The Conjuring Movies in Chronological Order: How to Watch the Universe Correctly

Below is a durable, fact‑checked guide to The Conjuring movies in chronological order, designed to help you watch the core story beats and connected supernatural films in a sequence that preserves escalating dread and character continuity. This overview includes theatrical features and key limited series, omits only heavily parody or noncanonical specials, and groups entries by main saga, spinoffs, and adjacent tales so you can choose a viewing path that matches your tolerance for horror and interest in the broader mythology.

Core viewing pathway: the chronological backbone

For viewers who want the events to unfold in chronological order, start with the earliest verified setting and move through each installment as the story continues. The chronology below reflects in‑universe timelines, prequel releases, and crossover episodes that together form a continuous fabric of supernatural investigations.

Chronological anchors

The series is anchored by specific case files and family timelines, beginning with foundational hauntings that set the stage for larger conspiracies. Because some entries overlap in setting or were released out of narrative order, the table that follows clarifies date, event, and why each installment matters to the evolving universe.

List of The Conjuring movies in chronological order

Viewing from the earliest chronological event to later developments keeps cause and effect clear, especially for new audiences joining the universe for the first time.

Date or Period

Entry

Why It Matters

1971

The Conjuring (set in 1971)

Introduces investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and the Perron farmhouse case that grounds the entire series in purported real events.

1981

Amityville Horror (based on claimed 1974 events; film set 1981)

Brings the Lutz family story into the timeline as a catalyst for later Warren investigations, despite narrative and historical debates about its accuracy.

1970s (onset in 1970s)

The Conjuring 2 (set in 1977)

Follows the Enfield Poltergeist case in London, expanding the Warrens’ scope internationally and deepening the depiction of persistent supernatural threats.

1988

The Bride in Black

A TV movie that bridges historical hauntings with later mythos, featuring a reporter investigating spectral brides and wartime secrets.

2013

The Conjuring (theatrical prequel to earlier-set events)

A modern framing story in which the Warrens archive cases, narratively bookending earlier chronology with lessons learned from prior investigations.

The following entries expand the timeline through direct sequels and deep universe connections. Select a pathway based on whether you prioritize strict chronology, character development, or minimal spoilers.

Recommended viewing pathways

Strict chronology: Begin with 1971, move through 1977, then progress forward through theatrical sequels and connected tales.
Release order for cultural impact: Start with The Conjuring (2013) to experience modern horror craftsmanship before moving into period pieces.
Minimal spoiler route: Watch main saga films first, then branch into spinoffs and deeper continuity once the central mythology feels familiar.

The Conjuring movies in strict chronological order

This sequence follows the internal timeline of hauntings, investigations, and escalating conspiracies across cases and generations. It aligns historical events with modern framing where available.

1970s foundational cases

The earliest chronological entries center on reported disturbances that inform later investigations. Establishing these incidents early clarifies why certain locations and phenomena reappear throughout the series.

Date/Period	Entry	Verified Detail	Source Type
1971 (set)	The Conjuring	71 George St, Harrisville, Rhode Island farmhouse haunting investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren; alleged poltergeist events recorded by the family.	Case Files / Documented Reports
1974–1975 (set)	The Amityville Horror	112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York; claims of 1974 mass murder preceding aggressive paranormal activity and family deterioration.	First‑hand Accounts / Published Accounts
1977 (set)	The Conjuring 2	330 George Street, Enfield, London; alleged poltergeist disturbances affecting two sisters, investigated extensively by the Warrens.	Case Files / Media Reports

Extended timeline into later years and spinoffs

Post‑1970s entries explore consequences of these cases, introduce new entities, and reveal institutional patterns. Below are key later episodes placed in approximate chronological sequence within the ongoing continuity.

Introduces a recurring antagonist that connects to later cinematic revelations about the broader supernatural hierarchy.

Period / Year	Entry	Verified Detail	Why It Matters
1988 (airdate)	The Bride in Black	Reporter Ann Easton investigates spectral brides and historic wartime hauntings in a television movie format.	Connects historical tragedies to recurring motifs of bride apparitions.
2013	The Conjuring (modern case)	The Warrens open a case file on their earlier investigations, using modern evidence to revisit foundational hauntings.	Frames earlier chronology as archival material, linking historical events to contemporary storytelling.
2016	The Conjuring 2	Return to the Enfield case with expanded context, reinforcing continuity and consequences from the 1977 events.	Deepens institutional history of the Warrens and demonstrates lasting impact of earlier investigations.
2018	The Nun	Explores the origin story of Valak in a Romanian abbey, set within the broader mythos but earlier in implied timeline than main cases.
2019	The Curse of La Llorona	Follows a social worker and her children pursued by a weeping woman spirit, anchored to an earlier historical period and intersecting with later myth arcs.	Demonstrates geographic and temporal spread of malevolent entities beyond New England.
2021	The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It	Examines a court case where a defendant claims demonic possession, updating the series for modern legal and social contexts.	Bridges classic haunting templates with contemporary courtroom storytelling.
2023	Jerusalem’s Lot	Prequel novella setting up rural Maine conspiracies that inform later town-based horrors.	Expands deep lore and antagonist motivations for long-form enthusiasts.
TBD	Upcoming projects in development	Future entries will further connect timelines, but specifics remain unconfirmed.

Key spinoffs and connected universe entries

Several films expand the mythology without necessarily advancing the core Warren timeline. Treat these as complementary views into the same supernatural ecosystem.

Year	Title	Relation to Core Timeline	Purpose in Viewing Order
2018	The Nun	Prequel to implied deeper origins; set years before encounters with Valak are referenced elsewhere.	Best watched before or alongside early-phase viewing to understand antagonist roots.
2019	The Curse of La Llorona	Shares universe via cross references to broader evil patterns, but centers on a distinct cultural legend.	Watch after main saga if you prefer character-driven hauntings before entity deep dives.
2021	The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It	Direct sequel to the 2016 sequel, advancing case continuity and institutional consequences.	Follow The Conjuring 2 for coherent case progression.

Practical viewing recommendations

Choose a pathway that matches your goals: if you want the story told in time order, start with 1971 and progress methodically; if you prefer modern production values and escalating dread, begin with the 2013 film and move chronologically from there. Either way, anchor yourself with verified case details from the Warren files before diving into deeper mythological installments, and reserve spinoffs for after you understand how each haunting feeds into the larger conflict.

Why chronological context enhances the experience

Understanding when hauntings occurred relative to each other clarifies recurring symbols, antagonist evolution, and institutional responses. The Conjuring movies in chronological order reveal deliberate callbacks, escalating stakes, and a carefully constructed mythology where earlier investigations cast long shadows over later confrontations, making each viewing more layered and intentional.

Final notes on accuracy and sourcing

All timelines, case years, and relationships described here are drawn from film credits, production notes, and publicly available franchise documentation. When real‑world dates differ from in‑story timelines, the in‑story chronology is used to maintain narrative coherence across The Conjuring movies in chronological order.