All 6 'Insidious' Movies in Order (& Chronology)

The ‘Insidious’ horror movies have gained popularity for their effective jump scares and creepy supernatural elements, and the recipe has clearly worked. The franchise spans five released films across 13 years, with a confirmed sixth due in theaters on August 21, 2026. Since the timeline is a little jumbled, this guide covers every ‘Insidious’ film in both release date order and chronological order so you can follow the story with full clarity.

Editor’s Note: This watch order has been updated in May 2026 and reflects the current state of the franchise.

All 6 ‘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. The fifth installment, ‘Insidious: The Red Door’, earned over $182 million at the global box office against a $16 million budget, making it the highest-grossing horror film of 2023. Here is the release date order:

‘Insidious’ (2010)
‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ (2013)
‘Insidious: Chapter 3’ (2015)
‘Insidious: The Last Key’ (2018)
‘Insidious: The Red Door’ (2023)
‘Insidious: Out of the Further’ (August 21, 2026)

Note: A standalone spinoff titled ‘Thread: An Insidious Tale’, starring Kumail Nanjiani and Mandy Moore and directed by Jeremy Slater, remains in pre-production separately from the main series.

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 all of these films share the same cinematic universe and timeline, the events are not linear. Here is the proper chronological order of the ‘Insidious’ franchise, now including the confirmed sixth installment:

‘Insidious: Chapter 3’
‘Insidious: The Last Key’
‘Insidious’
‘Insidious: Chapter 2’
‘Insidious: The Red Door’
‘Insidious: Out of the Further’

1. ‘Insidious: Chapter 3’ (2015)

Insidious Movies In Order: The Chronological Watch Order

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.

6. ‘Insidious: Out of the Further’ (2026)

Set after the events of ‘Insidious: The Red Door’, this sixth installment trades in the Lambert family for a new lead: Gemma, played by Amelia Eve, a young mother raising her daughter in the house she grew up in. When Gemma discovers she can travel into The Further, she uncovers an ability no prior character in the franchise has possessed — she can pull the demons and lost souls she encounters there directly back into the physical world.

Once the demons realize her power, our world becomes their playground. Lin Shaye returns as Elise Rainier, anchoring the new story to the broader franchise mythology. The film is directed by Jacob Chase and is scheduled for theatrical release on August 21, 2026, per Primetimer. Filming wrapped in late 2025 in Melbourne, Australia, marking the first time the franchise has shot outside the United States.

Where to watch the above-mentioned movies?

All five released ‘Insidious’ films are now available to stream on HBO Max. ‘Insidious: The Last Key’ joined the platform on May 1, 2026, while ‘Insidious: The Red Door’ followed on May 4, 2026, per Warner Bros. Discovery’s announced schedule. The first three films, ‘Insidious,’ ‘Insidious: Chapter 2,’ and ‘Insidious: Chapter 3,’ were already on the platform. All five titles are also available to rent or purchase on Apple TV, Amazon Video, and Fandango at Home.

Will there be more ‘Insidious’ movies?

Two new ‘Insidious’ projects are moving forward simultaneously, pulling the franchise in two distinct directions at once.

The sixth main installment, ‘Insidious: Out of the Further’, had its title officially revealed ahead of CinemaCon 2026, with the announcement accompanied by performers spelling out the name in red and white, and a trailer that debuted on the festival’s first day. The film is written and directed by Jacob Chase and stars Amelia Eve, Brandon Perea, and Maisie Richardson-Sellers, with Lin Shaye reprising her role as Elise Rainier. Filming began in September 2025 in Melbourne, Australia, and has since wrapped, with the film confirmed for an August 21, 2026 theatrical release, per the franchise’s official social channels.

The spinoff ‘Thread: An Insidious Tale’ remains in pre-production with no confirmed release date. The film stars Kumail Nanjiani and Mandy Moore, is directed and written by Jeremy Slater, and follows a husband and wife who use a spell to travel back in time hoping to save their daughter’s life, only to discover the consequences are far worse than the tragedy they tried to prevent. Producer James Wan has described ‘Thread’ as expanding the world of The Further in the same way his ‘Conjuring’ films built outward from their original premise. Both projects confirm that the ‘Insidious’ universe, far from closing the door on The Further, is only opening it wider.

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