Insidious: Chapter 2

Play trailer

Insidious: Chapter 2

PG-13

2013

1h 45m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

128 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Soon after their showdown with evil spirits that possessed their son, the Lamberts, Renai (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Patrick Wilson), are ready for their lives to return to normal. However, something still is seriously off, especially with Josh, who -- unbeknown to Renai -- is possessed too. In order to free Josh's soul and finally defeat the malevolent forces around them, Lorraine Lambert (Barbara Hershey) and her ghost-hunting friends investigate the past to save her family's future.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Insidious: Chapter 2 is decidedly short on the tension and surprises that made its predecessor so chilling.

Read Critics Reviews

Wesley Morris

Grantland

Most of [Wan's] peers shoot a bunch of scenes and let the editor make a smoothie. Wan no longer relies on visual gibberish. He has become a classicist in that sense.

Oct 4, 2013

Full Review

Jesse Hassenger

AV Club

Characters in Whannell/Wan screenplays speak with the first-draft expository bluntness of a cheap '50s thriller, letting the characters step on some of the best reveals.

Rated: C+

Sep 17, 2013

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Boo, indeed.

Rated: 1/5

Sep 15, 2013

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

While the first entry struggled to find the right blend of horror and comedy, this entry really finds its footing to make for an overall effective outing.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 20, 2023

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Feels more like an extended fourth act to the first film that its own beast, but Insidious: Chapter 2 still manages to generate some genuine scares.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 10, 2023

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A direct sequel to the first Insidious, albeit with far less impact and few new innovations. Whanell's perplexing choice of villain backstory is galling in 2013 and has aged even worse. Is this the worst Insidious film in the franchise?

Rated: 2/5

Jul 5, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alexander S

Insidious: Chapter 2 is a worthy follow-up that preserves the spine-tingling tension of its predecessor, even if the storyline doesn't quite live up to the first film's standard, that’ll likely leave viewers with a sense of déjà vu rather than a truly novel experience. Grading: B-

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

Full Review

Nathan J.

Rating: 6.1/10 Insidious: Chapter 2 is a competent but inferior sequel that gets bogged down in its own mythology. While it has some creative and scary moments, the film sacrifices the original's simplicity and terror for a messy and convoluted plot. Highlights - Creative Direction: James Wan's direction is stylish, and he stages effective scare sequences. - Clever Plot Twist: The film's use of time-bending within "The Further" is a brilliant and inventive idea. - Great Cast: The cast continues to shine, particularly Patrick Wilson and the fan-favorite team of Specs, Tucker, and Elise. Criticisms - Convoluted Plot: The story is a messy and confusing mix of complex lore and mystery. - Less Scary: The film relies more on complex plot twists than atmospheric dread, making it less frightening than the original. - Tonal Shifts: The film's shifts between serious horror and goofy paranormal investigation can be frustrating and uneven. Verdict Insidious: Chapter 2 is a disappointing sequel that fails to recapture the terrifying magic of the original. While it's a necessary watch for fans of the franchise, it's a messy and less frightening film that proves more is not always better.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

Full Review

sam t

awfull sequel just boring

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

Full Review

Tommy D

Stop with the first. Stupid movie

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/18/25

Full Review

Ry N

This movie continues right where it left off, showing more of the father's past and the woman in white. The added comedy to the film makes it feel fan made and the number of ghosts popping out yelling at the camera gives it similar thrills you'd get at a haunted house.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/03/25

Full Review

Alejandra C

Yes. Wan delivers the real definition of horror. Dare you not to flinch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/05/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

James Wan

Director

Patrick Wilson

Josh Lambert

Rose Byrne

Renai Lambert

Barbara Hershey

Lorraine Lambert

Lin Shaye

Elise Rainier

Ty Simpkins

Dalton Lambert

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - The Bride in Black Murderer

2:36

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - Escaping The Further

3:15

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - The Basement Fight

1:29

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - Brutal Possession Attack

3:08

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - Psycho Ghost Murderer

2:29

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - There's Someone Standing Behind You

3:03

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - Slapped by a Ghost

2:13

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - What Does Parker Crane Holding Behind His Back?

2:46

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - Closet Ghosts Scare

2:37

Insidious: Chapter 2: Official Clip - Abusive Mother Ghost

3:08

View more videos

Insidious: Chapter 3

56%

51%

Insidious: Chapter 3

Watchlist

Ouija

6%

24%

Ouija

Watchlist

The Lazarus Effect

13%

23%

The Lazarus Effect

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Lazarus Effect

Insidious

66%

62%

Insidious

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Insidious

Jessabelle

29%

31%

Jessabelle

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Insidious: Chapter 2 and More

Weekly Ketchup: Insidious 3 Gets the Greenlight

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Insidious Soars to Chilling $41M Debut

View more photos

Synopsis

Soon after their showdown with evil spirits that possessed their son, the Lamberts, Renai (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Patrick Wilson), are ready for their lives to return to normal. However, something still is seriously off, especially with Josh, who -- unbeknown to Renai -- is possessed too. In order to free Josh's soul and finally defeat the malevolent forces around them, Lorraine Lambert (Barbara Hershey) and her ghost-hunting friends investigate the past to save her family's future.

Director: James Wan
Producer: Jason Blum, Oren Peli
Screenwriter: Leigh Whannell
Distributor: FilmDistrict
Production Co: Blumhouse, Sony Pictures Television, Oren Peli
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Intense Seq of Terror/Violence)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 10, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $83.6M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Datasat, Dolby Digital

Most Popular at Home Now