When the first trailer of “The Conjuring” premiered in 2013, people had mixed feelings about it. Although the jump scare at the end was well executed, the supernatural horror genre had been pretty much dead for almost a decade; the modern audience now craving zombies (e.g., “The Walking Dead” (2010-2022), “Resident Evil” (2002-2016)) and realistic (and sometimes ultra graphic) storylines over the PG-13 CGI ghouls of the early noughties (e.g., “Darkness Falls” (2003), “Boogeyman” (2005), “The Fog” (2005)).

Excluding Wan’s previous feature (“Insidious” (2011)), no other flick featuring murderous spectres had any recent commercial and critical pride. Yet, the box office gods awarded Wan an unexpected success. Not only “The Conjuring” was a smash hit in a year where superheroes were killing it, it was also a critical darling too receiving praise for its 70s inspired atmosphere and compelling performances. It seems filmmaking that resembled the mega religious classics (e.g., “The Exorcist” (1973), “The Omen” (1976)) was back in the game.

This box office triumph opened the doors for a myriad of spin offs, sequels, and prequels which for better or worse added new elements to the demonic apparitions of “The Conjuring”. So far, the Hollywood machine has (almost) milked dry this franchise by adapting several of the Warren’s cases into fully fledged movies with the results ranging from terrible to pretty decent, although there is a universal conclusion that each new entry has failed to capture the dazzling heights of terror that the first motion picture offered in 2013. So how does the “Conjuring” cinematic universe fair out across 8 flicks? Enjoy!

Most successful entry

The Nun (2018): $366 million dollars worldwide

Most expensive entry

The Conjuring 2 (2016): $40 million dollars

Highest score in Rotten Tomatoes

The Conjuring (2013): 86%

Lowest score in Rotten Tomatoes

The Nun (2018): 24%

Highest IMDB score

The Conjuring (2013): 7.5

Lowest IMDB score

The Nun (2018): 5.3

8. The Nun II (2023)

“The Nun II” is a wholly unnecessary sequel of a spin off. Bearing a feeling that it was directed by an AI (i.e., Michael Chaves of the terrible “The Curse of the Llorona” (2019) and the third “Conjuring”) algorithm, it does not feature a single memorable moment. In fact, it copies segments from previous flicks and executes them in telegraphic fashion. Even if your horror film bears the expected factor though, it can still be somehow enjoyable, yet “The Nun II” is not such a case. Although Valak remains a visually creepy creation, the more you see them screaming and lurking around, the less you feel threatened. It does not help the plot is retrospectively shaping itself to lead to the events of the second “Conjuring” (2016) so we already know roughly the outcome of this story. In addition, any efforts to craft any sort of an ominous atmosphere are overshadowed by a lame execution and banal scares. The somewhat alright production design does not get any bright spot either to be a character itself whereas Marco Beltrami’s musical score seems also uninspired. Waste of time and talent.

7. The Nun (2018)

Continuing the trend of declining quality, “The Nun” was the first spin off that had audiences genuinely excited for and initially it had plenty of things going for it: a superbly designed villain, an interesting setting and a bleak premise which at the right hands could have been the stuff of nightmares. Murders happening in an isolated Romanian monastery is something that begs for cinematic investigation and presentation. However, Corin Hardy (of the excellent “The Hallow” (2015)) does not offer any clever horror sequences desperately mimicking Wan’s style without its flair (or patience) generating mediocre results instead. Things become considerably worse when the entire cast is comprised by walking cardboards who sprout modern dialogue in the … 1950s. There are a handful of good ideas, a solid lead and an atmospheric prologue but once the mystery is solved, you will realize that it was all for nothing. Perhaps the highlight of the film is its killer score by “Penny Dreadful” (2014-2016) wizard Abel Korzeniowski who crafts a unique soundscape which at least, does justice to the iconic demon.

6. The Conjuring: The DEvil Made Me Do IT (2021)

The second “Conjuring” sequel attempts to break free from the already established (and albeit wearing thin) formula by moving towards court drama territory in similar vibes with the much superior “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005). Quality wise, “The Devil Made Me Do It” is a significant stepdown from its predecessor though, lacking a sense of supernatural dread and stakes. On the other hand, introducing the first human villain in the series is an intriguing alternative opponent as opposed to another malevolent spirit. Yet, despite this pleasant change, “The Devil Made Me Do It” suffers from an identity crisis dedicating unevenly its running time in a court case, an investigation and an exorcism. It is neither scary nor clever to use in its favor the satanic paranoia which plagued much of Hollywood’s 70s horror outputs (e.g., “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968) is a good example). Nevertheless, what keeps it from sinking, is our protagonist duo played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga who four movies in (if you count “Annabelle Comes Home” (2019)), still share excellent chemistry and bring a human element to roles that could have been easily ridiculed at the hands of lesser capable actors.

5. Annabelle (2014)

Directed by John R. Leonetti in his first gig 17 years after the travesty of “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” (1997), the first and much anticipated spin off of the demonic doll is ok but nothing special. Leaning towards the disappointment side, “Annabelle” takes the excellent prologue of “The Conjuring” (2013) and splashes it out across a full feature film employing literally the same tactics which a year before its grand daddy implemented much better. There are some good ideas (spoiled by an aggressive trailer) which can be effective into staging solid and sudden jump scares but it is the characters and lame storyline that fail to grab our attention when things do not go spooky. The married couple is as blunt as they come, the African-American person offering nuggets of wisdom out of nowhere is as cringy as it sounds and despite a creepy Chucky like execution at the beginning, “Annabelle” is the first movie that tries to retrospectively fit a story into the first “Conjuring” film chipping way the mystery with its subsequent entry.

4. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

The third sequel to the “Conjuring” universe’s first spin off offers plenty of demonic mayhem but not anything emotionally engaging. It is not particularly either suspenseful because how many evil doer spirits can be surrounding the Warren family? Bypassing the hows and whys which in our reality make no sense along with some dodgy (and unnecessary) CGI, “Annabelle Comes Home” is a special case as the “beloved” doll brings to life other cursed artifacts from the Warren household. Although competent shot, it does have a deja-vu feeling three films in (four if you count the first “Conjuring”). What was once an imaginative and terrifying opening segment in “The Conjuring” is now a satanic conduit for others to follow. Still, watching Farmiga and Wilson together is a joy and McKenna Grace is a kid actor who does not bother you bringing out a vulnerable sweetness that is missing from the supernatural horror genre as you are wholly invested in her emotional well-being.

3. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

The first sequel to James Wan’s unexpectedly well acted and well received smash hit does not disappoint although it does have some pacing issues due to its back and forth geography and a rather unengaging opening act. Tackling another famous case (“Enfield Poltergeist“), the Warrens relocate temporarily in London to put those pesky spectres into their place. Wan is having a ball staging fantastic set pieces with toy trains, tvs, remote controls and … paintings cementing himself as a master of modern horror. Wilson and Farmiga bring their A+ game into a story that is allowed room to breathe even if the tormented family feels like a carbon copy of the first one swapping American accents with London ones. Despite an anemic final confrontation which lacks dramatic tension, Wan gives us a terrific creation in the form of the now infamous, Nun. This visually arresting creature is pure nightmare fuel embodying peak surrealistic horror; its bloody smile is enough to make grown men weep.

2.Annabelle: Creation (2017)

Astoundingly, the second best film is “Annabelle Creation”. After a somewhat disappointing first entry, the sequel directed by David F. Sandberg (of the “Lights Out” (2016) fame), boasts fantastic set pieces inside an isolated (aka in the middle of nowhere) house that is straight out of someone’s worst nightmares. The doll is being involved in a plethora of disturbing shots that would force you to s**t your pants culminating in an terrific and rather bleak climax. Under exceptional cinematography that almost suggests that this house is a giant paranormal labyrinth, one nun and six girls are offered sheltered inside the bothersome property and things take a drastic turn when (you guessed it) ghastly apparitions start running amok. Sandberg avoids cheap jump scares emphasizing heavily a dark atmosphere going to unusual places despite his cast being below 17; a testament to good and fearless storytelling which also ties “Creation” with the first “Annabelle”.

1. The Conjuring (2013)

The first and easily the best entry, “The Conjuring” was what established James Wan as the next big horror auteur. Although “Insidious” two years prior was a pretty decent jab, it was plagued down by an exposition heavy third act that deprived the film’s mysterious identity. In this one though, Wan and writers Chad and Carey Hayes crafted a wholly believable ghost story lacking stupid cliches and featuring actual characters with likeable and relatable traits while offering a simple but effective explanation of “why they cannot just leave”. Echoing sentiments of 70s filmmaking methods, and shot depressively by John R. Leonetti (e.g., “Mortal Kombat” (1995), “Insidious”) whose cinematography focuses on what-you-cannot-see-can-hurt-you approach, “The Conjuring” plays with your worst fears. There is no time or place where things do not go boo! giving birth to instantly iconic moments (e.g., clap game, wardrobe investigation) which are elevated by the superb score of Joseph Bishara who used Avant Garde singer Diamanda Galas to provide screaming and screeching vocals. A perfect horror film in every way.