‘Insidious’ Movies in Order Chronologically and by Release Date

Insidious has grown from James Wan’s 2010 original into one of horror’s most reliable franchises, following the Lambert family and paranormal investigator Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) as they battle forces from a realm called The Further. Five films, a just-released sixth, and a spin-off on the way have made it one of the highest-grossing horror movie franchises of all time.

Watching the Insidious movies in chronological order isn’t as simple as watching them in release order, since the series loves jumping through timelines, sometimes within the same film. Chronological order lays out the story as it actually happened, while the release order builds to a more shocking conclusion. Here’s how to watch it either way.

‘Insidious’ Movies in Chronological Order

While some sticklers may prefer to watch the Insidious films in release order, watching them chronologically is arguably the best bet for viewers. This approach makes for a more cohesive narrative and a far more coherent timeline of events. If you want to watch this way, use the following breakdown as a viewing guide.

So, why does this method make the most sense? Here is an overview of how the story plays out if you watch the series in this order.

‘Insidious: Chapter 3’

Insidious: Chapter 3 serves as a prequel to the first two films and introduces Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) for the first time. Teenager Quinn Brenner (Stefanie Scott) believes her late mother is reaching out to her and seeks out Elise, only to draw the attention of a demon known as the “man who can’t breathe.” When it attacks Quinn, Elise ventures into The Further and finds herself facing a soul-hungry demon of her own. Dermot Mulroney also stars.

‘Insidious: The Last Key’

Insidious: The Last Key digs into Elise’s own history, flashing back to 1953 New Mexico, where a young Elise unknowingly unleashes a demonic spirit inside her childhood home. Her present-day investigation also brings her face-to-face with the Lambert family for the first time, and she accidentally leaves the door to The Further open in their house, setting up the events of the very first Insidious.

‘Insidious’

Insidious introduces audiences to the Lambert family, whose son, Dalton, falls into a coma after getting trapped in The Further. Elise realizes his father, Josh (Patrick Wilson), shares his son’s astral projection abilities, and Josh enters The Further himself to bring Dalton home, seemingly rescuing his family. But Josh comes back possessed, and the film ends on a cliffhanger when Elise’s body turns up dead in the Lambert home.

‘Insidious: Chapter 2’

Insidious: Chapter 2 picks up with Josh under investigation for Elise’s murder, unaware that he’s still possessed by the demon from the first film. Flashbacks to 1986 reveal how Elise once suppressed a young Josh’s own psychic abilities, knowledge his family now needs to free him. Once Josh returns to The Further and exorcises himself, the Lamberts choose to suppress their memories of the ordeal for good. It was designed as a clean ending for the story, though the franchise clearly had other plans.

‘Insidious: The Red Door’

Insidious: The Red Door, released a decade after Chapter 2, marks Patrick Wilson’s directorial debut and picks up 10 years later, with Josh now divorced and mourning his mother while Dalton heads off to college. Their suppressed memories of the family’s trauma resurface, unleashing a fresh wave of entities, both new and old, and the film’s ending is meant to close the book on the Lambert family for good.

‘Insidious: Out of the Further’

Insidious: Out of the Further leaves the Lamberts behind for a new family, with Amelia Eve as Gemma, a mother whose ability to cross into The Further and bring things back with her draws the attention of demons looking to use her. Lin Shaye returns as Elise, joined by Brandon Perea, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Sam Spruell, and Island Austin, though Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne sit this one out. Director Jacob Chase, who also wrote the script, delivered what critics called the best-reviewed Insidious sequel since the original.

‘Insidious’ Movies in Order of Release

The Insidious franchise has six films, with more on the horizon, starting with Insidious and ending with Insidious: Out of the Further. To watch them in release order, use the breakdown below.

Release Date

April 1, 2011

Runtime

102 minutes

Director

James Wan