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The Definitive Conjuring Universe Chronological Order: All 10 Films Explained (Updated 2025)

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You’ve come to the right place to finally untangle the terrifying threads of The Conjuring Universe. As of December 23, 2025, this sprawling horror franchise encompasses ten films, each one a piece of a larger, chronological puzzle that spans decades. Watching the films in release order is one experience, but following the timeline of events—from the darkest origins of the demon Valak to the final case of the Warrens—offers a much richer, more terrifying journey into the world of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and the malevolent entities they face. This is the definitive, up-to-date guide to watching every movie in the correct chronological order.

The entire saga, often referred to as the "Conjuring-verse," is a masterclass in interconnected horror, where seemingly isolated hauntings and demonic possessions are revealed to be part of a single, continuous battle against pure evil. The timeline is complex, jumping back and forth across the 20th century to fill in the backstories of infamous entities like the Annabelle doll and the demonic nun, Valak. Prepare to dive deep into the real-life cases and fictional terrors that define the most successful horror franchise in history.

The Complete Conjuring Universe Timeline: From 1952 to the Final Rites

The key to understanding the full scope of this universe is moving beyond release dates and focusing on the year the events of the movie actually take place. This chronological viewing order reveals the true path of the evil that stalks the Warrens and those they try to save. This list includes the upcoming finale, The Conjuring: Last Rites, and addresses the often-debated inclusion of The Curse of La Llorona.

1. The Nun (2018)

  • Year Set: 1952
  • Synopsis: The earliest event in the timeline, this film introduces the demonic entity Valak, who takes the form of a terrifying nun. The story follows a priest and a novitiate sent by the Vatican to investigate the mysterious suicide of a nun at a secluded abbey in Romania. The film establishes the origin of Valak and its connection to the main Conjuring films, with a brief appearance by Ed and Lorraine Warren at the end.
  • Key Entity: Valak (The Demonic Nun)

2. Annabelle: Creation (2017)

  • Year Set: 1955 (with a 1943 prologue)
  • Synopsis: This is an origin story for the infamous Annabelle doll. Set 12 years after the tragic death of their daughter, a dollmaker and his wife open their home to a nun and several girls from a closed orphanage. It is here that the dollmaker's creation becomes a vessel for a powerful demon, marking the first time the entity possesses the object. The 1943 prologue shows the dollmaker creating the doll.
  • Key Entity: The Annabelle Demon, Annabelle Higgins

3. The Nun II (2023)

  • Year Set: 1956
  • Synopsis: Picking up four years after the first film, Sister Irene returns to face Valak after a priest is murdered in France, and the evil's presence begins to spread across Europe. This sequel solidifies Valak's continued existence and pursuit of a holy relic, further linking its power and influence to the later events in the series.
  • Key Entity: Valak (The Demonic Nun)

4. Annabelle (2014)

  • Year Set: 1967
  • Synopsis: The story jumps forward a decade to a young doctor who buys his wife, Mia, a rare vintage doll—the very same doll from the previous film. After their home is invaded by satanic cultists, the demon attached to the doll begins a reign of terror against the couple, seeking a soul to claim. This movie explains how the doll ends up in the possession of the nurse mentioned at the beginning of The Conjuring.
  • Key Entity: The Annabelle Demon

5. The Conjuring (2013)

  • Year Set: 1971
  • Synopsis: The film that started it all. Based on a true story, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren are called to the secluded farmhouse of the Perron family in Harrisville, Rhode Island. They discover the family is being terrorized by a powerful, malevolent spirit named Bathsheba, who demands a host for possession. This case is pivotal, as it is the event that truly solidifies the Warrens' reputation and introduces them to the world.
  • Key Entities: Ed and Lorraine Warren, Bathsheba Sherman, The Perron Family

6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

  • Year Set: 1972
  • Synopsis: This film is set shortly after the Warrens bring the Annabelle doll into their Artifact Room for safekeeping. When the Warrens leave town, their daughter Judy and her babysitters are left alone. Annabelle's presence acts as a beacon, awakening other evil entities within the room, including the Ferryman and the Bride, turning the Warrens' own home into a battleground.
  • Key Entities: The Annabelle Demon, The Ferryman, The Bride, Judy Warren

7. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

  • Year Set: 1973
  • Synopsis: This film's canonicity is often debated by fans and critics, but it features a direct connection to the universe via Father Perez, who previously appeared in Annabelle. The story centers on a social worker and her children who are targeted by the malevolent spirit of La Llorona, the Weeping Woman, who seeks to drown children. While generally considered a standalone story, its brief link to the Annabelle storyline places it here chronologically.
  • Key Entity: La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)

8. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

  • Year Set: 1977
  • Synopsis: The Warrens travel to North London to assist the Hodgson family, who are experiencing terrifying poltergeist activity in their home in Enfield. The case is one of the most famous in paranormal history, but the Warrens soon realize that the haunting is being manipulated by a greater evil: the demon Valak, who has been personally targeting Lorraine since her visions at the Amityville house. The film features the return of the demonic nun.
  • Key Entities: Valak (The Demonic Nun), The Crooked Man, Bill Wilkins (The Enfield Poltergeist)

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

  • Year Set: 1981
  • Synopsis: The latest released film in the main series follows Ed and Lorraine as they investigate the case of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the first time in U.S. history a murder suspect claimed demonic possession as a defense. The Warrens uncover a Satanic cult performing an occult ritual, forcing them to confront a threat far more sinister and human-driven than previous cases.
  • Key Entities: Arne Cheyenne Johnson, The Occultist, Ed and Lorraine Warren

10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

  • Year Set: TBD (Likely post-1981)
  • Synopsis: Slated for a September 5, 2025 release, this film is expected to serve as the final chapter in the main Conjuring trilogy and possibly the last case for Ed and Lorraine Warren. While plot details are under wraps, the title suggests a climactic and definitive confrontation, bringing the "Phase One" of the universe to a close. Fans anticipate a final, terrifying case that may connect the deepest threads of the entire franchise.
  • Key Entities: Ed and Lorraine Warren, TBD

Why Chronological Order Offers a Deeper Horror Experience

Watching the films in their release order is a perfectly valid way to experience the universe, but the chronological path provides a crucial advantage: it allows you to track the evolution and escalation of the demonic entities themselves. By starting with The Nun, you witness the genesis of Valak's power in 1952 before seeing its full, terrifying influence decades later in The Conjuring 2.

Similarly, starting with Annabelle: Creation shows the birth of the Annabelle doll's evil in 1955, making the 1967 events of Annabelle and the 1972 terror of Annabelle Comes Home feel like a continuous, escalating threat. The chronological viewing order transforms the franchise from a collection of scary stories into a cohesive, decades-long battle against a singular, interconnected force of darkness, giving the actions of Ed and Lorraine Warren in the main trilogy a much greater sense of urgency and context.

The Warrens: The Heart of the Conjuring Universe

The entire franchise is anchored by the real-life paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. While the spin-off films like Annabelle and The Nun focus on the entities themselves, the main Conjuring trilogy follows the Warrens' professional and personal journey.

Ed Warren (1926–2006) was a self-taught demonologist, one of the few non-clergy recognized by the Catholic Church. Lorraine Warren (1927–2019) was a professional clairvoyant and medium who worked closely with her husband. Their cases, including the Amityville haunting (briefly referenced in The Conjuring 2), the Perron family, and the Enfield Poltergeist, form the backbone of the most popular films.

Their daughter, Judy Warren, also plays a crucial role, particularly in Annabelle Comes Home, as she is often left to deal with the supernatural fallout of her parents' work. The emotional core of the main films is the Warrens' unwavering love and faith, which they use as their greatest weapon against the demonic forces they encounter, making their story a compelling mix of horror and human drama.

Release Order vs. Chronological Order: Which is Best?

While the chronological order is perfect for a deep-dive marathon, the release order is often recommended for first-time viewers.

Release Order (The Way the Story Was Built):

  1. The Conjuring (2013)
  2. Annabelle (2014)
  3. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
  4. Annabelle: Creation (2017)
  5. The Nun (2018)
  6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
  7. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
  8. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
  9. The Nun II (2023)
  10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

The release order works because it introduces the Warrens and the Annabelle doll first, establishing the core characters and threats before jumping back in time to explore the origins of the evil. The chronological order, however, offers a smoother narrative flow of the events themselves, making the connections between Valak and Annabelle much more direct and impactful. For a seasoned horror fan or someone looking to re-watch the entire saga before The Conjuring: Last Rites hits theaters, the chronological timeline is the superior choice for a truly deep and connected experience.

the conjuring chronological order
the conjuring chronological order

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