The Conjuring films are part of a franchise that is one outhouse rare treats where you get to truly see big budget, blockbuster horror. It actually is lowkey irrelevant how well received they are, because part of the appeal is the spectacle. The franchise started off strong with an acclaimed debut but has quickly fell into eye roll territory, with plenty of spin-offs about side characters (well, side ghosts) that has made it all a bit of a slog. With the franchise finally ending The Conjuring films with the newly released Last Rites – here’s a ranking of The Conjuring films in its universe by their brutal rating on Letterboxd.
10. The Curse of La Llarona (1.9 Letterboxd rating)
Not even Linda Cardellini could rescue La Llarona from being a true misfire. It’s barely even part of the universe, but James Wan lowkey said it was so here we have to get it ranked. Drags everything down. At least she’s still thriving in the Universal Halloween horror nights.
9. The Nun (2.3 on Letterboxd)
I’m going to go on record and say JUSTICE FOR THE NUN. After the titular sister became the breakout star of The Conjuring 2, like Annabelle before her, she got her own film. This was hated at the time but I thought it was a camp romp, sorry. I loved how dramatic and ridiculous it was. The blood of Christ bit is honestly… so great. Ridiculous but great. What happened to fun!
8. The Nun 2 (2.4 on Letterboxd)
Beating out its predecessor by 0.1 points is the sequel to The Nun, which is infinitely worse. Happy to have Taissa Farmiga back on my screens but it’s just way less good and don’t really understand why anyone would score it higher. The bit with the magazines flapping was amazing though.
7. Annabelle (2.5 on Letterboxd)
Never been an Annabelle stan, but I’m glad we’re all in agreement on Letterboxd that the original 2014 spin off from The Conjuring films deserved to be ranked low. Too boring a villain to get her own film!
6. Annabelle Comes Home (2.6 on Letterboxd)
Perhaps an unpopular opinion if we’re going off the Letterboxd ranking of The Conjuring films – but I actually think this is the best Annabelle movie. I like how we’re in the Warren’s home, centred on their real artefacts room. Makes it all feel more personal to characters we actually care about. Good romp, in my opinion!
5. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2.6 on Letterboxd)
Think the only reason the third actual Conjuring film gets it into the top five here is because it’s an actual Conjuring film and not because it’s any good. It’s all a bit too bog standard exorcism movie, in my opinion. Still, Ed and Lorraine are the glue of this franchise and whenever they’re here I am happy.
4. Annabelle: Creation (3.0 on Letterboxd)
Who knew that all an Annabelle movie needed to do to win people over was to give her the origin story! People love this one, but I’ve always found it a bit average. Can’t win them all.
3. The Conjuring: Last Rites (3.0 on Letterboxd)
Fair play to the latest The Conjuring film – it’s beat the third one. Is it any good? I think people are just happy it’s finally ending to be honest. Only it’s not actually ending because apparently the show’s coming back as a limited TV series. It NEVER stops.
2. The Conjuring 2 (3.4 on Letterboxd)
Truly a worthy sequel to the original and one I remember being SO seated for in the cinema. I loved that it tackled the Enfield haunting and brought it over to the UK – made it much scarier for me being British. Just as good fun and spooky as the original and I’m glad this top two on Letterboxd is accurate.
1. The Conjuring (3.6 on Letterboxd)
Honestly, a cultural reset. You actually did have to be there. James Wan was cooking with gas when he made a truly original big budget horror with an outstanding cast who act the hell out of every scene. Genuinely scary too, “hide and go clap” was spooking everyone at every sleepover and Annabelle obviously was a runaway success. Brilliant stuff, deserved top spot.
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