The ‘Insidious’ horror movies have gained popularity for their effective jump scares and creepy supernatural elements, and the recipe has worked so far considering that ‘Insidious’ franchise consists of 5 movies currently all released in the span of 13 years. Since the franchise also has a somewhat jumbled timeline, we decided to put down this guide on how to watch all ‘Insidious’ movies in chronological order so you can enjoy the universe with more understanding.
Editor’s Note: This watch order has been updated in November 2023 and reflects the current state of the franchise.
All 5 ‘Insidious’ movies in release date order
The first ‘Insidious’ movie was released back in 2010, and it was massively successful; despite the latter half of the movie being almost completely disconnected from the phenomenal first half, it still grew into an entire franchise and here’s the release date order:
- ‘Insidious‘ (2010)
- ‘Insidious: Chapter 2‘ (2013)
- ‘Insidious: Chapter 3‘ (2015)
- ‘Insidious: The Last Key‘ (2018)
- ‘Insidious: The Red Door‘ (2023)
- ‘Thread: An Insidious Tale’ (TBA)
Are all ‘Insidious’ movies connected? What’s the best order to watch them?
All ‘Insidious’ movies are connected and exist in the same shared universe. But there is a catch: they weren’t released in their proper chronological order. If you’re just getting started with the franchise and you aren’t interested in the proper continuity, then I suppose you can watch them in release date order. However, if this is your second or third rewatch, then I would recommend that you watch them in their chronological order.
All ‘Insidious’ movies in chronological order
While it is indeed true that all of those films happened in the same cinematic universe and the same timeline, what you need to know is that the events in the film are not exactly linear. Here’s the proper chronological order of ‘Insidious’ franchise:
- ‘Insidious: Chapter 3’
- ‘Insidious: The Last Key’
- ‘Insidious’
- ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’
- ‘Insidious: The Red Door’
1. ‘Insidious: Chapter 3’ (2015)
The third installment in the ‘Insidious’ series, titled ‘Chapter 3,’ serves as a prequel, taking place just before the first film. It revolves around Elise Rainier, a crucial character in the franchise, who initially refuses to enter the supernatural realm. Despite her reluctance, Elise is convinced to use her psychic powers by friends Specs and Tucker to help a teenager haunted by The Man Who Can’t Breathe.
2. ‘Insidious: The Last Key’ (2018)
‘Insidious: The Last Key’ follows the events of ‘Chapter 3′ and provides insight into Elise’s past. Flashbacks reveal her childhood, where she unwittingly released the demonic entity Key Face, leading to tragedy in her family. As Elise confronts Key Face in the present, her niece Imogen, aided by Specs and Tucker, helps rescue her, setting up events that connect to the Lamberts’ home and foreshadow Elise’s role in the first ‘Insidious’ film, culminating in a call that foretells her undoing.
3. ‘Insidious’ (2010)
The 2010 film ‘Insidious,’ while first in the franchise, is actually third when it comes to chronology. It introduces the Lambert family, who becomes entangled in Elise’s past mistakes. The storyline revolves around Dalton, who unknowingly travels to The Further in his sleep, leading to his spirit being trapped by The Lipstick-Face Demon. Despite a successful rescue by his father, Josh, and the apparent reunification of the family, Elise discovers that Josh has been possessed by The Bride in Black, resulting in a shocking and deadly turn of events that sets the stage for the sequel.
4. ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ (2013)
‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ continues the story from the first film, with Josh being investigated for Elise’s murder, unaware of his possession by The Bride in Black. A flashback reveals Elise’s attempt to suppress Josh’s psychic abilities in 1986, protecting him from The Bride in Black and explaining his lack of awareness of his powers.
5. ‘Insidious: The Red Door’ (2023)
Set nine years after ‘Insidious: Chapter 2,’ ‘Insidious: The Red Door’ follows Dalton and Josh as they confront lingering demons from The Further. The film revisits traumatic events from the sequel, particularly when Josh, possessed by The Bride in Black, terrorized his family. In a relatively straightforward plot for the series, Dalton and Josh team up to permanently trap the Lipstick-Face Demon in The Further, bringing a sense of resolution and hope for the long-suffering Lambert family.
Where to watch the above-mentioned movies?
‘Insidious,’ ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ and ‘Insidious: Chapter 3’ can be streamed on Max. ‘Insidious: The Last Key’ can only be rented from Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube as no major streaming services have the movie in its library due to licensing. The latest installment, ‘Insidious: The Red Door’ can be streamed on Netflix or rented from the aforementioned digital marketplaces.
Will there be more ‘Insidious’ movies?
We know that ‘Insidious’ franchise spinoff is in the works titled ‘Thread: An Insidious Tale.’ The project has no release date and we don’t know what the plot is about but we will update this when more information is released. In any case, ‘Insidious’ franchise has a bright future.
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