First Appearance: The Conjuring (2013)
Played By: Various puppeteers and performers; possessed by the demon Malthus
Kill Count: Indirect but significant; causes deaths via manipulation and possession
The Conjuring (2013)
Annabelle’s terrifying presence begins subtly in The Conjuring (2013). The film opens with a cold case retelling involving two nursing students who come to believe their doll is haunted. Investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren confirm that Annabelle is not haunted — but possessed by a demon, one that’s using the doll as a conduit to attract and attach to a soul. Though only briefly seen, Annabelle’s glassy-eyed stare, smeared features, and passive presence leave a lasting impression. Her introduction here lays the groundwork for an expanded lore that would branch into its own film series, positioning her as the demonically cursed doll at the center of the Conjuring Universe.
Annabelle (2014)
Annabelle expands on the doll’s backstory — or at least what appears to be one. Set in 1967, the film follows a young couple, Mia and John, who are terrorized after cultists invade their home and one of them — Annabelle Higgins — dies while holding the doll. Soon after, the doll becomes the vessel for a demonic entity. What’s chilling here isn’t Annabelle’s physical movement — she doesn’t walk or talk — but the way the demon manipulates the environment, causes hallucinations, and lures victims toward death or sacrifice.
Though met with mixed critical reception, Annabelle was a box office hit and established a key rule in the series: Annabelle is a conduit, not the demon itself — but that makes her no less deadly.
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Annabelle: Creation serves as a prequel and one of the strongest entries in the franchise. Set in the 1950s, it tells the story of a grieving couple who invite orphaned girls into their home years after the death of their daughter — Annabelle “Bee” Mullins. The couple, desperate to connect with their child, unwittingly invite a demonic presence that attaches itself to Bee’s old porcelain doll.
Here, we see the origins of Annabelle’s evil — not as a ghost, but as a demonic force disguised as a child’s memory. The film leans heavily into suspense and isolation, with several standout scenes involving the dumbwaiter, scarecrow, and wheelchair-bound Janice — who eventually becomes Annabelle Higgins, tying into the first film. This entry deepened the mythos and revealed just how manipulative and patient the demon attached to the doll truly is.
Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Annabelle Comes Home shifts the focus to the Warren family and their infamous artifact room. Set shortly after the events of The Conjuring, the story follows the couple’s daughter Judy Warren and her babysitters, who are left alone in the house — with Annabelle locked behind sacred glass.
When the glass is broken, Annabelle acts as a beacon, awakening other cursed objects and entities. Ghosts, spirits, and demonic presences erupt in a night of chaos — including the Ferryman, the Bride, and the Werewolf of the Occult. Annabelle herself never needs to move; her influence alone spreads evil like a plague, making her the centerpiece of the Conjuring Universe’s supernatural force.
This film reframed Annabelle as a supernatural amplifier — a doll that doesn’t just haunt its owner but weakens the boundaries between worlds.
Cultural Impact & Other Appearances
Annabelle has appeared in:
- The Conjuring 2 (2016) — briefly seen in the Warrens’ collection
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) — referenced in discussions of demonic manipulation
- Comic adaptations, fan films, and viral TikTok trends
- NECA and Mezco Toyz figures, replica dolls, T-shirts, Funko Pops, and official merchandise
- Halloween attractions based on the Warrens’ museum and the Annabelle case
- The real-life Raggedy Ann-style doll remains enclosed in a locked glass case, allegedly still dangerous
League Placement
Annabelle is placed in the Premier Class Tier — a supernatural force whose legend spans decades of demonic influence, cultural fear, and box office dominance.