Annabelle Movie Release Order
The first film in the Annabelle series is Annabelle, released in 2014 by Warner Bros. Pictures and directed by John R. Leonetti. It is a prequel to The Conjuring and launched a standalone horror sub-franchise based on a haunted doll from the Warrens' collection. The second release is Annabelle: Creation, which came out in 2017 and serves as a prequel to the first film, detailing the origin of the possessed doll. The third release is Annabelle Comes Home in 2019, where the doll is locked in a case in the Warrens' artifact room and unleashes terror on a babysitter and her friends. The fourth release is Annabelle: Last Rites in 2025, which continues the timeline after the previous installment and is produced by New Line Cinema and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The chronological order within the fictional timeline differs from the release order, with Annabelle: Creation taking place before the first Annabelle film.
The full Annabelle movie release order by date is Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017), Annabelle Comes Home (2019), and Annabelle: Last Rites (2025). The franchise is part of The Conjuring Universe, which also includes The Nun, The Crooked Man, and other spin-offs produced by New Line Cinema and Atomic Monster. The first Annabelle film grossed over $257 million worldwide against a $6.5 million budget, making it one of the most profitable horror films of its year. Annabelle: Creation earned approximately $306 million globally, while Annabelle Comes Home grossed around $231 million worldwide. Annabelle: Last Rites is the newest entry and continues the trend of high box office returns relative to production costs.
Chronological Order of the Annabelle Movies
In the fictional timeline, the chronological order begins with Annabelle: Creation, which is set in the 1940s and 1950s and shows how the doll was created and first became haunted. The story then jumps forward to the events of the first Annabelle film, which takes place in 1967 and follows a young couple who bring the doll into their home. Annabelle Comes Home is set in 1972, after the Warrens have captured the doll and placed it in their artifact room. Annabelle: Last Rites continues the timeline after Annabelle Comes Home and explores further paranormal events connected to the doll. The chronological sequence helps viewers understand the history of the doll and its impact on the Warrens' cases.
The chronological order is important for fans who want to understand the full story arc of the Annabelle doll within The Conjuring Universe. The doll first appears in Annabelle: Creation, then moves to the Warrens' collection in the first Annabelle film, and is later locked in the artifact room in Annabelle Comes Home. Annabelle: Last Rites expands on the lore and shows the consequences of keeping the doll in the Warrens' house. The timeline connects to other films in The Conjuring Universe, including The Conjuring and The Nun, which reference the Warrens' cases and artifacts. Understanding the chronological order enhances the viewing experience and clarifies the relationships between the different films.
Production Companies and Key Details
All Annabelle films are produced by New Line Cinema and Atomic Monster, with distribution handled by Warner Bros. Pictures. The first Annabelle film was produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, who also directed The Conjuring. Annabelle: Creation was directed by David F. Sandberg, who later directed Lights Out and Shazam. Annabelle Comes Home