The Ultimate Guide To The Conjuring Movies In Order: Chronological Timeline, Release Dates, And The 2025 Finale
The Conjuring Universe has become the most successful supernatural horror franchise of all time, meticulously weaving together a terrifying tapestry of real-life paranormal cases investigated by legendary demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. As of December 22, 2025, the franchise spans nine mainline films and is set to conclude its main trilogy with a highly anticipated tenth installment, making the viewing order more complex than ever.
Whether you are a newcomer looking to experience the full, escalating horror narrative or a seasoned fan preparing for the 2025 finale, understanding the correct sequence is crucial. The films were released out of order chronologically, meaning watching them by release date provides a different experience than following the internal timeline of events. This comprehensive guide breaks down both the release order and the definitive chronological timeline, ensuring you don't miss a single terrifying detail from the Warrens' case files.
The Definitive Conjuring Universe Timeline: Chronological Order (1952–1986)
For the most cohesive and narrative-driven viewing experience, following the chronological order is highly recommended. This sequence allows you to trace the origins of the most malevolent entities, such as the demonic nun Valak and the cursed Annabelle doll, as they first enter the world and eventually cross paths with Ed and Lorraine Warren.
This timeline is based on the in-universe year in which the main events of each film take place, starting in the early 1950s and leading up to the upcoming final case in the mid-1980s.
- 1. The Nun (2018)
- 2. Annabelle: Creation (2017)
- 3. The Nun II (2023)
- 4. Annabelle (2014)
- 5. The Conjuring (2013)
- 6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
- 7. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- 8. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Year Set: 1952
The true beginning of the horror. This film introduces the demon Valak in the guise of a nun at a remote abbey in Romania. It’s an essential origin story that sets the stage for the evil that will plague the Warrens decades later.
Year Set: 1955
This prequel reveals the tragic origin of the Annabelle doll. A dollmaker and his wife, mourning the loss of their daughter, mistakenly welcome a demonic entity into their home, which possesses the now-infamous doll. This event is a crucial early chapter in the lore of the supernatural horror franchise.
Year Set: 1956
Picking up four years after the first film, *The Nun II* sees Sister Irene confronting Valak once again in a French boarding school. This sequel further explores the demon’s pursuit of a religious relic and its ties to the demonic entity.
Year Set: 1967
The first spin-off film chronologically. It follows the Forms, a young couple who become the new owners of the Annabelle doll and suffer a terrifying haunting. The film showcases the doll’s power and the entity attached to it before it is finally secured by the Warrens.
Year Set: 1971
The movie that started it all. Ed and Lorraine Warren take on the famous Perron family case in Harrisville, Rhode Island. They confront the powerful witch entity Bathsheba Sherman in one of their most dangerous investigations. This film is the foundation of the core trilogy.
Year Set: 1972
The Annabelle doll is safely locked away in the Warrens' Artifact Room, but when a babysitter and her friend foolishly tamper with the case, the doll reawakens all the other captured entities, including the Ferryman and the Black Shuck. It is a direct sequel to *The Conjuring* and features the Warrens' daughter, Judy.
Year Set: 1977
The Warrens travel to Enfield, England, to investigate the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case involving the Hodgson family. Here, Lorraine Warren has a terrifying confrontation with Valak, the same demonic nun from the earlier spin-offs, finally connecting the two major storylines. The film also introduces the entity known as the Crooked Man.
Year Set: 1981
The third film in the main trilogy, this story centers on the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who claimed demonic possession as a defense for murder—the first time this defense was used in a US court. The Warrens investigate a satanic cult and a human occultist, a departure from their usual ghostly encounters.
Watching The Conjuring Universe in Release Order: The Original Experience
For those who prefer to watch the films as they were originally released in theaters, which provides an evolving mythology and a gradual reveal of the universe's depth, here is the official release date order. This order allows the spin-offs to act as "flashbacks" that expand on the origins of the demons the Warrens encounter.
The franchise is produced by New Line Cinema and Atomic Monster and largely helmed by producer James Wan, whose vision established the shared universe concept.
- The Conjuring (2013)
- Annabelle (2014)
- The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- Annabelle: Creation (2017)
- The Nun (2018)
- Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
- The Nun II (2023)
This viewing path creates a unique sense of discovery. For instance, you first meet Valak in *The Conjuring 2* as a menacing demon haunting the Hodgson family and the Warrens, and only later, in *The Nun*, do you get the full, terrifying backstory of its initial appearance in 1952. This is the intended viewing experience for many fans of the paranormal investigators.
The Future and Questionable Canon: *Last Rites* and *La Llorona*
The Conjuring Universe continues to expand and evolve, with a major film slated for release that will serve as the culmination of the main storyline. However, the franchise also includes a film whose canonicity is often debated, adding a layer of complexity for completionists.
The Conjuring: Last Rites (Upcoming 2025)
The main trilogy is set to conclude with *The Conjuring: Last Rites*, which is currently scheduled for release in 2025. This film is expected to be the final chapter in the main storyline of Ed and Lorraine Warren, with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprising their iconic roles. The story is rumored to be set in 1986, five years after the events of *The Devil Made Me Do It*, and will likely focus on their most challenging and final case, bringing the primary narrative of the demonology experts to a close.
The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
While often included in lists of Conjuring Universe films due to its shared producer, James Wan, and the inclusion of Father Perez (a character from *Annabelle*), *The Curse of La Llorona* is generally considered non-canon. Director Michael Chaves stated that the film was intended as a standalone project, only offering a "wink and a nod" to the larger universe. The entity, La Llorona, does not tie into the Annabelle or Valak storylines, making it an optional watch for those interested in a film set in the same horror world, but not essential for following the main timeline explained here.
Key Entities and LSI Keywords for Topical Authority
To fully appreciate the depth of the Conjuring Universe, it’s important to recognize the key entities and thematic elements that connect the films:
- Ed and Lorraine Warren: The real-life paranormal investigators whose case files form the basis of the entire franchise.
- Annabelle Doll: The conduit for a powerful demon, central to its own trilogy of spin-off films.
- Valak: The primary antagonist of *The Nun* and *The Conjuring 2*, taking the form of the demonic nun.
- The Artifact Room: The Warrens' locked museum of cursed and possessed objects, a recurring setting and source of new entities, including the Black Shuck and the Ferryman.
- Bathsheba Sherman: The malevolent spirit from the original *The Conjuring*.
- The Crooked Man: A planned spin-off character introduced in *The Conjuring 2*.
- Amityville: The famous case referenced in *The Conjuring 2* that sets up Lorraine's confrontation with Valak.
- Supernatural Horror: The genre cornerstone of the entire franchise, focusing on demonic possession and spiritual warfare.
- Demonology and Occultism: The field of study and the dark practices that the Warrens constantly combat.
By understanding the chronological flow and the interconnected nature of these entities, you can best prepare for *The Conjuring: Last Rites* and appreciate the full scope of this massive, terrifying shared universe.
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