The Conjuring Franchise's $362 Million Biggest Box Office Hit Is Also Its Worst Movie

The Nun is one of the later Conjuring spin-offs, but it is actually the first story in the franchise chronologically – the action takes place in 1952.

However, if you have not watched any films from the Conjuring universe, we do not recommend starting with The Nun. In fact, we don't recommend watching this horror film at all.

The Nun is the most paradoxical film in the franchise. It grossed $362 million at the box office but competes with The Curse of La Llorona for the title of worst Conjuring installment, though most viewers speak more favorably of the latter.

What Is 'The Nun' About?

In a distant Romanian temple, a nun commits suicide to avoid being captured by an evil spirit that has broken free from the depths of hell.

Suspecting something is wrong, the Vatican sends exorcist Burke and young novice Irene, who is about to take vows, to Romania. Together, they must figure out what caused the nun to commit a terrible sin and prevent the evil from spreading to the outside world.

Valak Is One of the Most Impressive Villains, but Even It Couldn't Save 'The Nun'

A spin-off featuring another demon from The Conjuring was inevitable. After Annabelle became a box-office hit and spawned three films, studio bosses decided to give episodic antagonists solo projects en masse.

Such cases rarely end well in cinema, and The Nun, which tells the story of Valak's origin, turned out to be the worst film in the franchise.

Valak is an outstanding character within The Conjuring 2 and the entire James Wan universe, but its frighteningly cold gaze in the nun's incarnation was not enough.

'The Nun' Looks Like a Tasteless And Faceless B-Movie

Forget for a moment that you're watching a film from one of the highest-grossing horror franchises, and you might feel as if you're watching a low-quality B-movie intended for the genre's most hardcore and loyal fans.

All of The Nun's elements seem interesting: the setting of 1950s Romania, the dark corners of churches, the nuns' struggle with the forces of evil, and of course, Demián Bichir's charming performance.

However, as soon as the film attempts to tell a story, its narrative starts to look like a compilation of disjointed clips – not scary, spectacular, or meaningful.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Nun'?

• The Nun received 24% from critics and 35% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes. For comparison, The Conjuring received 86% and 83%, respectively.

• On IMDb, The Nun has a score of 5.4/10.