Navigating the spine-chilling corridors of the Ed and Lorraine Warren movies requires a guide, especially if you're keen to experience the unfolding dread in the order it was meant to terrify. The films, based on the real-life exploits of the paranormal investigator duo, have not only captivated audiences with their haunting tales but also with the complex timeline that spans several decades of supernatural encounters. This article provides a detailed roadmap for watching the Warrens' cinematic universe—from the eerie beginnings with demonic nuns and possessed dolls to the harrowing courtroom dramas influenced by true events.
Who are Ed and Lorraine Warren?
Edward Warren Miney (1926–2006) and Lorraine Rita Warren (1927–2019) were a couple of American paranormal investigators, demonologists, and authors from Connecticut. They were involved in a number of paranormal cases of alleged hauntings and exorcisms, and Lorraine supposedly possessed clairvoyant powers. The Warrens met as teenagers and got married in the mid-’40s. They started investigating demonic possessions and similar cases in the ‘50s when they founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), a ghost-hunting group. The couple were Catholic, and their faith informed a lot of their work, especially their writings on demonology. They’ve also written about their methodology and investigations. Some of the most famous cases tackled by the Warrens include the Amityville Horror, the Enfield Poltergeist, and The Haunting in Connecticut. If some of those sound familiar, it’s because they’ve inspired several horror movies.
Adaptations of their work
There have been several adaptations of the Warrens’ work over the past few decades, either based directly on partially inspired by some of the allegedly real-life cases they covered. Most recently, James Wan’s The Conjuring films have drawn the most attention from critics and viewers alike.
The Conjuring universe
The Conjuring cinematic universe comprises several Warner Bros sub-series based on the work of Ed and Lorraine Warren, played in the movies by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The Conjuring franchise was kickstarted in 2013 when the first film came out, depicting the investigation of the Perron haunted house in Rhode Island. There have been seven movies in total since then:
- The Conjuring (2013)
- Annabelle (2014)
- The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- Annabelle: Creation (2017)
- The Nun (2018)
- Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
- The Nun (2023)
The Conjuring movies are available on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and HBO Max.
The Annabelle Series
The Annabelle series, a chilling subset of The Conjuring universe, revolves around a malevolent doll that wreaks havoc on the lives of those who cross its path. The series begins with Annabelle (2014), where the doll serves as a conduit for a demonic entity, terrorizing a young couple and their newborn. This is followed by Annabelle: Creation (2017), a prequel that delves into the doll's origins, exploring how Annabelle was first imbued with its sinister presence after a tragic accident involving a dollmaker's daughter. The trilogy culminates with Annabelle Comes Home (2019), where the doll, now secured within the artifact room of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, awakens evil spirits, leading to a night of intense terror. The series skillfully blends psychological horror with supernatural elements, making Annabelle a symbol of pure dread within the genre.
In What Order Should I Watch The Conjuring Movies?
With all its spin-offs, The Conjuring timeline spans decades, going back to the ‘50s when a demonic nun, an incarnation of Valak introduced in The Conjuring 2, raised hell in Romania. It then moves on to Judy Warren’s childhood and the time her babysitter awakened the doll, and eventually reaches the events surrounding the famous exorcism and Trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson in 1981. While you could technically watch any movie first, it is highly advisable that you follow an organized watching order if you want to see how the story and the lore evolved.
The Conjuring Movies in Chronological Order
The best watching order would be the one following the movies according to when they roughly took place in the Warrens’ real lives:
The Nun (1952 / 1971)
The movie stars Taissa Farmiga, Demián Bichir, and Jonas Bloquet, with Bonnie Aarons playing the nun.
Annabelle: Creation (1943 / 1952 / 1955 / 1967)
The movie stars Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, Anthony LaPaglia, and Miranda Otto.
Annabelle (1967)
The movie stars Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, and Alfre Woodard.
The Conjuring (1968 / 1971)
The movie stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
Annabelle Comes Home (1968 / 1969 or 1971 / 1972)
The movie stars Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman, and Katie Sarife.
The Curse of La Llorona (1973)
The movie stars Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, and Patricia Velásquez.
The Conjuring 2 (1976 / 1977)
The movie sees Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprising the roles of the Warrens.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It i.e., The Conjuring 3 (1980/81)
This movie stars Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, and Sarah Catherine Hook.
The Nun 2 (1956)
The Nun 2 stars Taissa Farmiga reprising her role as Sister Irene.
The Conjuring Movies in Release Order
If you’d rather watch the movies as they came out and experience them the way the audience did when they saw them for the first time, you should watch them according to their release date:
- 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 2 (2023)
Alternatives to Watching the Movies
Ed and Lorraine Warren have become synonymous with the true-story horror genre with some of the most terrifying accounts of exorcisms, hauntings, and demonic possession, making everyone’s Halloween horror binges scarier each year. But have you ever thought about reading some horror stories? The Conjuring 4 is still not here, but that doesn’t mean you should deprive yourself of other horror stories. Horror is one of the most popular genres, and there are plenty of stories waiting to be explored—hopefully by listening to them. Audiobooks are the most immersive, captivating way to experience a good horror story. With good narration and bone-chilling sound effects, you’ll feel the kind of dread a paperback could never bring to life. If you’re interested, check out some horror fiction on Audible or other audiobook platforms.
Speechify Audiobooks
For the most hair-raising experience, be sure you give Speechify audiobooks a try. Speechify is an Audible-integrated audiobook service with a vast library of its own, which includes countless horror and mystery titles by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Anne Rice. The app is available on all platforms, it’s pretty intuitive and easy to use, and the audio quality is top-notch. If you’re itching for more horror, download Speechify today and enjoy the first bestseller for free.
