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The Conjuring Universe expanded again with The Conjuring: Last Rites releasing in September 2025, the franchise’s official capstone. Including spinoffs, the universe now spans nine feature films plus a 2024 prequel short that streams free on Max. With the franchise wrapped, this is a good time to commit to a marathon, and the right viewing order depends on whether you want chronology by in-universe date or release order with each twist arriving as the filmmakers intended.
Below is the complete 2026 viewing list for the Conjuring Universe, both orders, plus where to stream each title in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Save the table for your next horror movie weekend.
TL;DR
The pick: The pick: Release order delivers the franchise as the filmmakers intended, with the right scares hitting when you have the right context.
Runner-up: Runner-up: Chronological order by in-universe date is a fun rewatch path once you have seen the franchise once and understand which films connect to which.
Skip if: Skip the obscure direct-to-Max shorts unless you are completing the canon; the main eight films and Last Rites cover the story without them.
The full Conjuring Universe
The franchise now consists of nine theatrical features plus connected shorts. The main Conjuring trilogy starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga frames the Warrens’ case files, and the spinoff films (Annabelle, The Nun, The Curse of La Llorona) tell adjacent stories set in the same universe. Last Rites in 2025 wraps the Warren narrative and ties in three supporting characters from the spinoff branches.
Across all nine films, the universe has grossed roughly two and a half billion dollars at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing horror franchise in history. The ninth film, Last Rites, also stuck the landing critically with a 78 percent Rotten Tomatoes score.
Release order, recommended for first-time viewers
First-time viewers should watch in release order. The narrative rewards seeing The Conjuring 2 before The Nun, even though The Nun’s plot happens decades earlier, because the reveal works only if you have already met Lorraine Warren. Release order: 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: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), The Nun II (2023), and The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025).
This order also lets the filmmaking craft evolve in front of you. The James Wan-directed first two Conjuring films set the visual language; the spinoff directors build on it.
Chronological order for repeat viewers
Once you have seen the franchise once, chronological order rewards a rewatch with a clearer sense of how each story fits the timeline. The 2026 chronological order: The Nun (set 1952), The Nun II (set 1956), Annabelle: Creation (set 1955 with prologue in 1943), Annabelle (set 1967), The Curse of La Llorona (set 1973), The Conjuring (set 1971, released first), Annabelle Comes Home (set 1972), The Conjuring 2 (set 1977), The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (set 1981), and The Conjuring: Last Rites (set 1986).
If you watch this way, Annabelle: Creation’s 1943 prologue gives you the doll’s full origin before you meet her in 1967, and the time the doll spends locked behind glass in the Warrens’ artifact room becomes more meaningful.
Where to stream the franchise
Max remains the primary US home for the Conjuring Universe through Warner Bros’ parent company. All nine films sit on Max as of February 2026. Last Rites moved to Max in December 2025 after its theatrical run wrapped. In the United Kingdom, Sky Cinema and NOW carry the entire franchise. In Australia, Stan and Binge split the rights, with the main trilogy on Stan and the spinoffs on Binge.
For viewers without these services, the films are available for digital rental in most regions through Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google TV at three to four dollars each. The Conjuring 4K Blu-ray box set went on sale in October 2025 for around fifty dollars and contains every theatrical release.
Connected shorts and supplementary material
Three official shorts sit outside the theatrical canon. The Annabelle Creation prequel scene (2017), the Crooked Man teaser (2018, never expanded into a feature), and the Warren’s Occult Museum tour short (2025) bridge minor narrative gaps. Max hosts all three free of charge.
Beyond the official canon, the Warrens’ real-life case files have inspired three documentary specials on the History Channel and Discovery+. These are not part of the fictional universe but offer interesting context if you want to know which scenes exaggerated which historical events.
At a glance
| Film | Year | Set in | Where to stream US |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Conjuring | 2013 | 1971 | Max |
| Annabelle | 2014 | 1967 | Max |
| The Conjuring 2 | 2016 | 1977 | Max |
| Annabelle: Creation | 2017 | 1955 | Max |
| The Nun | 2018 | 1952 | Max |
| The Curse of La Llorona | 2019 | 1973 | Max |
| Annabelle Comes Home | 2019 | 1972 | Max |
| The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | 2021 | 1981 | Max |
| The Nun II | 2023 | 1956 | Max |
| The Conjuring: Last Rites | 2025 | 1986 | Max |
Which order should you watch?
- First-time viewer: Release order, Conjuring (2013) through Last Rites (2025).
- Rewatch with fresh perspective: Chronological order starting with The Nun (1952).
- Have only a weekend: Watch the main Conjuring trilogy plus Last Rites.
- Love the dolls: Annabelle, Creation, and Comes Home as a sub-series.
- Want the convent storyline: The Nun and The Nun II back to back.
For canonical release dates, the Conjuring Universe filmography on IMDb stays in sync with Warner Bros.’ press releases.
FAQ
Is Last Rites really the final film?
Yes, James Wan and the producers confirmed at the 2025 premiere that Last Rites concludes the Warren narrative. Future spinoffs are possible but no specific projects have been greenlit as of February 2026.
Are these films based on real cases?
The Warrens were real paranormal investigators whose case files inspired the films. The actual events have been dramatized substantially for cinema. Skeptics dispute the accuracy of many original claims; horror fans tend to enjoy the films regardless.
What is the recommended age for viewing?
The films are rated R in the US and 15 to 18 in the UK depending on title. Younger horror fans typically tolerate them at fifteen and above; the franchise relies on tension and jump scares rather than gore.
Do I need to watch the spinoffs to follow the main trilogy?
No. The main Conjuring trilogy plus Last Rites stands alone narratively. The spinoffs enrich the universe but do not contain critical plot points for the main story.
Bottom line
The Conjuring Universe is the rare horror franchise that finishes strong. Watch in release order the first time, chronologically on the rewatch, and use Max as the one-stop streaming home in the United States. The series is long enough for a proper marathon weekend and tight enough that no entry feels like filler. Pick a Friday, dim the lights, and start with the 1952 convent if you want chronology or 2013 if you want surprise.
