James Wan is a horror legend, and he has directed some of the most recognizable horror films of our time including Saw, Insidious and of course, The Conjuring. The Conjuring franchise was inspired by the real-life story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators who were called to investigate cases, such as the case of the Perron family, who inspired the concept of the first film.
Ed and Lorraine Warren are the central characters to the main films and are portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, respectively. The series has become famous for the Annabelle doll, which has spawned several spin-offs in The Conjuring universe, as well as the demonic nun, which inspired The Nun. The universe also introduced a new tale in The Curse of La Llorna, and there will likely be more to come. Here’s every movie in the Conjuring universe, ranked.
8 The Nun
The Nun was a spin-off from The Conjuring 2 and was directed by Colin Hardy. The Conjuring 2 introduced a demon which presented as a nun and went by the name of Valak, and The Nun focuses on the origins of this figure, set in Romania in 1952, making it the earliest addition to the universe in chronological order. The story is set at a convent where a nun has taken her own life, and Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) is sent to investigate. They quickly discover the demonic presence of Valak, and this makes for a gothic style horror with stunning and haunting visuals, however the jump scares don’t feel as impactful as previous additions, and the pace of the film is quite slow. The reviews were underwhelming, and it serves as the most forgettable addition to the franchise.
7 The Curse of La Llorna
The Curse of La Llorna is set in 1973 Los Angeles and digresses from familiar figures from past franchise contributions and instead focuses on the real Central and Latin American legend folklore surrounding the ‘weeping woman’. A grieving mother passes a curse onto a social worker (Linda Cardellini) which puts her children in danger as the spirit of La Llorna comes to claim them. The movie is refreshing as it features a more diverse cast and focuses on Latin American folklore. However, the jump scares are clichéd and the film doesn’t have the same scare factor, receiving mixed reviews from critics.
6 Annabelle
Annabelle was the first spin-off film, directed by John R Leonetti and was highly anticipated after the impact the Annabelle doll had on pop culture after The Conjuring. It’s a prequel to the events of The Conjuring and follows a young couple Mia (Annabelle Wallis) and John (Ward Horton) who experience a home invasion after bringing the Annabelle doll hom. After their child is born, spirits target the household (and the baby in particular). The film felt quite underwhelming after the hype, and relied on horror clichés, making it not particularly memorable.
5 Annabelle Comes Home
The most recent entry to the Annabelle spin-off franchise was Annabelle Comes Home, directed by Gary Dauberman. This is the first spin-off to feature Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, and picks up after the events of The Conjuring, when they take the doll back home and leave for another investigation, leaving their daughter Judy in the care of a babysitter who invites her friends over. They end up opening the case where Annabelle is held, tampering with other artifacts, and are terrorized by demonic forces. The film is genuinely scary at points, and the variety of spirits brings a new flare to the universe which feels refreshing.
4 The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
The most recent addition to the main franchise was The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, directed by Michael Chaves. This film is the first of the main franchise to be directed by someone other than James Wan, and presents a challenge for Ed and Lorraine Warren as they are pitted against each other due to demonic forces. The film follows a courtroom drama after demonic possession is used as a defense. Ed and Lorraine’s relationship is a strong focus, and we see their love overcome evil, making for a refreshing addition to the franchise and was a box office success.
3 Annabelle: Creation
The second addition to the Annabelle series was Annabelle: Creation, directed by David F. Sandberg. The story is set in an orphanage and is fast faced and relentless with the high intensity horror scenes. A child’s curiosity unleashed fury on the house which doesn’t have any breaks throughout the whole film. It’s one of the more thrilling experiences in the Conjuring universe, and a genuinely scary film.
2 The Conjuring 2
James Wan’s sequel to the original film was highly anticipated, and The Conjuring 2 did not disappoint. Like its predecessor, the film is based on a real-life haunting case investigated by the Warrens—this time the case of the Enfield poltergeist. The dreary setting of 70s England is a stark contrast to the previous film, and the CGI is impressive, making for some scary scenes and another stellar addition to the franchise.
1 The Conjuring
The original film takes the crown for the best in the franchise. Upon the time of its release, The Conjuring presented a new direction for horror movies, and was unlike anything else before it. The film is a classic ghost story, that of the haunting of the Perron family, which was inspired by a real case. James Wan’s storytelling and carefully constructed jump scares accompanied by masterful suspense make this a horror film which is unique and will go down in history.