For more than a decade, The Conjuring Universe has defined modern horror. From James Wan’s original The Conjuring (2013) to spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun, the franchise has grossed over $2 billion worldwide and delivered some of the best horror jump scares of the 21st century. With The Conjuring: Last Rites closing out the story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, it’s the perfect time to revisit the scariest moments in the Conjuring movies.
Here are the Top 10 Scares in the Conjuring Universe that continue to haunt fans long after the credits roll.
10. The Crooked Man’s Introduction (The Conjuring 2)
A simple nursery rhyme becomes pure nightmare fuel when the Crooked Man steps out of the shadows. This distorted, stop-motion style apparition was so terrifying it sparked plans for his own spin-off.
9. Bathsheba on the Wardrobe (The Conjuring)
A masterclass in timing, James Wan made audiences jump out of their seats when Bathsheba suddenly appeared perched on top of the wardrobe, snarling down at the Perron children.
8. Demon in the Mirror (Annabelle Comes Home)
Judy Warren’s curiosity leads to one of the franchise’s most chilling visuals: a fleeting glimpse of a demon lurking in the cursed mirror of the Warrens’ artifact room. It’s a scare that makes you second-guess every reflection.
7. The Magazine Rack Flip (The Nun II)
The now-iconic image of Valak appearing as a magazine rack flips in the apparent random wind is an effective and creepy moment in The Nun II.
6. The Scarecrow Awakens (Annabelle Comes Home)
What begins as a quiet farmhouse scene escalates into terror when the scarecrow lurches to life. The silence before the scare is as unnerving as the payoff itself.
5. The Basement Clapping Game (The Conjuring)
The Perron family’s innocent game of hide-and-seek delivers one of the most effective jump scares in horror history. The sound of unseen hands clapping in the basement still gives audiences chills.
4. The Corridor Chase (The Nun)
Sister Irene’s candlelit walk down a shadowy corridor remains the standout scare of The Nun. Figures twist and shift until Valak finally lunges in one of the franchise’s most suspenseful sequences.
3. The Smurl Haunting’s Mirror Reveal (The Conjuring: Last Rites)
The haunted mirror that torments the Smurl family creates a disturbing new scare for the franchise. Lorraine’s demonic reflection is one of the most unsettling images in Last Rites.
2. The Possession in the Rafters (The Conjuring)
Bathsheba’s possession of Carolyn reaches horrifying intensity as her body contorts beneath the rafters. Equal parts exorcism and nightmare, this scene remains one of the most terrifying climaxes in the franchise.
1. Valak in the Dark Hallway (The Conjuring 2)
The scariest moment in the Conjuring Universe belongs to Valak’s slow-burn hallway reveal. As the shadow grows closer before lunging straight at Lorraine, it cements the demon nun as horror’s newest icon.
Final Thoughts
From cursed dolls to demonic nuns, the Conjuring movies have perfected the art of the jump scare. Each entry has delivered moments that leave audiences gripping their seats, proving why the franchise remains one of the biggest names in supernatural horror. With The Conjuring: Last Rites closing the Warrens’ case files, the scares may be ending on screen, but their legacy will keep haunting horror fans for years to come.
