Do You Have to Watch The Conjuring in Order
The mainline films follow a loose chronological timeline centered on the Warrens. You can start with The Conjuring (2013) or The Conjuring 2 (2016) without losing core plot points. Annabelle: Creation (2017) and Annabelle Comes Home (2019) are prequels set before the Warren cases. The Nun (2018) and The Nun II (2023) focus on Valak and are connected through lore rather than direct story. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) is the third mainline entry and works as a standalone case. New viewers can choose any film based on interest, but the release order is The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, Annabelle: Creation, The Nun, Annabelle Comes Home, and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. For box office data, the series has earned billions globally according to industry reports, with The Conjuring 2 grossing over 320 million dollars worldwide. The franchise is produced by New Line Cinema and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. For more on the studio structure, see the Warner Bros. Discovery corporate overview at Warner Bros. Discovery.
The spinoff films share the Warrens' universe but are not required viewing. Annabelle (2014) is a prequel to the doll introduced in The Conjuring. The spinoffs are produced by the same creative team, including producer Peter Safran and director James Wan for several entries. The box office rankings show The Conjuring 2 as the highest-grossing mainline film, while The Nun II became the highest-grossing film in The Nun sub-series. The franchise is rated R for horror violence and disturbing imagery. The Motion Picture Association assigns ratings based on content guidelines. For a broader look at film rating systems, see the Forbes analysis of box office and ratings trends at Forbes.
How to Watch The Conjuring Movies in Release Order
The release order is the most common watch sequence recommended by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema. Start with The Conjuring (2013), then The Conjuring 2 (2016), followed by Annabelle: Creation (2017), The Nun (2018), Annabelle Comes Home (2019), and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021). The Nun II (2023) is the latest main release in the franchise. This order preserves the chronological introduction of key characters and lore items such as the Warrens' case files and the Annabelle doll. The films are available on streaming platforms including Max, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. For current platform availability, check the official Max streaming page at Max.
Each film is a separate story with its own case, but they share a connected universe. The Conjuring films are based on real-life claims by Ed and Lorraine Warren, documented in their case files. The box office data shows consistent commercial performance, with the first film earning over 319 million dollars globally. The franchise has spawned multiple sequels and spinoffs, making it one of the highest-grossing horror series. The films are produced by New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster, and The Safran Company. For financial and corporate details, see the SEC filing summary for Warner Bros. Discovery at SEC.gov.
Can You Skip Films and Still Follow the Story
Yes, you can skip