The Definitive Conjuring Universe Timeline: How To Watch All 9 Films In Chronological Order (Updated 2025)
Are you ready to dive into the darkest corners of paranormal history? As of December 2025, *The Conjuring Universe* has expanded into a sprawling, interconnected horror saga that spans over four decades of terror, from the Romanian countryside to the infamous Warrens’ Occult Museum. Watching the films in their release order is one thing, but experiencing the narrative chronologically—seeing the true origin of demons like Valak and the Annabelle doll—offers a far more chilling and satisfying journey through the franchise's lore, especially with the highly anticipated 2025 release of the final main installment, *The Conjuring: Last Rites*.
This definitive guide reveals the correct, up-to-date chronological viewing order for all nine films, allowing you to trace the demonic entity's influence as it jumps from one victim to the next, culminating in the final, dramatic case of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Prepare to witness the full, terrifying scope of this cinematic universe, starting with the very first evil that set the entire chain of events in motion.
The Definitive Conjuring Universe Chronological Timeline (9 Films)
The key to understanding *The Conjuring Universe* lies in following the supernatural entities, not the release dates. This timeline begins with the earliest appearance of the demon Valak in the 1950s and follows the Warrens’ case files up to the 1980s and beyond, including the newest 2025 entry.
- 1. The Nun (2018) - Set in 1952: This is the true genesis of the evil that plagues the entire franchise. The film introduces the demon Valak, disguised as a demonic nun, at the Cârța Monastery in Romania. It also features Sister Irene and Maurice "Frenchie" Theriault, whose final moments provide a direct link to the Warrens’ later work, as the demon is briefly expelled but not truly defeated.
- 2. Annabelle: Creation (2017) - Set in 1955: Following a 1943 prologue, the main story details the origin of the infamous Annabelle doll. A dollmaker and his wife open their home to a group of orphaned girls, one of whom becomes the target of a demonic entity that possesses the Annabelle doll. This film establishes the doll as a conduit for a powerful demon seeking a host.
- 3. The Nun II (2023) - Set in 1956: A direct sequel to the first film, this installment sees Sister Irene face Valak once again, this time at a French boarding school. The film explicitly links Valak's pursuit of an ancient holy relic to its continued influence over Maurice, further cementing the demon's connection to the main *Conjuring* timeline.
- 4. Annabelle (2014) - Set in 1967: This film serves as a direct prequel to *The Conjuring*. It shows the horrific events surrounding the Annabelle doll before it was contained by the Warrens. The focus is on the Form family, who are terrorized by the doll and the satanic cultists who summon the entity.
- 5. The Conjuring (2013) - Set in 1971: The film that started it all. This is the first time we meet paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga). Their case involves the Perron family, who are haunted by the vengeful spirit of a witch named Bathsheba Sherman in their Rhode Island farmhouse. The Annabelle doll makes a brief, contained appearance in the Warrens’ artifact room.
- 6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019) - Set in 1972: Taking place shortly after the events of *The Conjuring*, this film focuses on the Warrens' daughter, Judy Warren, as the Annabelle doll is brought into the Occult Museum. The doll acts as a beacon, activating other malevolent entities stored in the room, including the Ferryman, the Bride, and potentially even The Crooked Man.
- 7. The Conjuring 2 (2016) - Set in 1977: The Warrens travel to London to investigate the famous Enfield Poltergeist case, helping the Hodgson family. This film is pivotal as it reintroduces Valak, the Demonic Nun, who has been actively tormenting Lorraine Warren since a previous, unrelated case involving the Amityville murders. The Crooked Man entity also makes a terrifying appearance.
- 8. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) - Set in 1981: Based on the real-life trial of Arne Johnson, this case marks the first time a murder suspect claimed demonic possession as a defense in a US court. The Warrens investigate the source of the possession, which leads them to a Satanic cultist and a dark curse, moving the franchise away from traditional haunted houses.
- 9. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) - Upcoming: Scheduled for release in 2025, this film is widely expected to be the final chapter in the main *Conjuring* trilogy. Early reports suggest the case will focus on the infamous Smurl Haunting in Pennsylvania, where a family claimed to be tormented by a powerful demon and other entities after purchasing an antique mirror. The film is rumored to feature a prologue with a young Ed and Lorraine Warren, bringing their story full circle.
The Deep-Dive: Unmasking the Major Entities and Connections
The true genius of *The Conjuring Universe* is its ability to weave a complex web of interconnected evil. To fully appreciate the chronological order, you must understand the major entities and the real-life paranormal investigators who faced them.
Ed and Lorraine Warren: The Foundation of the Universe
The entire franchise is anchored by the real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Played with compelling depth by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, they are the only characters to appear in all three main *Conjuring* films and have their presence felt in the spin-offs. Ed Warren was a demonologist, and Lorraine Warren was a clairvoyant and medium who claimed to be able to communicate with the dead. Their most famous investigations—the Amityville Haunting, the Perron family case, and the Enfield Poltergeist—form the backbone of the main trilogy. Their Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, serves as the central hub for all the cursed objects, including the Annabelle doll, connecting the spin-off stories directly to their home.
Valak: The Demonic Nun and the Ultimate Evil
The most powerful and recurring antagonist in the entire timeline is the demon Valak, who primarily appears in the form of a terrifying nun. Valak’s story is told chronologically through the *Nun* and *Conjuring 2* films. Introduced in 1952 in *The Nun*, Valak is an ancient, powerful entity that was inadvertently released from a tomb sealed by the blood of Christ. Its primary goal is to gain a host and spread its influence. The demon’s connection to the main timeline is solidified in *The Nun II*, where it continues to possess Maurice "Frenchie" Theriault, the same man who later appears in a video during a lecture by the Warrens in *The Conjuring*, where Lorraine first sees the demonic nun. Valak is a master manipulator, exploiting the Warrens' faith and vulnerabilities.
Annabelle: The Conduit for Malevolence
The Annabelle doll is perhaps the most recognizable entity, though it is not the actual demon itself, but rather a conduit or beacon. The entity’s origin is explored in *Annabelle: Creation* (1955), where it possesses a doll created by Samuel and Esther Mullins. The demon is a powerful, non-human spirit that attaches itself to the object. The entity's goal is to possess a human soul, and the doll is its tool. Its terror continues in *Annabelle* (1967) before it is finally contained by the Warrens and placed in their Occult Museum, where it continues to cause chaos in *Annabelle Comes Home* (1972). This spin-off trilogy effectively details the life of the doll before its permanent containment.
Looking Ahead: The Final Chapter with *The Conjuring: Last Rites* (2025)
The *Conjuring* timeline is set to conclude its main narrative arc with the 2025 release of *The Conjuring: Last Rites*. This film is generating immense buzz as it is rumored to be the final case for Ed and Lorraine Warren, bringing their cinematic journey to a close.
The confirmed inspiration for *Last Rites* is the chilling Smurl Haunting, a highly publicized case from the 1980s. The Smurl family claimed their home in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, was haunted by a powerful demon and several other spirits, leading to claims of physical and sexual assault. The Warrens became heavily involved in this case, performing exorcisms and declaring the house to be infested by a "powerful demonic presence." The cinematic adaptation will likely focus on the intense spiritual battle between the Warrens and this new, terrifying entity, possibly tied to an antique mirror that the Smurls acquired.
As the timeline moves into the mid-1980s, *Last Rites* promises to be a dramatic and poignant finale, showcasing the immense toll that a lifetime of demonology and paranormal investigation took on the Warrens. The film aims to provide a positive and definitive conclusion to their story, giving fans a sense of closure after years of following their terrifying, real-life inspired cases. The chronological viewing order becomes even more essential now, as the entire nine-film saga will finally lead to one, definitive ending.
Detail Author:
- Name : Christ Borer
- Username : shayna.boyle
- Email : batz.hosea@hotmail.com
- Birthdate : 2004-07-02
- Address : 402 Williamson Radial North Derekland, MD 97960-5110
- Phone : (605) 435-4577
- Company : Ledner-Mosciski
- Job : Tree Trimmer
- Bio : Reiciendis perferendis harum voluptatem corrupti quis et quidem in. Distinctio voluptas eos dolore unde eos sed.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/brandi7168
- username : brandi7168
- bio : Rerum voluptatem eveniet impedit architecto sequi quam alias quo. Placeat molestiae iusto id assumenda dicta. Rem et et harum magni doloribus enim.
- followers : 1429
- following : 1319
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/brandi_id
- username : brandi_id
- bio : Asperiores necessitatibus vel repudiandae beatae. Qui voluptate deleniti qui quia modi beatae vero.
- followers : 4859
- following : 2214
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@brandiorn
- username : brandiorn
- bio : Aut odio et beatae dolor dicta natus. Nam ut repudiandae at ut blanditiis.
- followers : 3363
- following : 1775
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/born
- username : born
- bio : Est repellendus non velit id quidem quia.
- followers : 4184
- following : 791
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/brandi.orn
- username : brandi.orn
- bio : Qui labore et neque consequatur laborum aut corrupti.
- followers : 4752
- following : 304
