‘Insidious’ Movies in Order: How To Watch Chronologically and by Release Date

In 2010, iconic horror filmmaker James Wan directed Insidious, a film that would soon grow into a supernatural horror franchise. Written by Leigh Whannell, who would go on to direct the third installment of the series, the film and its ensuing storyline focused on the Lambert family. Audiences followed two parents (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) as they attempted to protect their son, Dalton, from paranormal forces that had invaded their lives.

Along the way, they enlist the help of paranormal investigator Elise Rainier (played by Lin Shaye), who would become a recurring character throughout the course of the series. Throughout the past decade, the Insidious series has thrilled audiences with creepy spirits and plenty of excellent jump scares. The Insidious movies deliver the perfect adrenaline rush and spooky shivers fans crave. The films have gone down as classics in the paranormal horror sub-genre, becoming one of the highest-grossing horror movie franchises of all time.

As with other horror franchises, the order in which you watch the Insidious series can make or break the viewing experience. Unfortunately, watching the Insidious movies in chronological order isn’t exactly straightforward. The series is known for jumping through timelines, sometimes within the same film. Viewing the movies in chronological order makes the most sense if you want to follow the timeline, while watching them in release-date order can bring the story to a more shocking conclusion. Here is how you can do either.

‘Insidious’ Movies in Chronological Order

While some sticklers may prefer to watch the Insidious films in release order, watching them in chronological order is arguably the best bet for viewers. This approach makes for a more cohesive narrative and a far more coherent timeline of events. Those looking to watch this way can 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’

In Insidious: Chapter 3, we meet teenager Quinn Brenner, who believes that her mother is trying to contact her from beyond the grave. In an attempt to reach her, she reaches out to paranormal investigator Elise. When an evil entity in an oxygen mask, named the “man who can’t breathe,” attacks Quinn, Elise ventures off into The Further, where she finds herself up against an evil demon hungrily searching for a soul.

This movie first introduces Elise, who becomes an essential character for the rest of the series. Insidious: Chapter 3 serves as a prequel to the first two entries. It features the talents of Dermot Mulroney, Lin Shaye, and Stefanie Scott while further exploring the origins of the spine-tingling franchise and scaring up an impressive $113 million at the box office. Many felt it was an improvement over its predecessor and a solid entry in the supernatural series.

‘Insidious: The Last Key’

Insidious: The Last Key takes place after the events of Chapter 3 and delves further into Elise’s life and how she came to work as a paranormal investigator. It also includes flashbacks to Elise’s childhood, highlighting the prominent franchise character’s early years and origins in 1953 New Mexico, where she interacts with a demonic spirit at her family home and unknowingly unleashes a malevolent entity.

Here, audiences are introduced to the Lambert family for the first time (chronologically) as Elise embarks on her journey into The Further. Elise unintentionally leaves the door between The Further and the Lamberts’ home open. Later that night, Elise has a dream about Dalton and soon after receives a phone call from the Lamberts. This sets up the events of the first Insidious installment.

‘Insidious’

Insidious is the first film released in the series and the one that introduced audiences to the Lambert family, whom Elise encountered at the end of The Last Key. A demon is now terrorizing the Lamberts’ son, Dalton, after he finds a way to The Further. Dalton appears as if he is in a coma, but he is actually stuck and is trying to find his way back home.

In a remarkable discovery, Elise remembers Josh Lambert (Dalton’s father) from when she met him as a child. She informs Josh (Patrick Wilson) that he has the same astral projection powers as his son, but his memories were suppressed to protect him from a demon that terrorized him as a child. Josh enters The Further and drives the demon away, rescuing Dalton and reuniting the happy family… or, so it would seem. Soon after, Elise realizes that Josh has been possessed, leaving the audience on a cliffhanger as her newly deceased body is discovered in the Lambert home. What’s next for the Lambert family is perfectly set up for the second installment in the Insidious franchise.

‘Insidious: Chapter 2’

Insidious: Chapter 2 opens with Josh being investigated for Elise’s murder, unaware that he is possessed by a demon. With Elise’s team’s help, they contact Elise’s spirit. Josh finds himself traveling into The Further to rid himself of his possessions and put all the horror to rest for good. After the family is reunited, Josh and Dalton decide that it’s best to suppress their memories of the tragedy so that they can live in peace.

The audience is also treated to flashbacks from 1986, in which Elise suppresses young Josh’s memories of his psychic abilities, gifts that might just come in handy in this film. Technically, Chapter 2 is the perfect ending to the Insidious series, bringing the harrowing story to a close, though Blumhouse clearly had different ideas for the franchise.

‘Insidious: The Red Door’

Insidious: The Red Door is the most recent entry in the franchise, hitting theaters over a decade after the release of the second film (the title was changed from Insidious: Fear the Dark at the beginning of 2023 to better highlight the Red Door’s use throughout the series). The installment marked the directorial debut of lead actor Patrick Wilson and takes place 10 years after the events of the previous film.

The film opens with Wilson’s character divorced from his wife and mourning the recent loss of his mother. Adding to the transition is his son, Dalton, who is going off to college. Repressed memories of their shared trauma prove hard to suppress, however, leading to an onslaught of entities, both new and old. Only by facing the past can they overcome their issues in the present. The ending of Insidious: The Red Door is meant to tie up the Lambert family storyline, while leaving room for ongoing material.

‘Insidious’ Movies in Order of Release

There are five films in the Insidious franchise, with a sixth on the horizon, starting with Insidious and ending with Insidious: The Red Door. Those looking to watch in release order should use the following breakdown.

What’s Next for the ‘Insidious’ Franchise?

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The Insidious movies have grossed over $731 million worldwide, with passionate fans flocking to theaters to witness the franchise’s jaw-dropping gore and gloom. Though the Lamberts’ story may seem to have wrapped up, the Insidious Universe is rife with story fodder; The Red Door is far from the last film in the franchise.

In May 2024, a sixth installment in the hair-raising franchise was announced. After experiencing some production delays, the unnamed sixth installment is now tentatively set for a theatrical release on August 21, 2026. Jacob Chase is directing the project, and filming wrapped in November 2025 (via Deadline). The confirmed returning cast includes Lin Shaye, who will reprise her role as Elise Rainier, and a new cast, including Brandon Perea, Amelia Eve, Maisie Richardson‑Sellers, Sam Spruell, Island Austin, and Laura Gordon. Whether Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne will be involved remains to be seen, but their absence from the current cast list suggests they will not return.

There has also been a push for a spin-off from the mainline series, a project titled Thread: An Insidious Tale, that will feature Eternals actor Kumail Nanjiani and This Is Us star Mandy Moore and will be directed by Moon Knight writer Jeremy Slater in his feature debut. Yet, as of the end of 2025, this spin-off series remains in development with no release timeframe. Insidious is available to stream on HBO Max.

Release Date

April 1, 2011

Runtime

102 minutes

Director

James Wan

Writers

Leigh Whannell