Unlike most evil dolls, Annabelle herself actually isn't the danger – it's the demonic entity that uses her as a conduit to malevolently interact with the real world and the fact that Annabelle serves as a sort of beacon that attracts supernatural entities of various stripes. When Annabelle's around, nothing good is likely to happen. The Annabelle film series' titular doll Annabelle has headlined three movies to date, and considering they've raked in a combined $790 million worldwide, there's absolutely no reason to doubt that a fourth outing will materialize. For now, though, it's time to rank the Annabelle movies.

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3. Annabelle (2014)

When it comes to any kind of horror movie series, there's usually a lot of love for the first entry. The first movie is the entry point for the audience and the one that holds the most favor. Rarely is the first entry in a horror series the worst, but that's definitely the case with Annabelle in the Annabelle film series.

That's not to say that the first of the Annabelle movies is unwatchable or bad, it's just not as good as the rest of the movies and indulges in cliché storytelling, predictable twists, and cheap scares. As the first spinoff of The Conjuring, it came up far short of that film's greatness, and were it not for a huge overseas gross, it's possible this might've spelled an early end to the Annabelle solo line, as even diehard horror fans tended to dislike its debut.

2. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

While Annabelle Comes Home isn't the best Annabelle movie, it's easily a huge step up from the first Annabelle, and benefits from the presence, albeit brief, of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the Warrens. The story proper centers on the Warrens' daughter Judy, her babysitter Mary Ellen, and Mary Ellen's troublemaker friend Daniella, giving an interesting look into the Warren household. When a curious Daniella proceeds to stir all the Warrens' cursed objects awake, the three are in for a night of sheer terror.

Annabelle Comes Home is pretty good as far as mainstream theatrical horror goes, but at times also feels like a parade of the different further spinoffs Warner Bros. wants to make, as more and more monsters are introduced that could potentially appear in other Conjuring movies. Still, it works well for what it is, producing some creepy moments, effective scares, and likable performances.

1. Annabelle: Creation (2017)

There are a lot of factors that make Annabelle: Creation the best Annabelle movie to date. The first is the hiring of director David F. Sandberg, fresh off his debut Lights Out, and right before he'd get the job of directing Shazam!. The second is an effective period setting that feels real, as well as a creepy old house location that starts to feel claustrophobic. The third is really great performances from its younger cast, including Lulu Wilson, who had already impressed in the prior year's improved prequel Ouija: Origin of Evil.

Add those elements to well-earned jump scares, some surprisingly harsh deaths, and a brilliant ending that ties back to the first film, and one has the recipe for haunted doll success. Annabelle: Creation isn't just the best of the Annabelle movies, it's also the scariest of the Annabelle movies.

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How To Watch The Annabelle and Conjuring Movies In Order

While the Annabelle film series may vary in quality, there are some who want to revisit the Conjurverse by watching the movies in order. Seeing all the Conjurverse films provides a wider context for the Annabelle movies, putting certain story elements into perspective as a part of a wider and more expansive storyline. The Conjurverse includes seven movies, all with ties to the Warren family and their supernatural experiences. Here's how to watch the Conjurverse movies in the order they came out:

• The Conjuring (2013)
• Annabelle (2014)
• The Conjuring 2 (2016)
• Annabelle: Creation (2017)
• The Nun (2018)
• Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
• The Nun 2 (2023)

For those who want to see the Conjurverse movies in chronological order, the list looks a little different. Here are the Annabelle and The Conjuring movies in chronological order:

• The Nun
• The Nun 2
• Annabelle Creation
• Annabelle
• The Conjuring
• Annabelle Comes Home
• The Conjuring 2
• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

There are also more movies set in The Conjuring's sprawling universe still in development, though there is no official word on another Annabelle movie just yet.