Where to Watch Annabelle: The Complete 2025 Streaming & Rental Guide
The sinister stare of a porcelain doll has become one of the most recognizable images in modern horror. Annabelle, the malevolent conduit for demonic evil, has terrified audiences since her brief but unforgettable introduction in *The Conjuring*. Since then, she has spawned her own blockbuster trilogy and become a cornerstone of the highest-grossing horror franchise in history. Whether you’re a newcomer to The Conjuring Universe or a long-time fan looking to revisit the terror, one question always arises: where can you actually watch the Annabelle movies?
This guide is your definitive, one-stop resource for that answer. We’re not just going to tell you where to stream the main trilogy; we’re providing a complete roadmap to every single film in which Annabelle appears, complete with detailed plot summaries, viewing order recommendations, and direct links to stream, rent, or buy. We’ll separate the Hollywood horror from the real-world lore that inspired it, a story you can explore in our deep-dive article, is Annabelle a true story?
A Quick Note on Streaming Availability
The world of streaming is constantly changing. The information provided here is accurate for U.S. audiences as of September 2025. Streaming rights often shift between platforms like Max, Netflix, and Hulu. We will always prioritize the current subscription streaming home but will also provide stable options to rent or purchase the films digitally via services like Amazon Prime Video.
Quick Guide: Where to Watch Every Annabelle Movie Right Now
No time to waste? Here is the direct information you’re looking for. The table below shows the current U.S. streaming home for each movie in the Annabelle trilogy.
| Movie Title | Current Subscription Streaming (U.S.) | Rent or Buy Digitally |
|---|---|---|
| Annabelle (2014) | Max | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube |
| Annabelle: Creation (2017) | Max | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube |
| Annabelle Comes Home (2019) | Max | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube |
The Best Order to Watch the Annabelle Movies
Before you press play, you have a choice to make. Do you watch the films in the order they were released in theaters, or do you watch them in their chronological story order? While release order is perfectly fine, the unanimous fan consensus is that **chronological order provides a much richer and more rewarding viewing experience.** It allows you to see the curse of the doll unfold as a single, cohesive timeline.
The Official Chronological Viewing Order:
- Annabelle: Creation (2017) – The story begins in the 1940s and 50s.
- Annabelle (2014) – The story continues in 1967.
- The Conjuring (2013) – Annabelle’s story is introduced to the Warrens in 1968.
- Annabelle Comes Home (2019) – Takes place in 1969, shortly after the Warrens acquire the doll.
For the sake of this guide, we will break down each film in this superior chronological order.
The Annabelle Saga: A Chronological Viewing Guide
Now, let’s dive deep into each film. We’ll explore the plot (spoiler-free), explain its significance, and provide you with all the ways you can watch it right now.
1. Annabelle: Creation (2017)
The Story: This is the essential origin story. Twelve years after the tragic death of their young daughter, a dollmaker named Samuel Mullins and his wife Esther open their home to a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage. One of the girls, the polio-stricken Janice, discovers a locked room and an eerie porcelain doll. She unwittingly unleashes a powerful demonic entity that the Mullins had tried to contain, which now terrorizes the inhabitants of the isolated farmhouse.
Why It’s Essential: Many fans consider *Creation* to be the best film in the Annabelle trilogy. It’s a masterfully crafted haunted house film, relying on atmospheric dread and genuinely terrifying sequences over cheap jump scares. It expertly lays the groundwork for the entire Annabelle curse, explaining exactly how the demon came to inhabit the now-iconic doll. Its ending brilliantly connects directly to the beginning of the next film in the timeline.
Where to Watch Annabelle: Creation
Subscription Streaming: Currently available to stream on Max in the U.S.
Rent or Buy: You can also rent or purchase the film in HD or 4K on various platforms. This is the best option if you don’t have a Max subscription or if the movie leaves the service.
2. Annabelle (2014)
The Story: Set in 1967, twelve years after the events of *Creation*, the film follows expectant parents John and Mia Form. John gifts Mia the rare porcelain doll to complete her collection. Their idyllic life is shattered when their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult. During the attack, a female cultist dies while holding the doll, completing a ritual that transfers the powerful demonic entity into it. The Form family soon finds themselves tormented by an increasingly violent paranormal presence focused on claiming their baby’s soul.
Why It’s Essential: This is the film that launched the spin-off series. While not as critically acclaimed as its prequel/sequel, it’s a crucial piece of the timeline, showing the doll’s journey from the Mullins’ farmhouse into the wider world. It establishes the demon’s modus operandi: preying on families and seeking a human soul. For a much more detailed breakdown of its plot and themes, check out our complete Annabelle movie explained article.
Where to Watch Annabelle (2014)
Subscription Streaming: Currently available to stream on Max in the U.S.
Rent or Buy: Like the others, you can secure permanent digital ownership or rent it for a 48-hour viewing window through Amazon and other services.
3. The Conjuring (2013)
The Story: While not an “Annabelle” movie, her appearance here is what started it all. The film’s opening scene acts as a prologue, set in 1968. It shows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren concluding their investigation into the Annabelle case, involving two terrified nurses who believe the doll is haunted by a little girl’s ghost. The Warrens explain the truth—that the doll is a conduit for a demon—and take it to their occult museum for safe containment. The main plot of the film then shifts to the unrelated Perron family haunting.
Why It’s Essential: This is Annabelle’s debut. The 10-minute opening is a masterclass in horror filmmaking and is so effective that it launched an entire spin-off series. It’s our first introduction to the Warrens’ perspective on the doll and sets the stage for her role as a central artifact in their collection. You must watch this to understand how she ends up in their possession.
Where to Watch The Conjuring
Subscription Streaming: Currently available to stream on Max in the U.S.
Rent or Buy: This horror classic is widely available for digital rental and purchase.
4. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
The Story: Set shortly after the events of *The Conjuring*’s prologue in 1969, the Warrens are away for the night, leaving their young daughter Judy in the care of her babysitter, Mary Ellen. When Mary Ellen’s curious and grief-stricken friend Daniela sneaks into the forbidden occult museum, she foolishly unlocks Annabelle’s blessed glass case. The doll is unleashed, and she doesn’t just act on her own; she acts as a demonic beacon, activating all the other evil artifacts in the room. The three girls are forced to survive a night of terror as they’re hunted by a host of supernatural entities.
Why It’s Essential: This film is pure, unadulterated fun. It’s less a psychological horror and more of a “night at the haunted museum” thrill ride. It solidifies Annabelle’s role not just as a haunted doll, but as a conductor of evil, capable of amplifying the paranormal energy around her. It’s a fantastic showcase of the wider lore of The Conjuring Universe’s cursed objects.
Where to Watch Annabelle Comes Home
Subscription Streaming: Currently available to stream on Max in the U.S.
Rent or Buy: Complete your Annabelle marathon by renting or purchasing the final installment of her trilogy.
Beyond the Trilogy: Owning the Entire Universe
Watching the movies is one thing, but for the true collector and horror aficionado, owning the physical media or building a library of related literature is the next step. These stories have a rich background, pulling from the long and creepy history of haunted dolls that has fascinated cultures for centuries.
Annabelle 3-Film Collection
Own the complete story of the world’s most terrifying doll with this Blu-ray collection. It includes *Annabelle*, *Annabelle: Creation*, and *Annabelle Comes Home*, complete with behind-the-scenes special features.
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The Conjuring Universe 7-Film Collection
Why stop at Annabelle? This comprehensive collection includes all her films plus *The Conjuring* 1 & 2, *The Nun*, and more. It’s the perfect way to experience the entire interconnected story.
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Book: The Demonologist
Read the Warrens’ account of the “real” Annabelle case. This book is the primary source for the doll’s backstory. Explore more literary terrors in our guide to books about haunted dolls.
View on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to watch The Conjuring to understand the Annabelle movies?
You can enjoy the Annabelle trilogy on its own, especially if you watch it in chronological order starting with *Creation*. However, watching *The Conjuring* is highly recommended as it provides the essential context for how the doll ends up with the Warrens, which is the entire premise of *Annabelle Comes Home*.
2. Are the Annabelle movies on Netflix or Hulu in the U.S.?
As of September 2025, the *Annabelle* films and the majority of The Conjuring Universe are not available on Netflix or Hulu in the United States. Their primary streaming home has consistently been Max (formerly HBO Max) due to their distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures.
3. What is considered the scariest Annabelle movie?
While subjective, the critical and fan consensus generally points to *Annabelle: Creation* as the scariest and best-made film of the trilogy. It relies more on suspense and creative scares, while *Annabelle Comes Home* is often considered the most “fun” and *Annabelle* (2014) has some effective moments but is generally seen as the weakest entry.
4. I’m a total beginner. Where should I start?
The best possible starting point is to watch in chronological order as outlined in this guide. Begin with *Annabelle: Creation* (2017). It requires no prior knowledge and is a fantastic standalone horror film that will perfectly set you up for the rest of the saga.
