The True Order Of Terror: How To Watch All 10 Conjuring Universe Movies In Chronological Timeline, Including 'Last Rites'
For fans eager to experience the chilling saga of the Warrens and their demonic adversaries as a single, cohesive narrative, the release order simply won't suffice. As of late 2025, The Conjuring Universe has expanded to a massive 10 films, each weaving a thread into a terrifying tapestry of supernatural horror. To truly grasp the escalating evil—from the origin of the demon Valak to the final, harrowing case of Ed and Lorraine Warren—you must watch them in their in-story chronological order, starting in 1952 and culminating with the highly anticipated 2025 finale.
This definitive guide provides the only correct viewing timeline, incorporating the newest and final chapter, The Conjuring: Last Rites, and clarifying exactly where spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun fit into the terrifying history of the world's most famous paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The Definitive 10-Film Conjuring Universe Chronological Timeline
The Conjuring Universe timeline spans over three decades, beginning with the darkest origins of the demon Valak and concluding with the final, most complex case handled by demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. Follow this order to witness the complete, escalating war against the supernatural.
1. The Nun (2018) - Set in 1952
The entire universe begins with the origin story of the demon Valak. Set in 1952 at the remote Cârța Monastery in Romania, a priest and a novitiate are sent by the Vatican to investigate the suicide of a young nun. This film establishes the ancient evil that will plague the Warrens decades later and reveals the first appearance of the demonic entity known as Valak.
2. Annabelle: Creation (2017) - Set in 1955
This prequel dives into the origins of the infamous Annabelle doll. A dollmaker and his wife, still mourning the death of their daughter, open their home to a nun and several girls from an orphanage. The dollmaker's creation, possessed by a powerful demonic force, soon turns their refuge into a house of terror. The final scene explicitly links this story to the events of the original Annabelle film.
3. The Nun II (2023) - Set in 1956
Taking place four years after the first film, Sister Irene returns to face the malevolent force of Valak once more. The demon has moved from the Romanian monastery to a boarding school in France, where it is terrorizing the students and staff. This chapter further solidifies the history of the demonic entity and its enduring connection to the Warrens' future cases.
4. Annabelle (2014) - Set in 1967
This is the first time the Annabelle doll is seen in its modern, glass-cased form. The film follows a young doctor and his expectant wife who are terrorized by the doll and the satanic cultists who summon a demon into it. The events lead to the doll's eventual containment, setting the stage for its later appearance in The Conjuring.
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, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. They take on the case of the Perron family, who are being terrorized by a powerful, malevolent entity known as Bathsheba in their secluded Rhode Island farmhouse. This iconic case cements the Warrens' reputation.
6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019) - Set in 1972
Immediately following the Warrens securing the Annabelle doll, they bring it back to their Artifact Room. When their daughter, Judy Warren, is left with babysitters, the Annabelle doll awakens the other evil entities contained in the room, including the terrifying Crooked Man. This film is a self-contained haunted house story set entirely within the Warrens' home.
7. The Curse of La Llorona (2019) - Set in 1973
While often debated as a canonical entry, this film is confirmed to be part of the universe through the appearance of Father Perez, who previously appeared in Annabelle. The story follows a social worker in 1973 Los Angeles battling the legendary Latin American ghost, La Llorona, or "The Weeping Woman," who preys on children. The film's connection is subtle but present, making it essential for a complete timeline view.
8. The Conjuring 2 (2016) - Set in 1977
Ed and Lorraine travel to London to investigate the famous Enfield Poltergeist case, where a single mother and her four children are plagued by a violent, elderly spirit and a demonic nun. This film is crucial as it features the main antagonist, Valak, the same entity from The Nun, and deepens the personal threat against Lorraine Warren.
9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) - Set in 1981
Also known as The Conjuring 3, this film chronicles the real-life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the first time a murder suspect claimed demonic possession as a defense in a US court. Set in 1981, the Warrens investigate the possession of a young man and uncover a Satanic cult plot that puts them in direct spiritual danger.
10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) - Set in 1986
This is the newest and reportedly final installment of the main Conjuring series, scheduled for release in 2025. Set five years after the events of The Devil Made Me Do It, the film is expected to focus on the terrifying Smurl Hauntings case, one of the Warrens’ most notorious and prolonged investigations. As the final chapter, it promises to be the darkest and most conclusive battle for the Warrens.
Understanding the Lore: Key Entities and Connections
The power of The Conjuring Universe lies in its continuity, where seemingly separate cases are all linked by a few recurring demonic entities and powerful artifacts. Watching in chronological order allows you to track the evolution of these threats and the development of the Warrens as paranormal investigators.
The Demon Valak and the Nun Connection
Valak, the demon that takes the form of a terrifying nun, is the franchise’s ultimate recurring villain. Its story begins in 1952 (The Nun), continues in 1956 (The Nun II), and then resurfaces in 1977 to personally torment Lorraine Warren during the Enfield Poltergeist investigation (The Conjuring 2). The chronological viewing reveals the demon’s ancient, persistent evil and its direct targeting of Lorraine.
The Annabelle Doll and the Artifact Room
The Annabelle doll is a conduit for a powerful demon, not the demon itself. Its story is told in three parts: its creation and initial possession in 1955 (Annabelle: Creation), its terrorizing of a young couple in 1967 (Annabelle), and its role in unleashing other entities from the Warrens' Artifact Room in 1972 (Annabelle Comes Home). The Artifact Room itself is a central entity, a vault of pure evil that houses objects from the Warrens' most dangerous cases, including the Music Box and the Samurai Armor.
The Real-Life Paranormal Investigators: Ed and Lorraine Warren
The heart of the franchise is the relationship and work of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were real-life Demonologists and paranormal investigators. The main Conjuring films are based on their actual case files: the Perron Family haunting (1971), the Enfield Poltergeist (1977), the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson (1981), and the upcoming Smurl Hauntings (1986). Their dedication to faith and their contrasting roles (Ed as the Catholic Demonologist, Lorraine as the Clairvoyant) provide the emotional anchor for the entire timeline.
Why the Chronological Order is the Only Way to Watch
While watching the films in release order (starting with The Conjuring in 2013) offers a satisfying introduction, the chronological order based on the in-story year provides a richer, more rewarding experience for horror enthusiasts and lore masters. It transforms the franchise from a series of scary movies into a continuous, escalating narrative.
- Builds Tension: You witness the slow, horrifying rise of Valak and the demon possessing Annabelle, making their appearances in the main Conjuring films far more impactful.
- Clarifies Connections: The link between the Cârța Monastery (The Nun) and the Enfield Poltergeist (The Conjuring 2) becomes immediately clear, turning a spin-off into a direct prequel.
- Enhances Topical Authority: By following the timeline, you track the Warrens' career from their early, less experienced days to their final, high-stakes battles, giving context to their methods and their faith.
With The Conjuring: Last Rites closing out the main saga in 2025, now is the perfect time to revisit the entire terrifying universe in its proper, definitive chronological sequence.
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