The Conjuring chronological order follows the progression of real hauntings and cases investigated by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Understanding this sequence helps fans see how each case builds tension and connects to the broader mythology of the shared universe.
Below is a detailed chronology table that maps key films, their in-universe dates, and the real-world release timeline. Use this reference to track how events align across movies and franchises.
| Film Title | In-Universe Year | Release Year | Primary Entity |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Conjuring (2013) | 1971 | 2013 | Perron family haunting |
| Annabelle (2014) | 1967–1970 | 2014 | Demonically possessed doll |
| The Conjuring 2 (2016) | {"header": "Enfield Poltergeist Investigation", "header": "Enfield Poltergeist Investigation", "header": "Enfield Poltergeist Investigation", "header": "Enfield Poltergeist Investigation", "cells": [["The Conjuring 2", "1977", "2016", "The Hodgson family case"], ["The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It", "1981", "2021", "Arne Cheyenne Johnson trial"], ["Annabelle Comes Home", "1970", "1987", "Annabelle's presence in the Warrens' museum"], ["The Nun", "1952", "2018", "Valak haunting the abbey"]]}}|||
| The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | 1981 | 2021 | Arne Cheyenne Johnson trial |
| Annabelle Comes Home | 1970 | 1987 | Annabelle's presence in the Warrens' museum |
| The Nun | 1952 | 2018 | Valak haunting the abbey |
1971 Perron Family Haunting in Rhode Island
Timeline of Events in The Conjuring
The Conjuring begins in 1971 when Carolyn and Roger Perron move into a Rhode Island farmhouse plagued by increasingly aggressive supernatural activity. The Warrens are called in after local clergy and amateur investigations fail, establishing the pattern of ordinary families confronting extraordinary evil. This case anchors the main chronological thread of The Conjuring universe.
Doll-Centric Cases and Satanic Panic Context
Annabelle and the Origins of Evil
Annabelle explores the earlier history of a haunted doll discovered by a nursing student in 1967, long before the Perron incident. The film frames the doll as a vessel for a demonic entity, linking artifact-based hauntings to larger satanic panic themes. Chronologically, these events precede The Conjuring and inform the Warrens’ understanding of object-based spiritual contamination.
Enfield Poltergeist and Institutional Evil
The Conjuring 2 and Global Phenomena
The Conjuring 2 shifts to 1977 England, documenting the Enfield poltergeist case involving a single mother and her children experiencing moving objects and physical attacks. This expansion into real-world geography reinforces the idea that malevolence is a universal constant. The case arrives later in the timeline but enriches the Warrens’ methodological approaches across the series.
Theological Origins and Cinematic Mythology
The Nun and the Birth of Valak
Set in 1952 Romania, The Nun reveals the origins of the malevolent nun Valak, connecting the haunting to religious iconography and wartime trauma. This prequel material deepens the backstory of the entity encountered later in Annabelle Comes Home and The Conjuring films, creating a cohesive demonology that fans track through release order and in-universe timelines alike.
Mapping the Shared Universe
Use these key points to navigate The Conjuring chronological order and related media with confidence.
- Anchor your viewing with in-universe dates rather than release order to track cause and effect.
- Recogn that earlier cases like Annabelle provide backstories for entities seen later.
- Note how geographical cases, such as The Conjuring 2 in England, expand the Warrens’ scope without breaking timeline continuity.
- Understand that spin-offs and prefills enrich the overarching mythology while adhering to established chronology.
FAQ
Reader questions
What year does The Conjuring take place in chronological order?
The main events of The Conjuring are set in 1971, making it the earliest core case in the primary timeline.
How does Annabelle fit into the conjuring chronological order?
Annabelle takes place from 1967 to 1970, preceding The Conjuring and explaining the origins of the haunted doll that later appears in the Warrens’ museum.
What real-life timeline should I follow to understand The Conjuring universe?
Follow the release order for general context, but align events using the in-universe dates to map how each case relates chronologically.
Why is The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It set in 1981?
The film is based on the 1981 Arne Cheyenne Johnson trial, making it the latest major case depicted and extending the timeline well after the events of The Conjuring and Annabelle films.