The Conjuring universe consists of the main series about Ed and Lorraine Warren and spin-offs about the creatures they encountered: the doll Annabelle and the demonic nun Valak. As of October 17, 2026, nine films have been released, from 2013 to 2025. Below you’ll find their order by release and by plot chronology, as well as a short note on each film without spoilers. The data comes from Wikipedia pages checked on October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia presents the plots of the main series as dramatizations of the “allegedly real” cases of the Warrens, paranormal investigators; the cases themselves remain disputed. The spin-offs tell the origin stories of the sinister creatures the Warrens encountered in the main films.
All films in release order
| No. | Film | Year | Director | Minutes | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Conjuring | 2013 | James Wan | 112 | Main |
| 2 | Annabelle | 2014 | John R. Leonetti | 99 | Annabelle |
| 3 | The Conjuring 2 | 2016 | James Wan | 134 | Main |
| 4 | Annabelle: Creation | 2017 | David F. Sandberg | 110 | Annabelle |
| 5 | The Nun | 2018 | Corin Hardy | 96 | Nun |
| 6 | Annabelle Comes Home | 2019 | Gary Dauberman | 106 | Annabelle |
| 7 | The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | 2021 | Michael Chaves | 112 | Main |
| 8 | The Nun II | 2023 | Michael Chaves | 110 | Nun |
| 9 | The Conjuring: Last Rites | 2025 | Michael Chaves | 135 | Main |
Order by plot chronology
The events of the films are spread from the early 1950s to the mid-1980s, so the chronology differs considerably from the release order. The order below follows the scheme given by English-language Wikipedia.
| By plot | Film | When the events take place |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Nun | 1952 |
| 2 | The Nun II | 1956 |
| 3 | Annabelle: Creation | 1950s |
| 4 | Annabelle | late 1960s – early 1970s |
| 5 | The Conjuring | 1971 |
| 6 | Annabelle Comes Home | early 1970s |
| 7 | The Conjuring 2 | 1977 |
| 8 | The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | 1981 |
| 9 | The Conjuring: Last Rites | 1986 |
What happens in each film
The Conjuring
Official trailer · “The Conjuring” (2013)The start of the whole universe. In 1971 the Warren couple helps the Perron family, who moved onto a farm in Harrisville, Rhode Island, and ran into disturbing events. Ed and Lorraine, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, become the center of the main series.
Annabelle
Official trailer · “Annabelle” (2014)A spin-off about the doll Annabelle, whom the viewer sees at the beginning of the first film. The couple John and Mia Form are expecting a child, and the antique doll becomes possessed after an attack by two cultists. Leonetti had previously been the cinematographer on “The Conjuring.”
The Conjuring 2
Official trailer · “The Conjuring 2” (2016)The Warrens travel to London, where in 1977 a family complains of a poltergeist in a house in Enfield. The film also briefly mentions the events that inspired “The Amityville Horror.” It is here that the demonic nun Valak first appears.
Annabelle: Creation
Official trailer · “Annabelle: Creation” (2017)A prequel to “Annabelle”: a dollmaker and his wife, who have lost their daughter, take a nun and several girls from a closed orphanage into their home, and the possessed doll sets its sights on the children.
The Nun
Official trailer · “The Nun” (2018)A spiritual prequel to “The Conjuring 2.” In 1952 a priest and a novice travel to Romania to investigate the secret of a monastery and run into the demonic nun Valak, played by Bonnie Aarons.
Annabelle Comes Home
Official trailer · “Annabelle Comes Home” (2019)The Annabelle doll is locked in a glass cabinet in the Warrens’ artifact room. While Ed and Lorraine are away, their daughter Judy is looked after by a nanny, and Annabelle awakens other objects from the collection. For Dauberman this is his directorial debut.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
Official trailer · “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” (2021)The action takes place in 1981 and is based on the real trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson in Connecticut: the defendant claimed he committed the crime under the influence of possession. Wan stayed on as a producer, and Chaves became the director.
The Nun II
Official trailer · “The Nun II” (2023)A sequel to “The Nun”: in 1956 in France, Sister Irene, played by Taissa Farmiga, investigates a series of mysterious deaths in Europe and once again comes face to face with Valak.
The Conjuring: Last Rites
Official trailer · “The Conjuring: Last Rites” (2025)The most recent film so far: in 1986 the Smurl family moves into a house in Pennsylvania, where mysterious phenomena begin. Wilson and Farmiga again play the Warrens. In the United States the film was released on September 5, 2025.
Separately: “The Curse of La Llorona”
Official trailer · “The Curse of La Llorona” (2019)“The Curse of La Llorona” (2019, dir. Michael Chaves, 93 min) tells the story of a mother in Los Angeles in 1973 who saves her children from an evil spirit from Latin American folklore. According to Wikipedia, it is not an official part of the Conjuring universe, but Father Perez from “Annabelle” appears in it again. You can watch it after the spin-offs if this particular connection interests you.
Where to start
The most convenient way is to follow the release order: that way you see how the spin-offs grew out of the main films. It’s interesting to check the chronology during a rewatch. The main story about the Warrens is “The Conjuring” 1–4, and “Annabelle” and “The Nun” can be added if you like.
| What you want | What to take |
|---|---|
| The Warrens’ main story | The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Conjuring: Last Rites |
| The story about the doll | Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, Annabelle Comes Home |
| The story about the demonic nun | The Nun, The Nun II |
| One film for the evening | The Conjuring (2013) |
More horror for October 31 is in our selection of horror films for Halloween. If you want another marathon, check the viewing order for “Saw” and “Final Destination”.
Tip. It’s better to save the chronological order for a rewatch: it jumps between the lines, and it’s easy for a newcomer to lose track of the Warrens’ main story.
Frequently asked questions
How many films are there in the Conjuring universe?
As of October 17, 2026, nine: four main films (“The Conjuring” 1–4), three about the doll (“Annabelle,” “Annabelle: Creation,” “Annabelle Comes Home”) and two about the nun (“The Nun” and “The Nun II”).
Can the spin-offs be watched separately?
Yes, the stories are different, but there are connections. “Annabelle” tells about the doll from the first “Conjuring,” “The Nun” is about the demon from the second film, “The Nun II” continues “The Nun,” and “Annabelle Comes Home” takes place after “Annabelle” and “The Conjuring.”
Is “The Curse of La Llorona” part of the universe?
According to Wikipedia, it is not an official part of the Conjuring universe, although it features a character connected to it: Father Perez from “Annabelle.”
Are the films based on real events?
The filmmakers present the plots as dramatizations of cases of the real investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Wikipedia notes that these cases are disputed, and “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” is based on a court case from 1981.
Where can I watch the films in the universe?
Streaming catalogs change, so we don’t provide a list. Check the page of the film you want on a service available to you.
Sources
- The Conjuring Universe (Wikipedia)
- The Conjuring (Wikipedia)
- The Nun (2018 film) (Wikipedia)
- The Conjuring: Last Rites (Wikipedia)
- The Curse of La Llorona (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against live Wikipedia pages on October 17, 2026.

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