The Conjuring Universe in Chronological Order: From 1952 to The Last Rites (2026)

 

Navigating the Warren Case Files is a terrifying task, but understanding the history behind the hauntings shouldn't be. While James Wan’s horror franchise began in 2013, the actual story spans decades of demonic lore and supernatural encounters. So, watching the Conjuring Universe can be confusing, especially with prequels, spin-offs, and overlapping storylines. Which film should you start with? How do the Annabelle and Nun stories connect to the Warrens’ cases? This comprehensive Conjuring timeline guide breaks down the entire saga. From the Gothic shadows of a 1950s Romanian abbey to the emotional conclusion of the Smurl haunting in 1986, here is how to watch the most successful horror universe in the correct narrative sequence.

The Conjuring Universe: Complete Film Series Categorization

The Conjuring Universe is the highest-grossing horror franchise in history, spanning multiple interconnected series centered on the real-life cases of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren . Below is a complete breakdown of all films in the franchise, categorized by series.

1. Main Series (The Warren Case Files)

These films follow the primary investigations of paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren.

2.The Annabelle Trilogy (Spin-off)

The origin and haunting legacy of the cursed doll first introduced in the opening of the original The Conjuring.

3.The Nun Duology (Spin-off)

Focusing on the demonic entity Valak, who first appeared in The Conjuring 2.

4. Related Films & TV (The Expanded Universe)

These works are either canon spin-offs focusing on other entities or the new expansion into television.

Title	Format	Release Year	Connection to Universe	IMDb Score	RT Critic
The Curse of La Llorona	Movie	2019	Linked via Father Perez from Annabelle.	5.2	26%
The Conjuring TV Series	TV Show	TBA (In Dev)	Set to expand the universe on Max.	TBA	TBA

5. Official Short Films (Contest Winners)

These are short horror films created for the "My Annabelle Creation" contest, which James Wan confirmed as part of the broader universe's lore.

Title	Release Year	Note
The Nurse	2017	Directed by Julian Terry
The Confession	2017	Directed by Liam Banks
What's Wrong with Mom?	2017	Directed by Raúl Bribiesca
Blund's Lullaby	2017	Directed by Magda Lindblom
Innocent Souls	2017	Directed by Alejandro López

📊The Conjuring Universe: Complete Catalog

Note: All box office and rating data is current as of 2026. Streaming availability varies by region, with most films available on Max in the United States .

How to Watch The Conjuring Movies in Order: Chronological & Release

🎬Chronological Viewing Order: The Story from Beginning to End

If you want to experience The Conjuring Universe in the most immersive way, chronological order (by story timeline) is the best approach. It allows you to follow the origin of evil entities like Valak and Annabelle, and see how the Warrens’ cases connect over time.

📊The Conjuring Universe Chronological Order Chart (1952–1986)

Why choose this?

You’ll experience the timeline like a case file—uncovering the origin of Valak, Annabelle’s sinister beginnings, and the events that ultimately build the Warrens’ haunted artifact room.

📝The Conjuring Universe - Movie by Movie Breakdown

1. The Nun (2018) — Setting: 1952

✅The Beginning of the Evil

⏩Plot Summary: The chronological journey begins in Romania. When a young nun at a cloistered abbey takes her own life, the Vatican sends Father Burke—a priest with a haunted past—and Sister Irene, a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows, to investigate . Together, they uncover the order's unholy secret: the ancient demon Valak, taking the form of a nun, has been unleashed. They confront this malevolent force as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned . This film establishes the ancient origins of the entity that will haunt Lorraine Warren decades later.

👉 Why It Matters: This is the origin of Valak, a key antagonist later haunting the Warrens.

2. Annabelle: Creation (2017) — Setting: 1955–1957

✅The Birth of the Doll

⏩Plot Summary: Years after the tragic death of their daughter, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a group of orphan girls into their California home. They unknowingly invite a demonic presence that takes refuge in a seemingly ordinary porcelain doll . Darker and more atmospheric than its predecessor, this prequel explains how the doll became a vessel for pure evil and directly bridges into the events of the first Annabelle .

👉 Why It Matters: Explains the origin of the Annabelle doll, one of the most dangerous artifacts in the Warrens’ collection.

3. The Nun II (2023) — Setting: 1956

✅Valak Strikes Again

⏩Plot Summary: Four years after her first encounter with the demon, Sister Irene is called to France to investigate a series of bizarre deaths at a boarding school . Valak is back and thirsting for power. This film deepens the mythology of the demon and its connection to sacred relics, further setting the stage for its eventual confrontation with the Warrens.

👉 Why It Matters: Expands Valak’s mythology and connects directly to later hauntings.

4. Annabelle (2014) — Setting: 1967

✅The Doll Finds a Home

⏩Plot Summary: In Santa Monica, a husband buys his pregnant wife, Mia, a rare vintage doll for their growing family's collection . After they are attacked by members of a satanic cult—a woman named Annabelle Higgins and her boyfriend—the demonic presence attached to the doll becomes active, tormenting the family . The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing compares to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now Annabelle . 

The film opens with the same scene from The Conjuring (set in 1970), where two young women tell Ed and Lorraine Warren about their experiences with the doll .

👉 Why It Matters: Shows how Annabelle begins affecting ordinary families before reaching the Warrens.

5. The Conjuring (2013) — Setting: 1971

✅The Case That Started It All

⏩Plot Summary: Before there was Amityville, there was Harrisville . Based on a true story, renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren are called to help the Perron family, who are experiencing increasingly disturbing events in their secluded Rhode Island farmhouse . A dark entity—the spirit of a witch named Bathsheba Sherman, who cursed the land—forces them to confront a powerful demonic entity in the most terrifying case of their lives .

The cold open of this film (set in 1968) also shows the Warrens acquiring the Annabelle doll for the first time, placing it in their infamous artifact room.

👉 Why It Matters: Introduces the Warrens and establishes the core universe.

6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019) — Setting: 1972

✅Nightmare at the Warrens' House

Plot Summary: Shortly after acquiring the doll, the Warrens lock Annabelle in a blessed glass case in their artifact room. While Ed and Lorraine are away, their daughter Judy is left with a babysitter. One of the babysitter's friends accidentally unleashes Annabelle, who then awakens every other demonic artifact in the room . It is a single-night siege that proves why Annabelle is the most dangerous object in their collection.

👉 Why It Matters: Expands the artifact room lore and shows the wider supernatural ecosystem.

7. The Curse of La Llorona (2019) — Setting: 1973

✅The Weeping Woman (Loosely Connected)

⏩Plot Summary: In 1970s Los Angeles, a social worker and her children are stalked by La Llorona, a weeping ghost from Mexican folklore who drowns children . When Anna investigates the case of client Patricia Alvarez, she unknowingly puts her own family in terrible danger. Seeking help, she turns to Father Perez—previously seen in the Annabelle films—who directs her to former priest turned folk shaman Rafael Olvera .

Note: While producer James Wan has stated this film exists within The Conjorrowing Universe, director Michael Chaves has repeatedly noted it is not an official entry . However, Father Perez's appearance creates a canonical link.

👉 Why It Matters: Loosely connected (via Father Burke actor); often considered optional viewing.

8. The Conjuring 2 (2016) — Setting: 1977

✅The Enfield Poltergeist

⏩Plot Summary: Now famous for the Amityville case, the Warrens travel to North London to help the Hodgson family, who are experiencing the infamous Enfield Poltergeist haunting . It is here that Lorraine has her terrifying vision of Valak, the demon nun, for the first time—directly connecting the main series back to The Nun.

👉 Why It Matters: Further develops the Warrens and introduces deeper emotional stakes.

9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) — Setting: 1981

✅The First "Demonic Possession" Defense

⏩Plot Summary:Shifting from a haunted house to a courtroom, the third Conjuring film follows the real-life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson. After witnessing an exorcism, Johnson claims demonic possession as a defense for committing murder. The Warrens must investigate the occult origins of the curse that passed the demon from a child to an adult, revealing a satanic conspiracy.

👉 Why It Matters: Blends horror with true crime and legal drama.

10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) — Setting: 1986

✅The Final Chapter

⏩Plot Summary: The franchise concludes (for now) by bringing the Warrens full circle. Based on real events, this powerful and spine-chilling addition to the iconic Conjuring cinematic universe follows Ed and Lorraine Warren for one last case . While details remain under wraps, the film is expected to focus on the Smurl family haunting in Pennsylvania, forcing them to face the one evil they may not be able to defeat.

Note: This marks the final mainline Warren film, though a new prequel titled The Conjuring: First Communion is slated for September 2027.

👉 Why It Matters: Likely the final chapter of the Warrens’ story arc.

🧭Alternate Viewing Order: By Release Date (The Way the Universe Unfolded)

Why choose this?

You’ll preserve the dramatic reveals and Easter eggs as they were intended—especially in the Annabelle trilogy and the Warren-centric films.

📌Viewing Recommendation

• First-time watcher? Go with release order to preserve dramatic reveals and Easter eggs as they were intended .

• Returning fan? Try chronological order for deeper lore and subtle connections you may have missed

• Superfan? Alternate between the two - release order for Annabelle & Conjuring films, chronological for spin-offs like The Nun.

Where to Watch The Conjuring Universe: Complete Streaming Guide

If you're planning a full binge of The Conjuring Universe, the good news is: most films are centralized on one major platform, with additional rental options available worldwide.

📱Streaming Subscription Services: Complete Breakdown

✴️Primary Streaming Home (Best Option)

1.Max (Formerly HBO Max) — The Complete Collection

All eight core films in The Conjuring Universe are available to stream on Max in the United States and select international regions .

✅ Best overall platform for the full franchise

Available in: US, parts of Europe, Latin America

Key Insight (2026):All Conjuring Universe movies are available on Max in the U.S., making it the most complete and convenient streaming hub.

Important Note: The Curse of La Llorona is not officially part of The Conjuring Universe according to producer Peter Safran, despite frequent online inclusion .

2.JioHotstar (India) — The Conjuring: Last Rites Exclusive

The Conjuring: Last Rites began streaming exclusively on JioHotstar on February 13, 2026—a Friday the 13th release perfectly timed for horror fans

✴️Secondary Streaming Platforms (Limited Availability)

⏩Netflix

•  Availability varies by region and licensing

• Some Conjuring films appear temporarily in certain countries

• Not the primary home due to Warner Bros. ownership

💡Example: Some titles may be unavailable in certain regions at any given time.

Best for: Users who already subscribe and want occasional access

⏩Hulu

• Occasionally includes newer titles or bundled access

• Not a complete collection

💡 Example: The Conjuring: Last Rites has appeared on Hulu in select cases.

⏩Now TV

The Annabelle trilogy is available as a bundle on Now TV:

📺Television Broadcast Options

In Germany, Conjuring films occasionally air on television:

📊 Complete Viewing Options Summary

💡 Quick Decision Guide

🔮 Future of The Conjuring Universe

While The Conjuring: Last Rites marks the final mainline Warren film, the universe continues to expand :

• The Conjuring: First Communion — A new prequel film set for theatrical release on September 10, 2027 

• Untitled Conjuring TV Series — In development for Max 

The Conjuring Universe: Watch Order & Streaming FAQs

When readers dive into the "Conjurverse," they often get lost in the timeline or struggle to find where the newest films are streaming. Here is a summary of the most common FAQs for The Conjuring Universe in 2026.

Whether you’re a horror purist following the Warrens’ case files or a newcomer brave enough to start in 1952, this guide ensures you won’t miss a single jump-scare. Stream the full Conjuring Universe on Max or VOD platforms today and experience the ultimate cinematic journey into the heart of darkness. Happy haunting!