Understanding ‘The Conjuring’ Universe Timeline

Spoilers ahead

The Conjuring series has been massively successful in gaining its own pop culture credibility and fandom rights by adding layer upon layer of connected instances and storylines. Although, with jumbled release dates, it can be difficult to keep track of this horror universe – especially when many of them are standalone films with subtle references to each other. Based partially on various real-life instances, The Conjuring Universe has one thing in common – Valak, the main antagonist in the franchise, based on the medieval goetic demon Valac. The ever-expanding universe of creepy dolls and murderous nuns is here to stay because of its over-imaginative imagery and enthralling cathartic spooks – and we are here for it. 

Watch the Conjuring films in this order to finally understand their connection with the latest release in the franchise, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

1. The Nun (2018)

The Nun is where it all started. Set in 1952, a band of nuns pray day and night in a Romanian convent to keep an unholy force at bay, but an interruption leads to the release of the demonic figure Valak who woke from his centuries-long slumber because of bombing during the War. The demon is staved off, but only for the time being. Valak is seen in most of the films in the franchise and is one of the most terrifying elements of the story. 

Watch The Nun on Netflix.

2. Annabelle: Creation (2017)

The Annabelle doll was first seen in The Conjuring in 2013 and piqued the curiosity of the viewers. Being one of the most mysterious and terrifying objects in Ed and Lorrain’s collection room, it demanded a spin-off. The movie is set in 1958 and reveals the origin of the hellish doll, locked up in a closet wall-papered with Bible verses until its spirit possesses Janice, who accidentally released it from its captivity. The rest is history.

Watch Annabelle: Creation on Amazon Prime Video. 

3. Annabelle (2014)

Annabelle is set in 1970 after years of the devilish spirit remaining dormant in Janice. A cult breaks into the house of the Form family and attacks them right after the husband brings home a vintage doll (Annabelle) as a gift for his unborn baby. It turns out the cult members have more in common with the cursed doll than you could have expected. 

Watch Annabelle on Netflix.

4. The Conjuring (2013)

Undoubtedly the best movie of the franchise, The Conjuring is what primarily kicked off this series and is the main storyline of the franchise. It’s inspired by the true story of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by the onscreen power-couple Patrick Wilson (Ed Warren) and Vera Farmiga (Lorraine Warren). The Conjuring centers around supernatural occurrences at the Perron’s Rhode Island farmhouse in 1971 – caused by a witch’s curse more than a century ago. The Conjuring remains one of the most popular horror films to date.  

Watch The Conjuring on Amazon Prime Video.

5. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

A sequel to both Annabelle: Creation and Annabelle, this movie sits right at the time of The Conjuring and is set in 1972. Captured at the Warren’s home, the doll now terrorizes Judy, the ten-year-old daughter of the Warrens, and her babysitter. 

Watch Annabelle Comes Home on Netflix.

6. The Curse of the La Llorona (2019) 

Although not a huge hit in the series, The Curse of La Llorona is set around 1973 and features Father Perez, the same priest as the one seen in Annabelle. References to the curse of this demonic doll are used one too many times in this movie, and also sees a flashback of the priest along with the Warrens who captured the doll in the previous movies. 

Watch The Curse of the La Llorona on Netflix.

7. The Conjuring 2 (2016) 

Often dubbed as the scariest movie of the decade, The Conjuring 2 is set in 1977 and ushers in the main storyline of the Warrens’ paranormal adventures. It is based on the Enfield poltergeist investigation case from London. It briefly also mentions the events of the Amityville Horror case. A critically acclaimed film, The Conjuring 2 is much better than some of the other spin-offs in this franchise. 

Watch The Conjuring 2 on Amazon Prime Video. 

8. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

The most recent addition, the third installment of the series, is set in 1981 and is inspired by one of the most thrilling cases in the Warrens’ portfolio — the real-life The Devil Made Me Do It case. Ed and Lorraine chance upon a paranormal set of murders linked to a killer who claims to have been possessed by an evil spirit. The investigation that takes place is unlike any other they have encountered before.

The film is set to release in India later in 2021. Watch the trailer below.