How to Watch the Conjuring Universe in Order

The Conjuring Universe has completely changed modern horror. What started as a single, terrifying haunted house story in 2013 has grown into a massive world of demonic nuns, cursed dolls, and tragic backstories. It is officially the highest-grossing horror franchise in cinema history.

But because the films bounce back and forth through time, figuring out the correct viewing order can feel like a puzzle. If you watch them randomly, you will miss how a minor detail in one movie explains a massive scare in another.

Whether you want to see the story unfold exactly as the filmmakers released it, or you want to experience the terrifying events in the order they actually happened in history, this guide has you covered. Let us dive into exactly how to watch the Conjuring Universe in order.

Why the Order Matters

The franchise is split into three main branches: the central cases of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the history of the possessed doll Annabelle, and the ancient origins of the demon Valak (The Nun).

If you watch by release date, you get to experience the mystery the way theater audiences did, slowly uncovering clues over a decade. If you watch chronologically, you start all the way back in the 1950s and watch the evil spread forward through time.

Choosing your path changes how the twists hit you. Below is an overview table of all nine films to help you map out your marathon before we break down every single movie.

Option 1: The Chronological Timeline

Watching chronologically turns the franchise into a massive historical epic of cosmic dread. You will see the evil born in a lonely Romanian monastery and follow it as it attaches itself to different innocent families across Europe and America over three decades.

Here is how to watch the Conjuring Universe in order chronologically, broken down item by item.

Item #1: The Nun (2018)

Set in 1952, this film serves as the absolute starting point of the entire franchise’s supernatural curse. It follows a young nun and a priest sent by the Vatican to investigate a suicide at a remote cloistered monastery in Romania, where they uncover a deep, ancient evil.

The movie plays like a classic gothic horror film. It reveals that the monastery was built by a dark duke who opened a gateway to hell, which was sealed by the Church but blasted open again during World War II bombings. The biggest takeaway here is the ending: we see a young French-Canadian man named “Frenchie” get possessed, which ties directly into Ed and Lorraine’s later exorcism lectures.

Item #2: The Nun II (2023)

Taking place four years after the original, the story shifts to 1956 France. Sister Irene is called upon again when a priest is violently murdered, showing that the demonic entity Valak managed to escape Romania by hiding inside the unsuspecting Frenchie.

This sequel expands the scope of the universe by traveling across boarding schools in Europe. It confirms that Valak is searching for a holy relic—the eyes of Saint Lucy—to gain ultimate power. The film adds heavy emotional stakes to Sister Irene’s lineage and fills the narrative gap between the ancient origins of the demon and its eventual arrival in America.

Item #3: Annabelle: Creation (2017)

We jump forward to 1958, moving from Europe to the dusty plains of Southern California. A dollmaker and his wife, devastated by the loss of their young daughter Bee, open their home to a nun and several girls from a closed orphanage.

This is a masterclass in tension. The film explains that the grieving parents prayed to any entity that would let them see their daughter again. A demon tricked them, moving into a porcelain doll. By the end of the film, one of the orphaned girls, Janice, becomes completely possessed by the entity, changes her name to Annabelle, and is adopted by an unsuspecting family, setting up the next movie perfectly.

Item #4: Annabelle (2014)

Set in 1967, this movie brings us to the height of the Manson family era in California. A young expectant couple, John and Mia Form, find their life turned upside down after their home is invaded by satanic cultists, one of whom dies while holding John’s rare vintage doll.

The dying cultist is actually the grown-up, possessed Janice from Annabelle: Creation. Her blood drips into the doll’s eye socket, reawakening the dormant demon. The film does a fantastic job of capturing the paranoia of the late 1960s and shows how the doll actively uses psychological torment to try and claim Mia’s soul before disappearing into the hands of antique buyers.

Item #5: The Conjuring (2013)

The film that started it all takes place in 1971. We meet Ed and Lorraine Warren, a pair of real-life paranormal investigators, who travel to Rhode Island to help the Perron family, who are experiencing terrifying, violent phenomena in their newly bought farmhouse.

Director James Wan grounded this movie in raw emotion, focusing heavily on family bonds. The entity here is Bathsheba, a 19th-century witch who cursed the land. This is the centerpiece of the entire universe. It shows the true toll that demonology takes on the Warrens, specifically how Lorraine’s psychic visions physically drain her health.

Item #6: Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Set around 1972, this film takes place almost entirely within the Warrens’ own home. While Ed and Lorraine are away on a case, their young daughter Judy is left with a babysitter whose curious friend accidentally unlocks the glass case containing the Annabelle doll.

Think of this film as a horror version of Night at the Museum. The movie reveals that the Annabelle doll doesn’t actually contain a ghost, but acts as a beacon or “battery” for other evil spirits. When she is let out, she awakens every cursed item in the room, introducing creepy new monsters like the Ferryman and a haunted werewolf-like entity.

Item #7: The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

Set in 1973 Los Angeles, this spin-off brings a classic piece of Latin American folklore into the universe. A social worker and her young children are stalked by a weeping ghost who is desperate to steal the children to replace her own drowned offspring.

While this movie works mostly as a standalone story, its connection to the broader universe is clear and intentional. Father Perez explicitly references his battle with the possessed doll, even showing a brief flashback of himself carrying Annabelle. It proves that the supernatural world in this franchise stretches far beyond just the Warren family’s direct cases.

Item #8: The Conjuring 2 (2016)

The timeline moves to 1977. After dealing with the media circus of the famous Amityville haunting, Ed and Lorraine travel to London, England. They visit a council house in Enfield, where a single mother and her four children are being terrorized by a malicious poltergeist.

This installment is widely considered one of the best horror sequels ever made. It blends the gritty, bleak atmosphere of 1970s London with terrifying set-pieces. We learn that the ghost of the old man haunting the house is actually being manipulated by Valak. This creates a massive payoff if you have already watched the Nun movies, as you see the demon finally confront Lorraine directly.

Item #9: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

The furthest point in the chronological timeline lands us in 1981. This movie leaves the traditional haunted house setup behind and dives into a legal thriller. The Warrens must investigate a brutal murder to help defend a young man who claims he was possessed by a demon when he committed the crime.

Based on the real-life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, this movie explores dark witchcraft and satanic altars. Ed is recovering from a severe heart attack caused by an earlier exorcism, making the stakes feel incredibly high. It wraps up the current chronological timeline by showing how decades of fighting the dark arts have worn down our main heroes.

Option 2: The Release Date Order

If you are a newcomer, watching by release date is highly recommended. The writers wrote these films knowing what information the audience already had. Jumping around by release year allows you to experience the fun of discovering callbacks and easter eggs naturally.

Here is the exact order of how the movies hit theaters:

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

FAQs

Is The Conjuring 4 going to happen?

Yes. A fourth film, officially titled The Conjuring: Last Rites, has been confirmed by New Line Cinema and is expected to be the final main chapter for Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Do I need to watch The Curse of La Llorona to understand the main story?

No, it is not essential. While it is officially part of the universe due to a character crossover, the plot does not impact the main storyline involving Valak, Annabelle, or the Warrens.

Are these movies actually based on true stories?

The main Conjuring trilogy is based on the case files of real-life investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, including the Perron farmhouse case, the Enfield Poltergeist, and the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson. However, Hollywood heavily dramatizes these events for scares. The spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun are almost entirely fictionalized lore built around real artifacts or legends.

Conclusion

Mastering how to watch the Conjuring Universe in order depends entirely on what kind of cinematic experience you want. The release date order is perfect for beginners who want to build the mystery step-by-step. The chronological timeline is fantastic for a rewatch, giving you a front-row seat to how evil travels through history. Whichever path you choose, turn off the lights, grab some popcorn, and prepare for one of the greatest horror runs in movie history.