The horror landscape changed forever in 2013 when a low-budget, R-rated supernatural thriller relied on atmosphere rather than gore to terrify audiences. Over a decade later, The Conjuring Universe has ballooned into a multi-billion dollar juggernaut, spanning sequels, prequels, and spin-offs that have introduced us to demonic nuns, possessed dolls, and weeping ghosts. With the recent conclusion of the main series in The Conjuring: Last Rites, the debate over which entry holds the crown for the best conjuring movie has never been more heated.

Ranking these films requires looking past simple jump scares. We have to consider how they build dread, the chemistry between the central investigators, and how they contribute to the broader lore of the Warrens' artifact room. Here is a definitive look at the franchise, ranked from the weakest offerings to the absolute peak of supernatural cinema.

10. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

Often considered the "black sheep" of the franchise, this entry struggles to find its footing within the established universe. Based on the Latin American folklore of the Weeping Woman, the film follows a social worker in 1970s Los Angeles. While it features a brief cameo from Father Perez (linking it to the first Annabelle), the connection feels tenuous at best.

The primary issue here is the reliance on predictable jump scares. Unlike the surgical precision of the mainline films, the scares in La Llorona often feel telegraphed. The entity itself is visually striking, but the narrative beats follow a formula that feels detached from the sophisticated dread we expect from this series. It remains a functional horror movie, but within the context of this universe, it sits at the bottom.

9. The Nun (2018)

When Valak first appeared in The Conjuring 2, it was one of the most terrifying character reveals in modern history. Naturally, a solo film felt inevitable. Set in a secluded Romanian abbey in 1952, The Nun attempts a Gothic horror aesthetic that is visually stunning but narratively thin.

The film excels in atmosphere—fog-drenched graveyards and ancient stone corridors provide a perfect playground for a demon. However, the logic often takes a backseat to set pieces. While it was a massive box office success, many found the constant barrage of jump scares exhausting rather than frightening. It serves its purpose as an origin story, but it lacks the emotional weight that defines the best entries in the franchise.

8. Annabelle (2014)

Released shortly after the original film, the first Annabelle suffered from high expectations and a quick production turnaround. It attempts to capture the "creepy doll" energy that worked so well in the 2013 opening sequence, but it lacks the visionary direction of James Wan.

The story is a relatively standard possession tale involving a young couple and a cult. While there are a few standout sequences—most notably the basement elevator scene which effectively uses silence and negative space—the film feels a bit like a placeholder. It established the financial viability of the spin-offs but didn't quite capture the soul of the universe. Fortunately, the sequels to this specific spin-off would see a massive jump in quality.

7. The Nun II (2023)

A significant step up from its predecessor, this sequel manages to flesh out the character of Sister Irene while delivering some of the most creative scares in the franchise. The 1950s French boarding school setting is utilized perfectly, especially during the "magazine stand" sequence which has already become an iconic piece of horror cinematography.

What makes this entry better is the sense of stakes and the expansion of the lore regarding St. Lucy. It feels more like a cohesive movie and less like a haunted house attraction. While it still leans heavily on the "monster movie" aspects of Valak, the direction is more confident, and the chemistry between the leads provides a much-needed emotional anchor.

6. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

The third mainline entry took a massive risk by moving away from the haunted house formula. Instead, it positioned Ed and Lorraine Warren in the middle of a supernatural detective story based on the real-life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson.

By trading creaky floorboards for courtroom drama and forest investigations, the film refreshed the series' pacing. The opening exorcism is arguably one of the most intense sequences in the entire universe. However, some fans missed the claustrophobic dread of the first two films. While the "Occultist" villain was a departure from the usual demonic entities, the film’s strength remains the unshakable bond between the Warrens, which is explored with more depth here than ever before.

5. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

This film is essentially "A Night at the Museum" but with R-rated demons, and it works surprisingly well. By setting the entire story within the Warrens' home and focusing on their daughter, Judy, the film captures a youthful, Amblin-esque energy that distinguishes it from the rest of the series.

The brilliance of this entry lies in its variety. It introduces a slew of new entities—The Ferryman, The Bride, and the Black Shuck—each with their own unique scare mechanics. It’s a fun, fast-paced thrill ride that balances humor with genuine tension. It also features some of the best use of the artifact room, turning a familiar location into a labyrinth of terror.

4. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

As the final chapter of the mainline series, Last Rites had the impossible task of providing closure to the Warrens' cinematic journey. It returns the franchise to its roots, focusing on a singular, deeply personal case that challenges the couple's faith and physical endurance.

The film leans heavily into the legacy of the characters. It is less about introducing new monsters and more about the toll that decades of battling darkness has taken on Ed and Lorraine. The scares are sophisticated, utilizing the "unseen" to great effect, and the emotional payoff in the final act is arguably the strongest in the series. It serves as a dignified and terrifying curtain call for the core franchise.

3. Annabelle: Creation (2017)

It is rare for a prequel to a spin-off to be this good. Under the direction of David F. Sandberg, Annabelle: Creation fixed almost every complaint viewers had about the first Annabelle film. It is a masterclass in tension, utilizing a sprawling farmhouse to create a sense of total isolation.

The film’s success lies in its vulnerability; the protagonists are children in an orphanage, which inherently raises the stakes. Sandberg uses lighting and sound design to turn the doll back into a vessel of pure dread. The connection it builds back to the 2014 film is clever and satisfying, making this the gold standard for how to handle a horror spin-off.

2. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Sequels rarely live up to the original, but The Conjuring 2 comes incredibly close. Moving the action to Enfield, London, allowed James Wan to play with a grittier, more urban atmosphere. This film gave us two of the most terrifying entities in the universe: The Crooked Man and Valak (The Nun).

The technical execution here is flawless. The long takes, the transition between rooms, and the way the camera hides threats in plain sight are hallmarks of a director at the top of his game. Beyond the scares, the film doubles down on the idea that the Warrens’ love for each other is the ultimate weapon against evil. The scene where Ed sings Elvis to the Hodgson family is a rare moment of genuine heart in a horror film, proving that you need to care about the characters for the scares to truly land.

1. The Conjuring (2013)

Despite all the sequels and technical advancements, the original 2013 masterpiece remains the best conjuring movie. It is a near-perfect example of modern supernatural horror. James Wan took familiar tropes—the move to a new house, the dog that won't go inside, the basement—and executed them with such precision that they felt brand new.

The Perron family’s plight feels grounded and real, which makes the escalation of the haunting even more disturbing. The "Hide and Clap" sequence is perhaps the most effective scare of the 21st century because it relies entirely on the audience's imagination and the simple sound of two hands meeting in the dark.

What truly sets this film apart is the introduction of Ed and Lorraine Warren. By making the investigators the heart of the story rather than just the help that arrives in the third act, the film changed the DNA of the genre. It’s balanced, terrifying, and atmospheric, and it remains the benchmark against which all other entries are measured.

The Anatomy of a "Conjuring" Scare

Why does this franchise consistently outperform other horror series? It comes down to a specific philosophy of fear. Most horror movies focus on the "payoff"—the moment the monster jumps out. The Conjuring films, particularly those directed by James Wan, focus on the "anticipation."

They use what critics call "negative space." By holding a shot on a dark doorway or an empty corner for five seconds longer than the audience expects, the movie forces the viewer's brain to populate that space with their own fears. The sound design also plays a crucial role; the series often uses sudden silence or low-frequency hums to create physical discomfort before a scare occurs.

Furthermore, the series respects its characters. In many slasher films, you wait for the characters to die. In the Conjuring universe, you want the characters to survive. Whether it’s the Perrons, the Hodgsons, or the Warrens themselves, there is a core of human goodness that makes the encroaching evil feel much more threatening.

Viewing Order: How to Watch the Best Conjuring Movies

If you are planning a marathon, there are two primary ways to approach this universe.

The Chronological Order: This allows you to see the history of the entities as they appeared in time, though the quality might fluctuate wildly between entries.

  1. The Nun (1952)
  2. Annabelle: Creation (1955)
  3. The Nun II (1956)
  4. Annabelle (1967)
  5. The Conjuring (1971)
  6. Annabelle Comes Home (1972)
  7. The Curse of La Llorona (1973)
  8. The Conjuring 2 (1977)
  9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (1981)
  10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (Late 1980s/Early 90s)

The Quality Order (Recommended): If you only want to see the best the franchise has to offer, focus on the "James Wan Essentials" and the standout spin-offs:

  1. The Conjuring
  2. The Conjuring 2
  3. Annabelle: Creation
  4. The Conjuring: Last Rites
  5. Annabelle Comes Home

Final Thoughts

While personal preference will always play a role—some prefer the Gothic vibes of The Nun while others enjoy the investigative nature of The Devil Made Me Do It—the consensus remains that the original 2013 The Conjuring is the definitive best conjuring movie. It captured lightning in a bottle, combining a high-stakes family drama with world-class scares.

As we look back on the franchise in 2026, it is clear that its legacy isn't just about a creepy doll or a demonic nun. It’s about how it revitalized the ghost story for a new generation, proving that sometimes, the most terrifying thing isn't what's under the bed, but the silence that precedes it.