Insidious Movies In Order [Chronological and by Release Date]: If you’re looking for a fright-filled marathon this weekend, look no further than the Insidious movies.
If you’re a fan of horror movies, then you’ve probably heard of the Insidious franchise. The four Insidious films in the series are all connected, and they tell a chilling story of ghosts, demonic possession, and hauntings.
Whether you’re revisiting the Insidious films or watching them for the first time, there are two options for the viewing order: following the exact release dates or allowing the narrative to unfold chronologically.
You can’t go wrong with either option; however, a chronological viewing may be more appealing if you want to learn all prequel backstories before getting involved with the characters. The story of the franchise revolves around the Lambert family and Elise Rainier, who help the family try to get away from the evil spirits in the house.
We’ll give you a brief overview of each movie and then tell you how to watch them. Trust us; it’s well worth it! So pop some popcorn, dim the lights, and settle for a truly spine-tingling experience.
To get the full effect, we recommend watching them in chronological order. This way, you’ll be able to see how the characters and story develop over time.
Insidious Movies in Chronological Order
- 1. Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)
- Insidious: The Last Key (2018)
- Insidious (2010)
- Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
1. Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)
It is the third film per the release date and the first movie chronologically. Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, The film stars Dermot Mulroney and Stefanie Scott, with Angus Sampson, Whannell, and Lin Shaye reprising their roles from the previous films.
The film is a prequel to the first two Insidious films and the third installment in the Insidious franchise. And it’s best to start with “Insidious: Chapter 3” to see Quinn Brenner, a teenager who believes her mother is attempting to contact her from beyond.
To communicate with her, she calls a paranormal investigator named Elise. She ventures into it further when Quinn is attacked by an evil entity wearing an oxygen mask named the “man who can’t breathe.” Elise notices an evil demon hungry and hunting for someone’s soul.
The opening of this film introduces us to Elise, who will become a crucial and life-saving figure in the series. The movie was successful at the box office and was praised for Whannell’s direction and the cast’s performances. It collected over $113 million with a production budget of $11 million.
2. Insidious: The Last Key (2018)
“Insidious: The Last Key” delves further into Elise’s life and how she came to work as a paranormal investigator. It is the fourth film in the Insidious series and is chronologically the second in the narrative’s timeline.
The movie is directed by Adam Robitel and written by Leigh Whannell, starring Lin Shaye, Angus Sampson, and Leigh Whannell star.
The Last Key is the most recent addition to the franchise, and while it follows on from Chapter 3, it is still a prequel to the previous two movies. The film also heavily features flashbacks to Elise’s childhood.
In The Last Key, Elise receives a phone call from a guy who claims his house is haunted. What Elise considers to be an ordinary job soon becomes considerably more dangerous.
The movie has a few twists and turns, which makes it exciting to watch. It also does a great job of providing a backstory for Elise’s character.
It was a commercial success, grossing over $168 million against its $10 million budget. If you have watched the previous film, then we recommend watching this one next.
3. Insidious (2010)
The “Insidious” movie was released in 2010 and is the first “Insidious” movie in the famous franchise. James Wan directed this supernatural horror film and is the first film in the series. The story follows Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, a couple who seek help from a group of parapsychologists after their son goes into a coma while investigating his family’s new home.
The movie focuses on the Lambert family, who have recently moved into a new home only to find that their son has fallen into a coma. After failed attempts to revive him, they seek help from paranormal investigator Elise Rainer (Lin Shaye), who discovers that an evil spirit is haunting their son.
The spirit haunting their son is after one of the members of the Lambert family, and it will stop at nothing to get to them.
“Insidious” had a production budget of $1.5 million, and the film grossed over $97 million worldwide.
It is a terrifying and suspenseful film that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The acting is top-notch, and the scares are plenty. So if you’re looking for a good horror movie to watch, the Insidious film series is the one for you.
4. Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
“Insidious” Chapter 2″ was released in 2013 and is the sequel to the 2010 film “Insidious.” This part is the second chapter in the Insidious franchise and the fourth in terms of in-story chronology.
Directed by James Wan, in this part, Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne reprise their roles as Josh and Renai Lambert, a husband and wife determined to learn what caused them to become dangerously linked to the spirit realm.
“Insidious: Chapter 2” provides all the information we need to figure out what happened to Josh Lambert. If you want to follow the narrative, watching them in chronological order makes the most sense, but if you’re going to see how they conclude, watching them in release date order will do the trick.
In any case, the Insidious films are still frightening today, and to many people, they remain some of the most frightening movies ever made. Instead, you should watch “Insidious” films if you are looking for outstanding horror movies.
Stay connected to BuddyTV to Keep an eye out for those demons in Insidious 5.
The Insidious franchise has been both a critical and commercial success, with each installment building on the scares of the last. The movies are anchored by a strong cast of characters who have become like family to horror fans. You should watch Insidious movies.
The franchise has also shown a willingness to experiment with different subgenres, giving viewers a new reason to be afraid with each entry.
FAQs About the “Insidious” Movies
Is “Insidious” Based on a True Story?
The inspiration for “Insidious” was taken from the real-life investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators. They documented many strange encounters with supernatural entities throughout their careers, which would later be featured in James Wan’s film “The Conjuring” (2013).
In particular, one case inspired a main plot point in “Insidious.” This was the story of a young boy named Dalton, who falls into a mysterious coma and encounters a dangerous spirit world. This plot point is taken directly from Ed Warren’s experiences with the Lutz family, who were terrorized by malevolent entities in their Amityville home in 1975.
While “Insidious” is certainly a work of fiction, there’s no denying that its roots are firmly planted in the real-life experiences of Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The film has become even more interesting to audiences over time as they have been able to learn more about the true stories that inspired the movie. This has only added to Insidious’ longevity and encouraged more fans of horror films to explore the world of paranormal investigations.
How many “Insidious” movies are there?
The series has four films; the third and fourth films are prequels of the first film.
Are all the “Insidious” movies connected?
Yes, all of the films in the franchise are connected, with the same characters and storyline; these horror films deliver the best experience of the spirit world.
What is the order of the “Insidious” movies as per the release date?
- Insidious – April 1, 2011
- Insidious: Chapter 2 – Sep. 13, 2013
- Insidious: Chapter 3 – June 5, 2015
- Insidious: The Last Key – Jan. 5, 2018
Will There Be More “Insidious” Movies?
The fifth installment of the Insidious series, entitled “Insidious 5,” has already begun production, and some illustrious individuals have signed on. The fifth film was confirmed in October 2020, with Patrick Wilson making his directorial debut.
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