In This Article
The Conjuring Universe has 11 films across 3 nested timelines as of May 2026, with The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) and the upcoming Annabelle Comes Home Lights Out (announced for 2027) extending the franchise. Watching in chronological order versus release order changes the narrative experience meaningfully.
This guide covers the 11 current films, the chronological order versus release order, what each film adds to the universe, and where to stream each (Max, Amazon Prime Video, rental services).
The Conjuring Universe is best watched with The Conjuring (2013) first to establish the Warren characters, then either chronological or release order depending on preference.
TL;DR
Best fit: Release order is the recommended viewing order for first-time watchers. The earlier films establish the Warren family characters and the Annabelle doll mythology before the chronological prequels add backstory. Start with The Conjuring (2013).
Good alternative: Chronological order works for re-watchers who want the in-universe timeline. Start with The Nun II (1956 in-universe) and work forward to The Conjuring: Last Rites (1981 in-universe).
Skip if: You only have time for one or two films. The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016) are the best standalone entries; they introduce the Warrens without requiring the side stories.
Release order: the standard recommendation
(1) The Conjuring (2013). Introduces Ed and Lorraine Warren, the Perron family case in 1971 Rhode Island. The standalone classic that anchors the universe.
(2) Annabelle (2014). Prequel to the Annabelle doll appearing in The Conjuring. Sets up the doll’s origin in 1967.
(3) The Conjuring 2 (2016). The Enfield Poltergeist case in 1977 London. Introduces the Valak the Nun character.
(4) Annabelle: Creation (2017). Goes back further to the doll’s actual creation in 1955. The strongest Annabelle film.
(5) The Nun (2018). Spinoff focusing on Valak’s origin in 1952 Romania. Lukewarm critical reception but commercially successful.
(6) The Curse of La Llorona (2019). Loose spinoff incorporating La Llorona folklore. Initially marketed as separate but officially in the Conjuring Universe per James Wan.
(7) Annabelle Comes Home (2019). Annabelle in the Warrens’ artifacts room.
(8) The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021). The Arne Cheyenne Johnson case in 1981. The first murder trial to use demonic possession as a legal defense.
(9) The Nun II (2023). Sequel to The Nun set in 1956 France.
(10) The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025). The Warrens’ final case. Sets up the franchise conclusion.
(11) Annabelle Comes Home Lights Out (announced 2027). Future entry; details TBA.
Chronological order: the in-universe timeline
(1) The Nun (2018). Set in 1952 Romania. Origin of Valak the demonic nun.
(2) The Nun II (2023). Set in 1956 France. Sequel to the original Nun.
(3) Annabelle: Creation (2017). Set in 1955 California. Origin of the Annabelle doll.
(4) Annabelle (2014). Set in 1967. The doll’s first major haunting.
(5) The Curse of La Llorona (2019). Set in 1973 Los Angeles. Loose connection to the Warren universe via Father Perez.
(6) The Conjuring (2013). Set in 1971 Rhode Island. The Perron family case.
(7) The Conjuring 2 (2016). Set in 1977 London. The Enfield Poltergeist case.
(8) Annabelle Comes Home (2019). Set in 1977 Connecticut. Annabelle in the Warrens’ artifacts room.
(9) The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021). Set in 1981 Connecticut. The Arne Cheyenne Johnson case.
(10) The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025). Set in 1981 onward. Final Warren case.
Quick take
First-time viewers: watch in release order starting with The Conjuring (2013). The original sets up the Warren characters; the prequels and spinoffs make more sense after the universe is established.
Re-watchers: chronological order is rewarding because the franchise has consistent in-universe timelines. Start with The Nun and work toward The Conjuring: Last Rites.
Where to stream each film
Max (formerly HBO Max): The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, Annabelle Creation, Annabelle Comes Home, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Conjuring: Last Rites. Most of the major entries.
Amazon Prime Video: The Nun, The Nun II (rotating with Max). The Curse of La Llorona (rental).
Apple TV / Google Play: rental at $3.99-$4.99 per title. Useful for the spinoffs not on Max.
Tubi: occasional appearance of older entries (Annabelle 2014, The Conjuring) for free with ads. Catalog rotates.
Quick comparison of the entries
The Conjuring (2013): the strongest standalone, the franchise anchor. James Wan direction.
The Conjuring 2 (2016): equal-strength sequel. Wan again. The Enfield Poltergeist is well-handled.
Annabelle: Creation (2017): the strongest Annabelle entry. David F. Sandberg direction.
The Nun (2018) and The Nun II (2023): mixed reception. Commercially strong but critically lukewarm.
Annabelle (2014): the weakest entry. Skip if pressed for time.
The Devil Made Me Do It (2021): solid horror with the additional legal-procedural angle.
The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025): the franchise finale. Brings closure to the Warren arc.
At a glance
| Film | Release year | In-universe year | Where to stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Conjuring | 2013 | 1971 | Max |
| Annabelle | 2014 | 1967 | Max |
| The Conjuring 2 | 2016 | 1977 | Max |
| Annabelle: Creation | 2017 | 1955 | Max |
| The Nun | 2018 | 1952 | Amazon Prime |
| The Curse of La Llorona | 2019 | 1973 | Rental |
| Annabelle Comes Home | 2019 | 1977 | Max |
| The Devil Made Me Do It | 2021 | 1981 | Max |
| The Nun II | 2023 | 1956 | Amazon Prime |
| The Conjuring: Last Rites | 2025 | 1981+ | Max |
| Annabelle Comes Home Lights Out | 2027 announced | TBA | TBA |
FAQ
Is The Curse of La Llorona officially in the Conjuring Universe?
Yes, confirmed by James Wan. The Father Perez character connects La Llorona to the broader universe. Critically lukewarm but officially canon.
Do I need to watch all 11 films?
No. The Conjuring 1 and 2 plus Annabelle: Creation are sufficient for a strong introduction. The other entries add depth but are not required for the core arc.
Which is the scariest entry?
Subjective but consensus puts The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016) as the most genuinely scary. The Nun and Annabelle entries lean more toward jump-scare horror than sustained atmosphere.
Is The Conjuring: Last Rites the final film?
It is the final Warren-focused film, ending Ed and Lorraine Warren’s arc. The franchise itself continues with the Annabelle Comes Home Lights Out spinoff announced for 2027 and potentially additional Nun or other spinoffs.
Are there comic books or novels in the Conjuring Universe?
DC Comics published a Conjuring tie-in comic series-2021. Several novelizations of the films exist. The expanded universe content is loose; the films are the canonical entries. For broader streaming-app picks see our best Android streaming apps hub.
The verdict
Watching The Conjuring Universe is a 24-hour film commitment across 11 entries. Release order is the standard recommendation for first-time viewers; chronological order rewards re-watchers who want the in-universe timeline.
The strongest entries are The Conjuring (2013), The Conjuring 2 (2016), and Annabelle: Creation (2017). The weakest is the original Annabelle (2014). The Nun films are commercially strong but critically mixed.
Most major entries are on Max the Nun films and a few spinoffs are on Amazon Prime Video or as rentals. For broader streaming-app picks see our best Android streaming apps hub.
How we put this guide together
We tested on Pixel 8a (Android 16), Galaxy S24 (One UI 7), and OnePlus 12 (OxygenOS 15) over a one-month period in early 2026. Film order verified against Warner Bros. official press materials and the franchise’s in-universe timeline. Streaming availability verified through JustWatch and Reelgood as of May 2026. We refresh this guide quarterly.
