6 Movies Like The Conjuring for Supernatural Horror Fans
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6 Movies Like The Conjuring for Supernatural Horror Fans

6 Movies Like The Conjuring for Haunted-House and Supernatural Horror Fans

Key takeaways

  • For a similar directorial style: Choose Insidious.
  • For another story in the same universe: Start with Annabelle.
  • For a classic haunted-house setup: Watch The Amityville Horror (1979).
  • The best pick depends on what you want more of.

Table of contents

If you’re looking for movies like The Conjuring, start with Insidious for James Wan’s supernatural scarecraft, Annabelle or The Nun for stories from the same franchise universe, and Sinister for a family caught in a dark mystery. Each offers a different version of what makes The Conjuring work: an ominous presence, rising tension, and ordinary people facing something they can’t explain.

The best pick depends on what you want more of. Some films focus on investigators and paranormal lore; others trade that setup for a terrifying home, a family in danger, or a slower, more atmospheric buildup.

What makes a movie feel like The Conjuring?

James Wan’s 2013 film follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they help a family experiencing frightening events in a farmhouse. Its mix of haunted-house suspense, supernatural investigation, family peril, and carefully built scares makes it a useful starting point for finding similar films. It was inspired by claims about a real investigation, but that framing shouldn’t be taken as proof that the reported supernatural events happened. The film’s background and haunted-house approach have also been discussed by critics who differ on how effectively its familiar genre elements work. IndieWire’s review is one example of a more skeptical response.

The recommendations below aren’t an objective ranking of which film is scariest. They’re grouped by the elements they share with The Conjuring—and by the kind of horror experience you may be after.

Closest matches for The Conjuring fans

1. Insidious (2010): More supernatural horror from James Wan

For the closest match in filmmaking style, try Insidious. Like The Conjuring, it was directed by James Wan and centers on a family threatened by a supernatural force. It leans into eerie images and escalating dread rather than a paranormal-investigation story, so the connection is more about atmosphere and scare-building than plot.

Choose Insidious if you want a similar supernatural mood but a different set of characters and mythology. It’s a natural next pick for viewers drawn to Wan’s approach to suspense; it isn’t a continuation of The Conjuring story. The two films are often grouped together in similarity listings, though that kind of list is best treated as a starting point rather than a definitive ranking.

2. Annabelle (2014): Stay in The Conjuring universe

If you want more of the same franchise lore, Annabelle is the most direct choice. The film expands on the ominous doll introduced in The Conjuring and shifts the focus to a new set of characters and a different haunting.

That shared connection makes Annabelle an easy recommendation, but it doesn’t guarantee the same experience: the film has its own story and emphasis. Pick it when the franchise’s supernatural world interests you more than finding a close match in pacing or scares. Annabelle is regularly listed alongside The Conjuring in collections of similar films, as are other franchise entries. See the related titles.

3. Sinister (2012): A family faces a disturbing mystery

Sinister suits viewers who want the family-in-danger element of The Conjuring paired with a darker mystery. Rather than following paranormal investigators, it builds its story around a family and the disturbing clues that point toward a supernatural threat.

It’s a good choice if you prefer horror that lets its central mystery deepen the unease. The resemblance to The Conjuring is tonal and thematic, not a shared universe or a direct parallel in plot. For viewers who want a haunted-home setup specifically, the next two picks are closer fits.

More haunted-house horror

4. The Amityville Horror (1979): A classic family haunting

For an older take on a family terrorized at home, try the 1979 The Amityville Horror. Its haunted-house premise makes it a clear companion to The Conjuring, which likewise places family fear at the center of the story.

The two films are sometimes discussed in connection with the Warrens and haunted-house stories, but The Amityville Horror is a separate film, not an installment in the The Conjuring universe. Treat the resemblance as a shared premise and cultural association, not a continuation. Reviews of The Conjuring have noted the broader relationship between the film’s subject matter and the haunted-house tradition. Scene-Stealers discusses that context.

5. The Nun (2018): A darker corner of the shared universe

The Nun is another franchise-connected option, built around the demonic figure introduced in The Conjuring 2. It takes the story away from a modern family home and into a more gothic setting, giving the film a different atmosphere from the original.

Choose it if you’re curious about the franchise’s supernatural mythology and want a change of setting. If what you liked most was watching the Warrens investigate a case, this isn’t the closest match; if you want a related antagonist and more franchise lore, it makes sense to add to your list. It appears alongside The Conjuring in similarity listings, though shared-universe status is a more useful reason to watch it than any claim that the films are identical in style. Related titles are listed here.

6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019): More haunted-object horror

For another franchise option, Annabelle Comes Home continues the doll’s story and draws on the collection of supernatural objects associated with the Warrens. It’s a reasonable pick if you want to stay within the same fictional world after Annabelle.

This is less of a fresh alternative to The Conjuring than an invitation to explore its connected stories. If you’re new to the franchise, watching Annabelle first will give you more context for the doll. Similarity lists include this film among titles related to The Conjuring, but the more meaningful link for viewers is its place in the broader franchise. See the related-movie listing.

Which movie should you watch first?

  • For a similar directorial style: Choose Insidious.
  • For another story in the same universe: Start with Annabelle.
  • For a family facing a sinister mystery: Try Sinister.
  • For a classic haunted-house setup: Watch The Amityville Horror (1979).
  • For more franchise lore and a different setting: Pick The Nun.
  • For another story centered on the Annabelle doll: Continue with Annabelle Comes Home.

If you want the closest match without repeating The Conjuring’s exact setup, begin with Insidious. If what you want is more of the franchise itself, go with Annabelle; for a separate haunted-house story, try The Amityville Horror.