Every Movie With Annabelle Doll Ranked From Worst to Best

The stark contrast between the real Annabelle doll and her cinematic counterpart is an example of the power of filmmaking in transforming the innocuous into the utterly terrifying. The actual Annabelle is a Raggedy Ann doll, a seemingly harmless children’s toy with a gentle, embroidered face. Yet, through clever design, chilling soundscapes, and unsettling true case adaptation choices, the Conjuring Universe has filled the movie version with a scary presence that chills viewers to the bone. The chilling gaze of Annabelle, the terror doll, has haunted the silver screen across multiple installments in the Conjuring universe.

Prepare to open the doors of the basements and step into the unsettling world of this figure as her films are ranked, from the least to the most terrifying.

Annabelle (2014)

The inaugural Annabelle film, released in 2014 and directed by John R. Leonetti, regrettably stands as the weakest entry. This initial outing, a loose interpretation of Rosemary’s Baby, introduces the doll into the home of a new mother, Mia, with a demon seeking her soul. Adding to the so-called wow doll collection of hers. The narrative struggles to maintain interest or deliver genuine scares, often feeling dull rather than frightening. Despite its premise involving a demonic doll, the movie was largely devoid of thrilling moments, with critics often describing it as boring and unable to evoke the fear expected from a supernatural horror film.

Despite its shortcomings, a singular sequence set within the apartment building’s eerie basement manages to evoke a fleeting sense of dread. However, this brief moment of effectiveness is insufficient to salvage a film largely lacking the thrills one expects from a demonic doll story.

This was not the end; rather, it was just the beginning, which started from the closed cupboard doors filled with pages of the Bible. A significant improvement emerged with the next chapter, wait! The previous chapter, to be precise.

Annabelle: Creation (2017)

Following the uninspired debut, the franchise experienced a remarkable resurgence with Annabelle: Creation, a prequel released in 2017 and directed by David F. Sandberg. This film delves into the origins of the sinister doll, focusing on a group of orphan girls and a nun who find shelter in the secluded home of a doll maker and his grieving wife. The story unfolds as one of the girls unwittingly awakens the demonic forces lurking within the house.

In one of the most unsettling sequences, the young, polio-stricken orphan named Janice finds herself trapped in a darkened room, her wheelchair offering no escape. As she desperately tries to flee, the wicked entity, initially appearing as the ghost of the doll-maker’s daughter, relentlessly pursues her. Shadows twist and grimace, revealing glimpses of a ridiculous demon that hurls her violently, ending in a truly horrifying moment of possession.

David F. Sandberg masterfully crafts an atmosphere of pervasive dread and tension, rectifying the narrative and atmospheric deficiencies of its previous movie. The film is a meticulously constructed creep-show, demonstrating that the Conjuring universe possesses the capacity for course correction when skilled filmmakers are at the helm, delivering a genuinely unsettling experience.

In the growing pace of horror, do not defy the silent wisdom of the elders when they warn away from an unknown threshold or a forbidden door or restrict touching some beautiful pieces. Their words are not mere suggestions, but echoes of unseen dangers.

Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Annabelle Comes Home, released in 2019 and directed by Gary Dauberman, represents the pinnacle of this trilogy. This film transforms the Warrens’ cursed artifact room into a cinematic haunted house, where the wicked doll is supposedly contained. However, when the Warrens depart, leaving their young daughter Judy, her babysitter Mary Ellen, and friend Daniela alone, a curious act unleashes Annabelle and awakens all the other cursed objects within the house.

With each delicate, ill-advised touch, ancient, cursed objects stir from their rest, awakening a symphony of terror. A samurai armor, once a silent guard, now clangs with a spectral warrior. The unsettling chime of a possessed antique music box fills the air, summoning unseen entities. A forgotten board game, its pieces scattered, now struggles with ghostly hands reaching out from its depths.

The Annabelle trilogy, while experiencing an uneven start, ultimately delivered increasingly effective and entertaining horror experiences. On IMDb as of August 3, 2025, Annabelle (2014) is rated 5.5/10, Annabelle: Creation (2017) is rated 6.5/10, and Annabelle Comes Home (2019) is rated 5.9/10, making Annabelle: Creation the highest ranked among the three. The Conjuring Universe has made a terrifying paranormal plot of interconnected supernatural horrors, all stemming from the true cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren. From demonic nuns to cursed dolls, these films consistently deliver goosebumps centered on the battle between faith and evil. The saga is set to conclude with the highly anticipated fifth installment, The Conjuring: Last Rites, arriving in cinemas soon.

Which movie featuring the Annabelle doll is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments below.