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The Conjuring

Play trailer 2:27 Poster for The Conjuring R Released Jul 19, 2013 1h 51m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 227 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
In 1970, paranormal investigators and demonologists Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson) Warren are summoned to the home of Carolyn (Lili Taylor) and Roger (Ron Livingston) Perron. The Perrons and their five daughters have recently moved into a secluded farmhouse, where a supernatural presence has made itself known. Though the manifestations are relatively benign at first, events soon escalate in horrifying fashion, especially after the Warrens discover the house's macabre history.
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The Conjuring

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Critics Consensus

Well-crafted and gleefully creepy, The Conjuring ratchets up dread through a series of effective old-school scares.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com The Conjuring's use of tension, atmosphere, and suggestion prove that the scariest thing to an audience has nothing to do with what you see, but what you don't. Rated: B+ Apr 23, 2015 Full Review Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald Wan uses every horror cliche with blithe confidence. He knows no one is immune if the effects are sturdily built, and not too literal. Rated: 3.5/5 Oct 14, 2014 Full Review Scott Marks San Diego Reader The trailer for The Conjuring is scarier than most horror features of recent vintage, and the feature makes good on the promise. Rated: 3/5 Oct 14, 2014 Full Review Alan French Sunshine State Cineplex As the hellish experience expands and they [the Perrons] genuinely struggle to find hope, these small quirks turn into something far scarier. Rated: 8/10 Sep 4, 2025 Full Review Justin Kim Loud and Clear Reviews A perfect base template on how to create suspense and buildup. Rated: 4/5 Aug 12, 2025 Full Review Sebastian Zavala Kahn Me gusta el cine The makeup effects are believable, the film does not overuse cartoonish digital effects, and Wan's direction manages to develop a thick, dense atmosphere that compensates for some of the script's flaws. Full review in Spanish. Rated: 4.5/5 Nov 8, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

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Diego R That was sick!! Can’t wait to see part two on Wednesday!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/26/25 Full Review angelina always been my favorite horror movie! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/03/21 Full Review mC Definitely horror movie of the century Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/02/21 Full Review MAURIONA B With Halloween approaching I thought I'd review a classic. 2013’s “The Conjuring” is one of the most popular horror movies in the world and within the horror genre, causing it to dish off sequels and spin-offs as well as why I think it is in its own lane when it comes to horror and why it is deeper than people would think. The franchise is based on the real-life demonologist couple, Ed and Lorraine warren, investigating paranormal activity in 1977’s Connecticut. In the first film Ed and Lorraine investigate the Perrons family. The Perrons and their five daughters, after recently moving into a secluded farmhouse, encounter a supernatural presence that has made itself known. Though it starts very slowly, events soon escalate in a horrifying fashion, especially after the Warrens discover the house's macabre history. The cool thing about this movie is just the fact it's based on the very real lives of these people, and when I watched this for the first time and seeing those “based on a true story” subtle going up, it turns your brain a bit because of films like nightmare on elm street and Friday the 13th The idea of a huge zombie in a hokey mask or a dead man jumping through your dream killing people is pretty far-fetched but the chills you get seeing children being thrown and demons talking though people and knowing the this actual may have happen to someone changes the game in so many ways. As much as the Conjuring is about demons and casting them away there is a bigger theme that gets tossed around in their movies, love. The “love can defeat all” is one of the most common tropes found in either kid movies or corny action romances but never in a horror movie. This is something that is used in all of the films and I think another reason why it pulls on people’s hearts because it's about real people going through some type of problem that seems or is in the movies case “life or death” situation and being able to ask for help and someone giving back hope, sharing love and saying if you have faith and you stand strong against evil you will push through the darkness and reach the light, which is why this is so unique. Between the darkness they also show the tenderness of the family and Ed and Lorraine by having humor to break up those parts that can be rough to watch. I love these movies because of the characters. Ed and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) are the most consistent part of the movies, each one growing your love for them and the relationships they represent. Both are very protective of each other since they work different parts in their investigation, Lorraine has clairvoyant and psychic abilities, allowing her to see spirits, perceive spiritual energy, and communicate with the supernatural. In the movies when she uses her abilities, the impact it has on her is rough, showing her strength and loyalty she had to the families they were helping by pushing through it. Ed did more of the investigating with his investigator and demonologist skills, also his deep understanding of paranormal lore, plus the physical strength and determination to face supernatural entities creating an unstoppable duo. In the first one Ed is more on the protective side because of a case gone wrong which led to Lorraine in a very bad mental state, but Lorraine pushes against it wanting to get back to working on cases and on the Perrons case. Ed at first is hesitant not want her to go back in that space and really wanting to quite but Lorraine throughout the movie reminds him that “God brought us together for a reason” and that yes, the work they do is hard and dangerous but what’s the point of have the gift and knowledge that they have if they're not putting it to good use, which just adds to they’re love and pure kindness of the characters. Though we don’t get to spend a lot of time getting to know the family before the madness comes, the performance from the actor wouldn’t have you guessing for a second they weren't a family. Everyone fit in place and truly seemed to love each other even when the warren and their team set up station at the family house it seemed like the family just expand from the banter and lighthearted moments to them protecting each other. One of the reasons for its success is because of James Wan. Wan directed the film, but this was not his first big credits in horror, he had also directed the Saw and Insidious series. Wan is nothing but consistent when it comes to creating jump scares. Wan’s patient approach, building tension through scenes like the blindfolded hide-and-seek game had audience itching for a scare. Going back to the realness I was talked about before, even with the way the camera shakes and in production design creates a chilling and believable 1970s setting, enhancing the horror. All these things the love, tension, and scares made an amazing modern horror that took a haunting story and made it much more. Showing horror is more than gore. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/25 Full Review matthias s Rewatching *The Conjuring* as I dive back into this universe for the new release, I was reminded why James Wan is one of the best horror filmmakers out there. This isn’t just a “scary movie”—it’s a flat-out well-made film. The atmosphere is grim and tense from start to finish, and the camerawork is genuinely impressive, building suspense in ways that feel effortless. The acting is strong across the board, grounding the supernatural chaos in something believable, which makes the scares hit even harder. And wow, those scares—Wan balances eerie, unsettling shots with massive jumps that still catch me off guard. I remembered it being a fun horror flick, but I didn’t expect the level of craftsmanship on display here. Even if you’re not a horror fan, it’s worth watching just to admire the technical skill and storytelling. *The Conjuring* really earns its spot as a modern horror classic. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/19/25 Full Review Ben T The Conjuring stands as one of the finest horror films ever made. James Wan brings a brilliant, innovative touch to the haunted house genre, crafting suspense and scares with masterful precision. The storytelling is captivating from start to finish, pulling viewers into an experience that lingers long after the credits roll. This film has already cemented its place as a landmark in modern horror. It's an unforgettable masterpiece that not only redefined the genre but also gave rise to the hugely successful Conjuring universe. It’s a cinematic achievement that will be remembered for decades to come. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/14/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Conjuring

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1970, paranormal investigators and demonologists Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson) Warren are summoned to the home of Carolyn (Lili Taylor) and Roger (Ron Livingston) Perron. The Perrons and their five daughters have recently moved into a secluded farmhouse, where a supernatural presence has made itself known. Though the manifestations are relatively benign at first, events soon escalate in horrifying fashion, especially after the Warrens discover the house's macabre history.
Director
James Wan
Producer
Tony DeRosa-Grund, Peter Safran, Rob Cowan
Screenwriter
Chad Hayes, Carey W. Hayes
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Safran Company, Evergreen Media Group
Rating
R (Disturbing Violence and Terror)
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 19, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$137.4M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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