Conjuring Universe: All 10 Movies Explained & Ranked (2025 Update)

I'm thrilled to dive deep into the Conjuring Universe – that masterful web of supernatural scares that's grossed over $2 billion worldwide and left us all questioning what's really lurking in the dark.

As a fan, I love how this franchise blends real-life paranormal cases with James Wan's edge-of-your-seat direction. From the Warrens' farmhouse exorcisms to demonic dolls and cloaked nuns, it's a timeline of terror that's equal parts chilling and clever. In this complete guide, I'll break down all 10 Conjuring movies in release and chronological order, spill the tea on their true story inspirations, highlight key twists, and share my personal rankings. Whether you're prepping for a Halloween binge or just curious about the latest entry, The Conjuring: Last Rites (which hit theaters just last month), stick around – we've got ghosts, ghouls, and a whole lot of goosebumps ahead.

If you're new to the hunt, bookmark this post for your ultimate Conjuring Universe explained resource. Let's exorcise those spoilers with a quick warning: I'll keep major endings vague, but plot details are fair game. Ready? Lights out... but not too out.

The Backbone of the Beast: The Main Conjuring Movies

At the heart of the Conjuring Universe are the four core films starring demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who I swear were born for these roles). These aren't just horror flicks – they're inspired by the real Warrens' case files, turning history's creepiest hauntings into cinematic nightmares. I'll walk you through them in release order, with timeline notes for that full immersion.

1. The Conjuring (2013) – The One That Started It All

• Release Date: July 19, 2013
• Timeline Setting: 1971
• Runtime: 112 minutes
• Director: James Wan

Picture this: It's 1971 in rural Rhode Island, and the Perron family – hardworking dad Roger, mom Carolyn, and their five daughters – moves into a dreamy old farmhouse that's basically a portal to hell. What starts as minor annoyances (clocks stopping at 3:07 a.m., anyone?) escalates into full-blown horror: invisible forces bruising Carolyn, a witchy apparition named Bathsheba hanging from the rafters, and possessions that pit mother against daughter in the most heartbreaking way.

The Warrens arrive like reluctant superheroes, armed with tape recorders, holy water, and Lorraine's clairvoyant visions. They uncover Bathsheba's tragic backstory – a 19th-century Satanist who sacrificed her baby and cursed the land. This film's a masterclass in building dread: slow-burn tension in the cramped farmhouse, that infamous clapping game scene (shudder), and an exorcism finale that'll have you yelling at the screen.

True Story Vibes: Loosely based on the real Perron family hauntings from the Warrens' book The Demonologist. 

My Take: It's peak Conjuring – 8.5/10. If you haven't seen it, drop everything.

2. The Conjuring 2 (2016) – Poltergeists and That Nun

• Release Date: June 10, 2016
• Timeline Setting: 1976-1977
• Runtime: 134 minutes
• Director: James Wan

We jet across the Atlantic to Enfield, London, in 1977, where single mom Peggy Hodgson and her kids (especially spunky Janet) are terrorized by the most documented poltergeist case ever. Furniture flies, Janet levitates and speaks in a raspy old man's voice (hello, Bill Wilkins), and the whole neighborhood hears the chaos. Enter the Warrens, still reeling from the Amityville backlash, facing skepticism from cops, priests, and even each other.

Lorraine's visions ramp up the stakes, introducing the iconic grinning nun demon (more on her later). It's got heart – the Hodgsons' poverty-stricken grit hits hard – mixed with Wan's wizardry: practical effects like that bending hallway and a fire-breathing Bill that still gives me chills.

True Story Vibes: Pulled straight from the Enfield poltergeist files, with audio recordings that sound eerily real.

My Take: Edgier and funnier than the first, with the scariest sequel score ever. 8/10.

3. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) – Murder, Curses, and Courtrooms

• Release Date: June 4, 2021
• Timeline Setting: 1981
• Runtime: 112 minutes
• Director: Michael Chaves

Fast-forward to Brookfield, Connecticut, 1981: Young lovers Arne Cheyenne Johnson and Debbie Glatzel care for Debbie's demon-plagued little brother David, whose seizures summon a cloven-hoofed beastie. During a botched exorcism, Arne taunts the demon – and it jumps into him, leading to a landlord stabbing that's the first U.S. murder trial claiming demonic possession.

The Warrens juggle legal drama, underwater occult lairs, and a vengeful witch's blood curse from the 1600s. It's a genre-bender, swapping farmhouse frights for ritualistic gore and splashy effects (those drowning scenes? Nightmare fuel).

True Story Vibes: The real "Devil Made Me Do It" case – Arne's trial made headlines.

My Take: A bold pivot that loses some intimacy but gains occult flair. But could be better. 6/10.

4. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) – The Emotional Farewell

• Release Date: September 5, 2025
• Timeline Setting: 1986
• Runtime: 130 minutes (approx.)
• Director: Michael Chaves

I just caught this in theaters last weekend, and folks, it's a tearjerker wrapped in terror. Set in 1986 Pennsylvania, the aging Warrens tackle the Smurl family haunting: Jack and Janet Smurl's idyllic home turns demonic with an incubus that rapes, levitates, and shape-shifts into loved ones. Flashbacks to the Warrens' early days add layers, as Lorraine battles migraines and Ed faces mortality amid their daughter Judy's wedding prep.

A cursed mirror unleashes grotesque visions, and the finale's a faith-fueled showdown that's equal parts poignant and pulse-pounding. It's the perfect capstone, honoring the Warrens' legacy without recycling old tricks.

True Story Vibes: Based on the infamous Smurl poltergeist, detailed in books by the family themselves.

My Take: Bittersweet and beautiful – but fractured franchise farewell. 5/10. My detailed review:

See also: The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) – A Fitting but Fractured Franchise Farewell

Spin-Offs That Steal the Show: Expanding the Conjuring Universe

The main films are gold, but the spin-offs? They're where the universe explodes into standalone horrors, each tying back via artifacts or cameos. There are six in total, branching into three series. I'll hit 'em in release order with timeline tweaks.

The Annabelle Trilogy: Dollhouse Demons

This porcelain terror first popped up in The Conjuring, but her solo saga is pure evil whimsy.

• Annabelle (2014, Set 1967) – Mia and John's doll gets bloodied in a cult attack, summoning a vengeful spirit. Pregnancy paranoia + slashed brakes = domestic dread. True Story: Inspired by the real Annabelle doll in the Warrens' museum. My Rank: 6/10 – Shaky starter.
• Annabelle: Creation (2017, Set 1955) – Grieving toymakers unleash hell on orphans in a spiderweb-filled mansion. That button-eyed chase? Iconic. True Story: Expands the doll's "origin." My Rank: 7/10 – Gothic perfection.
• Annabelle Comes Home (2019, Set 1972) – Teen Judy Warren battles a zoo of unleashed artifacts (zombie bride, anyone?). Fun, chaotic energy. True Story: Ties to the Warrens' room. My Rank: 6.5/10 – Best for laughs amid scares.

The Nun Duology: Valak's Blasphemous Reign

That smirking nun from Conjuring 2 gets her own unholy origin story – peak atmospheric horror.

• The Nun (2018, Set 1952) – In a Romanian abbey, Father Burke and Sister Irene seal a blood rift against shape-shifting Valak. Crypt crawls and faith tests galore. True Story: Warrens' European cases. My Rank: 6/10 – Creepy convents FTW.
• The Nun II (2023, Set 1956) – Irene reunites with possessed Frenchie at a French school, where Valak corrupts chalices and kids. Mirrored pursuits and vineyard vibes. True Story: Builds on Valak lore. My Rank: 5.5/10 – Gory but glossy.

The Standalone: The Curse of La Llorona (2019, Set 1973)

Loosely linked via Father Perez from Annabelle 2, this folklore chiller follows L.A. social worker Anna Tate-Garcia as the weeping ghost drowns her kids in bathtubs. Curandero rituals and watery whispers blend Mexican myth with Conjuring flair. True Story: Draws from the La Llorona legend. My Rank: 6.5/10 – Underrated gem for cultural scares.

The Full Conjuring Timeline: How It All Connects

For binge-watchers like me, here's the chronological order (not release – trust me, it enhances the lore):

• The Nun (1952)
• Annabelle: Creation (1955)
• The Nun II (1956)
• Annabelle (1967)
• The Conjuring (1971)
• Annabelle Comes Home (1972)
• The Curse of La Llorona (1973)
• The Conjuring 2 (1976-77)
• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (1981)
• The Conjuring: Last Rites (1986)

Easter eggs abound: Valak's grin haunts multiple films, Annabelle's in the Warrens' glass case, and that music box motif? Chef's kiss.

Wrapping Up the Haunt: Why the Conjuring Universe Still Rules

Whew, what a spectral sprint! The Conjuring Universe isn't just movies; it's a shared nightmare that taps into our deepest fears of the unseen, all while celebrating unbreakable family bonds and unyielding faith. With Last Rites closing the Warrens' chapter (but whispers of a "second phase" spin-off phase swirling), it's the perfect time to revisit.

If this post helped you plan your next watch party, I'd love a share or subscribe to Bookimov newsletter for more breakdowns. What's your scariest Conjuring moment – Valak's stare or that clapping witch? Spill below, and stay spooky.