Annabelle Movies in Order: Chronological & Release Order Guide
- Saloni Gupta
- August 11, 2026
- Entertainment
- Annabelle Movies
- 0 Comments
If dolls, demonic possessions, and supernatural scares are a kind of hobby for you, there’s no need to overthink the addition of the Annabelle movies to your horror filmography. The series follows one seemingly innocent doll as it becomes the vessel for far more sinister goings-on.
However, if you’re new to the franchise, then there’s one clear question: what is the proper way to watch the Annabelle movies in order?
So far, there are three Annabelle movies – Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017) and Annabelle Comes Home (2019)-though the release order of these is a more straightforward affair than their chronological viewing timeline is, as Annabelle: Creation serves as a prequel and the opening part of Annabelle Comes Home places it as being more complicated.
The release order is best for seeing them for the first time, but the chronological order makes for a more enjoyable viewing if you’ve already seen them.
Annabelle Movies in Release Order
Here is the release order of all three Annabelle movies:
| Order | Movie | Release Year | Rotten Tomatoes Critics | Audience |
| 1 | Annabelle | 2014 | 28% | 35% |
| 2 | Annabelle: Creation | 2017 | 71% | 68% |
| 3 | Annabelle Comes Home | 2019 | 64% | 70% |
The critical and audience figures above are from Rotten Tomatoes and can change as the site’s review database updates.
Interestingly, the first Annabelle has the weakest critical reception of the trilogy, while Annabelle: Creation and Annabelle Comes Home performed considerably better with critics and audiences.
Annabelle Movies in Chronological Order
If you wish to see the story in chronological in-universe order, then these are the films you should watch in the following order:
- Annabelle: Creation (2017)
- Annabelle (2014)
- Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
This is not entirely simple due to time periods; not only is Annabelle: Creation set in 1955, but the story technically begins as early as 1943. Another time jump is made partway through the film, leading into the mythology of Annabelle with its later entries.
Annabelle is commonly placed in 1967, and the main story events of Annabelle Comes Home take place in 1972. The opening section of this film took place at an earlier point in time, leading to debate in terms of chronology.
For the purpose of watching the trilogy chronologically, this should be the order:
Annabelle: Creation – Annabelle – Annabelle Comes Home
Here is the horror franchise chronologically according to each respective movie’s release and internal story, and what critics and audiences think of each. And yes, even some horror skeptics might enjoy what it has to offer.
Annabelle Movies Explanation
1. Annabelle Creation (2017)
Source: IMDb
- Director: David F. Sandberg
- IMDb: Approximately 6.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71% critics, 68% audience
It is recommended, if chronologically following the saga, to view Annabelle Creation first.
The flick goes back to the origin of the malevolent doll and follows former doll maker Samuel Mullins and his wife Esther. Several years after the loss of their daughter, the couple agrees to take a nun and a few orphaned girls into their home.
During her stay with the Mullins family, one of the orphans discovers a forbidden room in the Mullins house and finds a doll that will soon prove to be the most horrific of spirits. The movie does an excellent job of turning a simple, bland origin story into something far more terrifying by showing it through the eyes of two people plagued with grief and guilt.
What Do Critics and Audiences Think?
There is really no contest here for Annabelle: Creation as the highest-rated of the Annabelle movies. It currently has 71% from critics and 68% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, which is an improvement by quite a lot from the first installment.
Critics, in particular, praise director David F. Sandberg for the suspense he evokes in every second of every shot. Horror enthusiasts have often pinpointed it as being the creepiest of the Annabelle movies. So if you typically shy away from horror movies, even horror movie chains, Annabelle Creation might be worth it just for its sheer horror and intensity.
Why Watch Annabelle Creation First Chronologically?
It explains how Annabelle got her spiritual connection to whatever force it is that follows her. It is given a heart-wrenching backstory, and the viewer gets to see the series of events leading up to the 2014 Annabelle installment. But, if this were the first time you saw Annabelle the horror movie, seeing it a second time could be effective in order to witness its surprises after knowing of Annabelle’s further exploits.
2. Annabelle (2014)
Source: IMDb
- Director: John R. Leonetti
- IMDb: Approximately 5.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 28% critics, 35% audience
Annabelle was the film that introduced America to the creepy doll.
The movie centers on the 1960s and follows a couple as they prepare for their newborn’s arrival. The new baby’s dad buys his wife a vintage doll that, unbeknownst to him, carries the spirit of a satanic cult member. Soon after a home invasion, the doll becomes associated with a series of scary occurrences. The horror movie focuses directly on Mia and her newborn.
What Is the Review?
The horror movie Annabelle was widely viewed as a moderate disappointment by critics as a franchise extender, as it only received 28% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and only a meager 35% from audiences. The critic’s reviews of Annabelle criticize its excessive use of typical horror tropes, while they feel the narrative failed to fully use the effective introduction of Annabelle in the previous series’ sequel, which is Conjuring. But it is still very appreciated by horror fans. Critics and audiences alike point to its spookiness and creepy sequences.
Why Should I Care?
It established the doll as a vessel for evil, so it explains the series of paranormal horrors that ensue in its successors. It bridges the gap between what the doll is and what it will soon become.
3. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Source: IMDb
- Director: Gary Dauberman
- IMDb: Approximately 5.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 64% critics, 70% audience
The third movie in the series brings Annabelle back home.
After Annabelle is taken care of, the doll is placed in a room with other supernatural artifacts to contain it. When the room is finally opened, the movie becomes a haunted-house flick as the possessed doll unleashes a range of spirits from past experiments.
What Do the Audiences Think?
As Annabelle Creation had a rather satisfactory audience score, Annabelle Comes Home does as well, with a score of 70% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes (though it only has 64% from critics). The average spectator thought it was a fun and scary movie overall, but audiences believe that the only weakness is that the characters and storyline can be quite unremarkable. The spirits and special effects were where all of its emphasis lay, and they surely delivered a fun watch.
When Should You Watch It Chronologically?
The story is set in 1972, when Annabelle is already in the Warrens’ possession. But at the beginning, it begins with an original timeline sequence involving the doll. Thus, the date of the movie is somewhat ambiguous. For a three-movie run, watch this third installment last.
Other Horror Movies To Watch
Final Thoughts!
The order of Annabelle Movies can be quite simple once you understand release date order and story chronological order as distinctly different.
While the film was rather poorly received by critics, it gained much strength when it turned into a trilogy with Annabelle: Creation as well as Annabelle Comes Home. These are recognized much higher by RT score, and audiences all over the world, making it a common watch for supernatural horror fans.
Lights out, door locked, your watching order must be chosen wisely. I mean, Annabelle is a rather unwelcome guest, regardless of whether or not she possesses an innocent-looking doll to pose as a host for a terrifying journey.
