Might I Recommend Watching All the 'Conjuring' Movies in Order?

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If The Conjuring series has a million fans, I'm def one of them. And, if it somehow only has one fan, it's also me! Honestly, though, name a better horror movie franchise within the last decade...I'll wait. It's like the Marvel universe, but for fans looking to get scared sh*tless (something the movies tend to do a bit too well).

The Conjuring’s humble beginnings all started with a haunted house—the cliché subject of several scary movies, but not all of them do the whole ~paranormal meets possession~ thing quite like these supernatural flicks. The first film of the series follows a pair of paranormal investigators/lovebirds, Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. Since the original film in 2013, the lore has expanded to include possessed dolls, evil nuns, and countless hauntings. And, if that doesn't already give you goosebumps, I think they're even more fun to watch knowing that some of the horror is based on true stories.

Between the 9 movies, The Conjuring's lore twists and turns through time, which means the best way to watch them differs from the order of theatrical release. So, we went ahead and put the hit horror movie franchise in chronological order—from the first jump scare to the last possession. Just make sure to grab your movie snack (and your safety blanket) before diving headfirst into 20 hours of transparent terror.

The Nun (2018)

Starring American Horror Story alum and real life sister of The Conjuring’s lead actress, Taissa Farmiga, The Nun opens on two nuns as they are attacked by an invisible evil force while trying to find an ancient religious relic. The attack prompts a Catholic priest and a young nun in training to investigate the dark spirits at play in 1952 Romania.

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Annabelle: Creation (2017)

As the name suggests, this movie explores the early days of America’s most famous haunted doll, Annabelle. The film opens on a doll maker and his wife who are mourning the loss of their daughter Annabelle, who was killed by a passing car. Fast forward 12 years, the couple opens their home to six young orphans, instructing them to stay away from Annabelle’s bedroom. You can guess where things go from there.

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The Nun II (2023)

The Nun 2 is set four years after the ending of The Nun, following Sister Irene in her continued battle against demonic forces. The film sees Taissa Farmiga reprise her role as Sister Irene, and also stars Storm Reid and Anna Popplewell.

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Annabelle (2014)

Remember little Annabelle from two blurbs ago? Well, she’s all grown up and ready to cause hell. Annabelle follows a young couple who welcome a vintage porcelain doll into their home as they await the arrival of their first child. Watch this film and never feel at home in an antiques shop again.

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The Conjuring (2013)

If you need proof that the lore behind this franchise is twisted, notice that the first ever Conjuring film is smack dab in the middle of this binge guide. The Conjuring introduces our heroes, Ed and Lorraine Warren, who did exist in real life, but in a less dramatic fashion. The film follows the paranormal investigators as they meet the Perron family, whose Rhode Island home has been the host of mysterious hauntings.

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Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Starring Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman, and Katie Sarife, Annabelle Comes Home picks up with the Warrens’ confiscation of the Annabelle doll from a pair of nurses whose apartment has become the latest victim of miss girl. The Warrens lock the doll in a sacred glass case for literally everyone’s safety, but sometime later, their babysitter and her friend get a little too curious, unlocking Annabelle’s glass case and sparking chaos.

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The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

A slight departure from haunted houses and demonic dolls, The Curse of La Llorona is inspired by the Latin American folklore of the same name, which warns of a vengeful spirit who haunts bodies of water, mourning the loss of her children who she drowned after learning of her husband’s infidelity. The film stars Linda Cardellini as a mother who must save her children from the spirit trying to steal them.

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The Conjuring 2 (2016)

We’re back with mom and dad in The Conjuring 2, which follows the Warrens as they journey to England to assist a family suffering abuse from a poltergeist in 1977. Like many of the IRL Warrens’ tales, this poltergeist, known as the Enfield poltergeist, was real enough to warrant a Wikipedia page.

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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

The most modern Conjuring tale takes place in 1981, beginning with the Warrens’ investigation and exorcism of a possessed 8-year-old boy. During the exorcism, the spirit exits the child’s body and enters an adult member of the family, Arne Johnson, who goes on to kill his landlord. This installment of The Conjuring explores legal ramifications in a way the other films don't, with the Warrens working to support Johnson in court. His case, known as the “Devil Made Me Do It” case, was the first known court case to argue demonic possession as a criminal defense. Other haunted things occur in this film, too, though.

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