Conjuring Universe Timeline: Every Movie in Chronological Order
New Line Cinema and Warner Bros have created their cinematic universe, and everyone is looking to watch. With the release of The Conjuring in 2013 and its subsequent success, it’s obvious why a long and profitable franchise was built from the lives of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. However, the growing list of movies in the universe has had many fans wondering what the official Conjuring timeline is.
After The Conjuring, a direct sequel was released. Subsequently, five other related movies followed, all of which culminated with their latest film – The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It, showing on HBO Max and in theatres.
This recent Conjuring film reached the $2-billion mark at the box office. The movie covers one of the most famous investigations by the Warrens – the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who famously said that “the devil made me do it” in regard to the murder of his landlord, Alan Bono.
The Conjuring movies are based on documentation of some of the Warrens’ worst experiences. At the same time, other movies from the series, like The Nun and Annabelle, are the origin stories of demons that haunt the Warrens.
It’s interesting to watch The Conjuring series in the order in which they were released. However, a more exciting and maybe even horrifying experience is to view them according to the events that took place (chronologically). Let me explain.
What is the Conjuring Universe?
The Conjuring Universe is a media franchise in America focused on a series of paranormal horror movies. The conjuring universe is produced by New Line Cinema and Atomic Monster Productions and distributed by Warner Bros Pictures.
The movie follows stories based on real happenings in Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were paranormal investigators and authors linked with recurring yet problematic haunting cases.
The main series of The Conjuring shows the attempts of the Warrens to help people possessed by evil spirits, while the spin-off movies follow the emergence of some of these demons that the Warrens have encountered.
The Nun (2018)
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema
The events from The Nun are from the first The Conjuring Timeline. It happened at a monastery located in Romania in 1952.
A nun’s body was found by a local in front of the monastery. As a result, the Vatican sends Father Burke (Demian Bichir), accompanied by a young nun who has yet to take her vows, Irene (Taissa Farmiga), to find out what is happening.
As they get to the monastery, they have to research and find the origin of an ancient demon Valak. Though the movie producers never made any reference, the internet believes that perhaps Irene is Lorraine Warren.
Sisters play both characters; they have a strong resemblance and are age mates, both religious and clairvoyant. However, this hasn’t been confirmed. But you should keep it in mind and connect the dots as you continue watching The Conjuring series.
The Nun was written by Gary Dauberman and directed by Corin Hardy. Other movies like IT: Chapter Two and the latest Dauberman also wrote IT.
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema
Annabelle: Creation took place in 1955, a prequel to Annabelle, produced in 2014. The story is about a doll maker and his wife, starring Anthony LaPaglia playing Samuel Mullins and Miranda Otto playing his wife.
The Mullins brought Sister Charlotte, played by Stephanie Sigman, and six orphans to their homes. However, as this is a horror movie, the deceased daughter of Mullin’s room is restricted.
In no time, Janice, played by Talitha Bateman, a girl suffering from polio, creeps into the room and releases an evil that has been contained for a long time.
Always watch out for clues and links with other movies in the Conjuring timeline. For instance, Valak was spotted as the demonic nun in a photograph. Gary Dauberman wrote this movie. She also wrote Anabelle and directed by David Sanberg, the director of Lights Out and Shazam.
Annabelle (2014)
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema
This movie is set 12 years after Anabelle: Creation. It is the first Annabelle movie that starts with a young Doctor, played by (Ward Horton) who gifts his wife, Mia, (played by Annabelle Wallis) a doll. Mia keeps a collection of dolls, and this was to be added to it.
Very soon, a horrible tragedy is experienced by the couple, and they have to discard the doll and move to a new apartment. However, Anabelle follows. Finally, John Leonetti directs this movie.
The Conjuring (2013)
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema
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Even though this is the first movie in The Conjuring timeline, it is the fourth movie chronologically. This movie is the first that focuses on Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Taissa Farmiga.
The haunting of the Perron family begins when they move into an old house and start experiencing unnatural, violent attacks. Then, the Warrens come to help the family. A bit of Annabelle is shown in the artifact room of the Warrens in this movie.
James Wan directed The Conjuring. He was the co-creator of the franchise movie Saw and Insidious, producing most films in The Conjuring timeline. However, Chad and Carey Hayes wrote the movie script.
Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema
This movie from The Conjuring timeline is about the immediate repercussion as the Warrens take Annabelle from nurses that received the doll as a gift. The Warrens claim Annabelle is the origin of the nurses’ paranormal experiences.
The story then fasts forwards to a time after The Conjuring, and a babysitter Mary Ellen, played by Madison Iseman, is hired by the Warrens to take care of their daughter Judy, played by Mckenna Grace.
There has never been a time when babysitters have a peaceful moment in horror movies. One night, Annabelle and other demons escape the artifact room while the Warrens are away. Once again, Gary Dauberman with James Wan wrote and directed this movie.
The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema
This movie on the conjuring timeline is a story about Anna Garcia, played by Linda Cardellini. The movie is set in 1977 after Anna’s investigation was done in a home. Then she advises that the two boys be separated from their mother, Patricia, played by Patricia Velásques.
After the boys are killed that night, Anna understands that their mother has protected them from an evil Mexican spirit. However, now, this evil spirit is after Anna and her kids, Samantha and Chris, played by Jaynee-Lynne and Roman Christou.
In this movie, the priest also appears in Annabelle, and there are conversations about the Warrens in one scene. Despite this, this movie is technically a standalone production. Finally, this movie was directed by Tobias Iaconis and Mikki Daughtry and written by Michael Chaves.
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema
This movie follows Warren’s story during an investigation into murders in Amityville and a media firestorm that developed. The Conjuring 2 is set up mostly in Enfield’s London suburb, and it tells the story of Peggy Hodgson, played by Frances O’Connor, a single mother, and her family.
It all begins after Janet, played by Madison Wolfe, Peggy’s daughter, plays with an ouija board and then starts experiencing paranormal events. Thankfully for them, the Warrens come to help.
The Nun and The Conjuring 2 are closely related. However, let’s not give you too much information. You should watch the movie and find out. Finally, The Conjuring 2 is written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Carey and Chad Hayes, and Wan and directed by James Wan.
The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Watch on Amazon Prime or Netflix
This movie is the latest release from The Conjuring timeline. It was released on the 4th of June 2021 in theatres and HBO Max. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as Ed and Lorraine Warren to come to the defense of Arne Cheyenne Johnson.
In 1981 Arne Cheyenne Johnson was charged with murder, but he claims he was innocent and possessed by an evil spirit. As the Warrens arrive, they discover they must contend with a new demonic threat.
Finally, this movie was directed by Michael Chaves, the director of The Curse of La Llorona, and written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick.
Release Date Order
However, if you want to watch The Conjuring timeline films in release order, follow this list.
- The Conjuring (2013)
- Annabelle (2014)
- The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- Annabelle: Creation (2017)
- The Nun (2018)
- The Curse Of La Llorona (2019)
- Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
- The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do it (2021)
Conclusion
If you’re new to The Conjuring Universe or want to watch all the movies over again, we recommend this as the best way to see all the movies in chronological order. This is the chronological order, beginning with The Nun, which took place during the 1950s instead of The Conjuring. However, you can always find the release-date order toward the movie’s end.
Additionally, remember to save the streaming links attached to each movie to help make your re-watch easier. Finally, before you begin, make sure the lights remain on, and all creepy dolls are out of your room.
