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The latest Conjuring film, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, is nearly here. So what better time to revisit the entire franchise than now? In order to prep yourself for the new, horrifying installment, you’ll want to watch the series from start-to-finish — which includes the 2014 horror Annabelle, along with the film’s prequel (Annabelle: Creation) and sequel (Annabelle Comes Home). The Conjuring series all boast the “Based on a True Story” label — but does that include Annabelle? We have answers.
The creepy porcelain doll made her debut in the very first Conjuring film in 2013, later earning her own spinoff in 2014. The first film follows John Form (Ward Horton) and his expectant wife Mia (Annabelle Wallis), who purchase a vintage doll in a white dress to welcome their new baby. But the gift soon turns into a nightmare when devil worshippers invade their home to launch a violent attack. When a bit of blood is dripped on the doll, she turns evil. The prequel traced the origins of Annabelle, and most recently, the sequel tapped Conjuring duo Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) to look into the mystery of the doll.
But what, if any, of the story is real? Here’s everything you need to know about the truth behind the Annabelle films:
Is Annabelle based on a true story?
No. Nothing about the story in Annabelle is based on real events — John and Mia are fictional characters. The films are, however, based on the real Annabelle doll, a normal-looking Raggedy Ann Doll with no porcelain, like in the film.
Are Annabelle: Creation and Annabelle Comes Home based on true stories?
Again, no. Ed and Lorraine Warren are based on real people — when they show up in the third film, though their story is not based on any real-life occurrences.
Is The Conjuring franchise based on a true story?
Yes! Sort of! The Conjuring films are based on true stories. Or at least, stories that the Warrens claimed were true (your mileage may vary on the whole “ghosts are real” side of things). The films follow investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they unpack paranormal activities, and all of the stories are drawn from what they said at the time were real-life experiences.
Where is Annabelle available to stream?
Annabelle, along with the film’s sequel and prequel, is available to stream on HBO Max. It’s also streaming for free on Tubi, though you won’t find the other Annabelle movies there.
