Chronological Order of the Conjuring Universe
The Conjuring Universe is a series of horror films and spinoffs produced by New Line Cinema and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, with the core films based on the case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren. The first main film, The Conjuring, was released in 2013 and was directed by James Wan, starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the Warrens. The second main film, The Conjuring 2, followed in 2016 and covered the Enfield Poltergeist case in London. The third main film, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, was released in 2021 and marked a shift in tone while keeping the Warrens at the center. In chronological order of the in-universe timeline, the earliest events are explored in the prequel The Nun, which takes place in 1952 Romania and introduces the demon Valak. The Nun II continues the story in 1956 France, and both films are set before the events of the mainline Conjuring movies. The spinoff The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is set in 1981, while the original The Conjuring is set in 1971, and The Conjuring 2 is set in 1977. The spinoff Annabelle: Creation is set in 1955, and the first Annabelle film is set in 1967, making the Annabelle films the earliest entries in the shared timeline. For a detailed box office breakdown and release order, see the Forbes Conjuring Universe movies in order page.
The Conjuring Universe has been confirmed by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema to have multiple interconnected storylines, with the Warren cases serving as the connective tissue. The franchise has expanded to include at least seven released films as of the latest public data, with additional projects in various stages of development. The mainline Conjuring trilogy has been the highest-grossing segment, while the Annabelle and Nun spinoffs have also performed strongly at the global box office. The films are produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick serving as a key writer on multiple entries. The universe is distinct from other horror franchises and is based on the real-life investigations of the Warrens, whose files are housed at the Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. For an overview of the franchise structure and production companies, see the New York Times Conjuring Universe order guide.
Release Order vs. In-Universe Chronological Order
Release order refers to the sequence in which the films were made available to audiences, while in-universe chronological order refers to the timeline of events as they occur within the story world. In release order, the first film is The Conjuring (2013), followed by Annabelle (2014), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Annabelle: Creation (2017), The Nun (2018), Annabelle Comes Home (2019), and The Conjuring: The Devil