You can watch the Conjuring movies in timeline order for one straight story, or in release order for the way the series unfolded. To stream them, search each title separately in the apps you already use, since the films often sit on different services. The Conjuring Universe is a shared horror series centered on Ed and Lorraine Warren, presented as paranormal investigators. The main films follow their cases, while spinoffs follow the Annabelle doll and the demon nun Valak.
Table of Contents
- Should you pick timeline or release order?
- What is the timeline order?
- What is the release order?
- How do you find them on streaming?
Should you pick timeline or release order?
Pick timeline order if you want causes to come before effects. The early spinoffs introduce cursed objects and entities, then the Warren films show the later consequences. This path feels smooth for a marathon. Pick release order if you want the mysteries to land as intended.
The first film introduces the Warrens and the doll briefly, then later films expand those threads. Jumps in time feel less confusing because you already know the characters. For first-time viewers, release order is usually easier. For a rewatch, timeline order makes connections stand out.
What is the timeline order?
A commonly used timeline order groups the origin stories first. Exact placements vary slightly because some prologues and flashbacks overlap, but this sequence preserves the main cause-and-effect chain.
Treat The Curse of La Llorona as optional. It has a small connection to the series, but its story stands apart from the Warren thread.
- The Nun
- Annabelle: Creation
- The Nun II
- Annabelle
- The Conjuring
What is the release order?
Release order follows the main Warren films first, with spinoffs filling gaps between them. It starts with The Conjuring, then Annabelle, then The Conjuring 2. The later sequence adds Annabelle: Creation, The Nun, Annabelle Comes Home, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and The Nun II. This order helps because scares and reveals build on prior films.
Annabelle means more after you meet the doll in The Conjuring. Valak means more after you meet the nun figure in The Conjuring 2. Use release order when viewers dislike prequels that assume later knowledge. The story still makes sense, and fewer early films feel slow.
How do you find them on streaming?
Search title by title rather than looking for one box set. Streaming rights for franchises often split across services, so one app may carry the Warren films while another carries Annabelle or The Nun.
Watch for films leaving a service at month's end. If two or more titles need rental, compare that total against a short-term subscription that carries them.
- List the 8 main films in your chosen order
- Search each title in the services you already pay for
- Compare subscription access against a one-time rental
- Check your library app for disc or digital loans before paying