes Home, and the later sequels for another weekend. Horror fatigue is real. After too many jump scares, your brain stops reacting like “Oh no!” and starts reacting like “Yes, yes, another hallway. Very haunted. Please proceed.”
Snacks matter too. Avoid anything too crunchy during quiet scenes unless you want to miss half the dialogue and terrify yourself with your own pretzel bag. Popcorn is classic, but soft snacks are better for serious viewing. Keep a blanket nearby, not because it will protect you from demons, but because it gives your hands something to do when a character decides to investigate a basement alone. Again. In a horror movie. With no backup. Humanity never learns.
If you are watching with friends, choose the order based on the group. Newcomers should get release order because the reveals feel cleaner. Horror fans who already know the franchise can try chronological order and debate whether the timeline improves the mythology. Someone will probably argue about The Curse of La Llorona. Let them. Every horror marathon needs one harmless controversy that is not “who left the closet door open?”
Also, do not underestimate the emotional side of these movies. The best Conjuring entries work because Ed and Lorraine care about the families they help. The scares are loud, but the heart of the franchise is surprisingly sincere. That is why the Warren-focused films often feel more memorable than the mythology-only spin-offs. You are not just watching ghosts throw furniture. You are watching people try to protect their homes, children, partners, and sanity.
Finally, give yourself a post-movie cooldown. Turn on a comedy, watch a few behind-the-scenes clips, or look at pictures of golden retrievers wearing Halloween costumes. Do not finish The Conjuring 2, turn off every light, and confidently walk past a mirror at 1:00 a.m. That is not bravery. That is auditioning for a sequel.
Conclusion
So, how should you watch The Conjuring movies in order? If you are new to the franchise, go with release order. It introduces the Warrens, Annabelle, Valak, and the wider haunted universe in the most natural way. If you are rewatching, chronological order gives the series a fresh structure and lets you follow the supernatural timeline from the 1950s to the Warrens’ later cases.
The franchise works because it mixes haunted-house suspense, demonic mythology, and surprisingly heartfelt character drama. Some entries are scarier than others, some are more connected than others, and one contains a doll that has somehow built a stronger film career than many actors. But together, they form one of modern horror’s most successful shared universes.
Whether you choose release order, chronological order, or a themed mini-marathon, the most important rule is simple: do not start with The Nun II, do not ignore the original The Conjuring, and do not watch alone unless you are comfortable blaming every house noise on “probably plumbing.”
