All 10 'The Conjuring' Movies (Including 'Last Rites'), Ranked by IMDb
James Wan's horror franchise has had its share of failures and successes – and they all are here.
The Conjuring: Last Rites, billed as the franchise finale, has finally been released and is enjoying phenomenal success at the box office. So it's time to wrap up James Wan's terrifying franchise.
10. 'The Curse of La Llorona', 2019
IMDb Score: 5.3/10
The Curse of La Llorona attempts to add ethnic diversity to the franchise by introducing La Llorona, a demon from Mexican folklore. However, this does not save the movie.
The plot strictly follows genre cliches with standard scares, loud sound effects, and a drawn-out exorcism ritual.
Michael Chaves' directorial debut is weak – his utilitarian and dramatic approach is better suited to a procedural drama than a horror film, making The Curse of La Llorona predictable and unconvincing.
9. 'The Nun', 2018
IMDb Score: 5.4/10
Set in 1952, The Nun is the first film in the franchise, chronologically speaking. However, its gothic setting is so timeless that the events could have occurred centuries ago.
And this is the movie's main problem. By moving the action from the suburbs, a familiar setting, to a deliberately scary one, the creators have lost the key component of horror.
The setting is predictable and rational and therefore not scary. Even the appearance of Valak, one of the franchise's most terrifying demons, becomes expected due to the flat visuals, ultimately making the film an exhausting spectacle.
8. 'Annabelle', 2014
IMDb Score: 5.5/10
Technically set in Manson-era California, Annabelle, the first prequel to The Conjuring, loses its context due to its bland and contemporary setting and characters.
From a directorial standpoint, John R. Leonetti, known for his B-movie work, offers no original ideas.
The film is a low-budget rip-off of more successful horror flicks and lacks ingenuity and sophistication, making it a weak link in the franchise.
7. 'The Nun II', 2023
IMDb Score: 5.6/10
The sequel to The Nun is a lifeless spectacle. Demon Valak's appearances are no longer scary – they're funny. The plot about the events in the boarding school seems naive and childish despite the adult rating.
The only notable aspect of the film is the large-scale, special effects-rich climax, in which director Michael Chaves makes the most of the budget.
6. 'Annabelle Comes Home', 2019
IMDb Score: 5.9/10
In Annabelle Comes Home, the main character is the Warrens' daughter, Judy. While her parents are away, she becomes involved with the demonic doll Annabelle again.
The movie has a predictable and conventional plot – it's clear from the beginning that everything will be resolved by the time the adults return.
Despite its place in the franchise, Annabelle Comes Home has a certain genre-innocent charm, reminiscent of a scary episode of a children's show rather than a full-fledged horror film.
5. 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It', 2021
IMDb Score: 6.3/10
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It focuses on a murder case in which the defense claims the defendant is possessed by a demon. Despite their health problems, Ed and Lorraine Warren undertake to investigate the crime.
While it is not successful as a horror film, The Devil Made Me Do It is effective as a legal procedural detective story, with an action-packed collection of evidence and interviews.
However, its main strength lies in the melodrama. The Warrens, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, appear as the most charming married couple in modern Hollywood.
4. 'Annabelle: Creation', 2017
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
Due to its powerful atmosphere, Annabelle: Creation is considered the most successful movie in the Conjuring universe.
Set in an isolated desert house, the story follows vulnerable orphans, which intensifies the sense of hopelessness. The demon, who pretends to be a dead girl, is depicted in an extremely insidious way.
Director David F. Sandberg, known for the horror film Lights Out, creates an uncompromising nightmare. Unlike James Wan's blockbuster aesthetic, Sandberg focuses on a hopeless atmosphere.
3. 'The Conjuring: Last Rites', 2025
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
The Conjuring: Last Rites is billed as the franchise finale. In it, the Warrens take on the case of a family being attacked by three ghosts linked to an antique mirror.
Director Michael Chaves demonstrates competence, but his film offers nothing new or frightening. He predictably follows the franchise cliches, diluting the horror with melodramatic monologues about family.
Despite the announced ending, the film's phenomenal box office success suggests that the studio may continue the franchise. After all, the real Warrens lived long lives and left behind many untold stories.
2. 'The Conjuring 2', 2016
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
The Conjuring 2 is an unnecessary but frightening franchise filler. The Warrens investigate a case in England, and their mission predictably ends in success.
Despite the standard plot, the film stands out for its unique atmosphere. A poor family's concrete house, a grandfather's ghost in a chair, skeptical journalists, and melancholic English schoolgirls create a special charm absent from other parts of the franchise.
Though it's a typical horror blockbuster, the attention to detail makes it visually mesmerizing.
1. 'The Conjuring', 2013
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Of all the Conjuring movies, the first was the most cliched. Director James Wan had already found success with other franchises, so he relied on a proven formula of effective jump scares, claustrophobic settings, and an epic exorcism at the end.
The real-life prototypes of Ed and Lorraine Warren were idealized as heroes, and the movie itself was positioned as a horror blockbuster.
However, Wan's technical competence combined with his artistic lack of ambition is frustrating, as he could have created something more impressive.
