In 2010, director James Wan created the horror film Insidious, which launched a popular supernatural horror series. Written by Leigh Whannell, who later directed the third film, Insidious centers around the Lambert family. The story follows parents Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne as they struggle to save their son, Dalton, from frightening paranormal activity.
The group seeks help from paranormal investigator Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), a character who appears in later films. Over the last ten years, the Insidious series has become known for its frightening ghosts and effective jump scares. The movies provide the thrills and chills that horror fans love, and have become classics in the paranormal horror genre, making it one of the most successful horror franchises ever.
Like many horror series, the order you watch the Insidious movies really impacts how much you enjoy them. It’s not simple to watch them in the order the story happens, though, because the series jumps around in time, even within a single movie. Watching in chronological order helps you follow the story’s timeline, but watching in the order the movies were released can create a more surprising and impactful experience. Here’s how to do either.
‘Insidious’ Movies in Chronological Order
Though some fans like to watch the Insidious movies as they were released, most viewers will have a better experience watching them in the order the story happens. This creates a smoother, easier-to-follow narrative and timeline. Here’s a guide to help you watch them chronologically.
| Film Name | Release Year | Story Time Period |
|---|---|---|
| Insidious: Chapter 3 | June 5, 2015 | Prequel to the first two films |
| Insidious: The Last Key | January 5, 2018 | Events leading up to the first Insidious |
| Insidious | April 1, 2011 | The first film release |
| Insidious: Chapter 2 | September 13, 2013 | Takes place immediately after Insidious (2011) |
| Insidious: The Red Door | July 7, 2023 | 10 years after Chapter 2 |
| Untitled Insidious 6 | August 21, 2026 | Story timeline unconfirmed, speculated post-Red Door |
As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of ways to approach this series, but honestly, this order just works. Let me walk you through how the narrative unfolds when you watch it this way – it really maximizes the impact, and I think you’ll agree.
‘Insidious: Chapter 3’
In Insidious: Chapter 3, we’re introduced to Quinn Brenner, a teenager who thinks her deceased mother is trying to connect with her. Hoping to make contact, Quinn seeks help from paranormal investigator Elise. When a sinister figure wearing an oxygen mask—known as “the man who can’t breathe”—begins to terrorize Quinn, Elise enters the spirit world, known as The Further, and confronts a malevolent demon desperate to claim a soul.
The movie begins by introducing Elise, a character who plays a key role throughout the series. Insidious: Chapter 3 is a prequel, meaning it tells a story that happened before the first two Insidious films. The movie stars Dermot Mulroney, Lin Shaye, and Stefanie Scott, and delves deeper into the beginnings of this frightening series. It was a box office success, earning over $113 million, and many viewers thought it was a stronger film than the previous installment and a good addition to the supernatural franchise.
‘Insidious: The Last Key’
Insidious: The Last Key continues the story after the third film, exploring the backstory of Elise, the paranormal investigator. The movie shows flashbacks to Elise’s childhood in 1953 New Mexico, revealing how she first encountered a demonic presence in her family home and accidentally awakened a dangerous evil.
The story begins by introducing the Lambert family as Elise Reisen starts exploring The Further. She accidentally leaves a connection open between this spirit world and the Lamberts’ house. That same night, Elise dreams about their son, Dalton, and quickly receives a worried call from the family. This is how the first Insidious movie begins.
‘Insidious’
Insidious was the first movie in the series and it’s where viewers meet the Lambert family – the same family Elise briefly encountered in The Last Key. Their son, Dalton, is being haunted by a demon after venturing into a dangerous spirit world called The Further. Though it looks like he’s in a coma, Dalton is actually trapped and struggling to return to the real world.
Elise has a surprising memory – she recalls meeting Josh Lambert (Dalton’s father) when she was a child. She tells Josh (Patrick Wilson) that he also has the ability to project his spirit, but his memories were blocked to shield him from a childhood demon. Josh ventures into the spirit world, successfully driving the demon away and seemingly rescuing his son, bringing the family together. However, Elise quickly realizes Josh himself has been taken over by a demonic force, and the film ends with a shocking discovery: her body is found lifeless in the Lambert home. This sets the stage perfectly for the next chapter in the Insidious story.
‘Insidious: Chapter 2’
Insidious: Chapter 2 begins with Josh under suspicion for Elise’s murder, though he doesn’t realize he’s being controlled by a demonic force. With assistance from Elise’s colleagues, they connect with her spirit. Josh ventures into a terrifying realm called The Further to free himself from the demon and end the haunting for good. Once the family is back together, Josh and Dalton choose to block out their memories of the ordeal, hoping to find peace.
The movie also shows scenes from 1986 where Elise tries to hide young Josh’s psychic powers – abilities that could be important to the current story. While the second chapter really feels like a satisfying conclusion to the Insidious saga, the studio, Blumhouse, had plans to continue the series anyway.
‘Insidious: The Red Door’
Insidious: The Red Door is the newest movie in the Insidious series, released more than ten years after the second film. Originally titled Insidious: Fear the Dark, the name was changed early in 2023 to emphasize the importance of the Red Door throughout the franchise. This film also marks the first time Patrick Wilson has directed one of the Insidious movies, and it’s set a decade after the events of the last installment.
The movie begins with Wilson recently divorced and grieving his mother, all while his son, Dalton, prepares for college. Buried memories of a shared, traumatic experience start to surface, unleashing a wave of frightening entities, both familiar and new. Ultimately, they must confront their past in order to resolve their current problems. The ending of Insidious: The Red Door aims to conclude the Lambert family’s story, but also leaves the door open for future installments.
‘Insidious’ Movies in Order of Release
The Insidious series currently has five movies, with a sixth one coming soon. The films range from the original Insidious to Insidious: The Red Door. Here’s the order to watch them as they were released.
| Film Name | Release Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Insidious | April 1, 2011 | James Wan |
| Insidious: Chapter 2 | September 13, 2013 | James Wan |
| Insidious: Chapter 3 | June 5, 2015 | Leigh Whannell |
| Insidious: The Last Key | January 5, 2018 | Adam Robitel |
| Insidious: The Red Door | July 7, 2023 | Patrick Wilson |
| Untitled Insidious 6 | August 21, 2026 | Jacob Chase |
What’s Next for the ‘Insidious’ Franchise?
Sony Pictures Releasing
The Insidious movies have earned over $731 million around the world, attracting a dedicated fanbase eager for their terrifying and suspenseful scares. While the story of the Lambert family appears to be finished, the Insidious Universe has plenty of potential for future stories, and The Red Door is definitely not the last installment we’ll see.
A sixth movie in the popular horror series was announced in May 2024. After some setbacks, it’s currently scheduled to hit theaters on August 21, 2026. Jacob Chase is directing, and filming finished in November 2025 (according to Deadline). Lin Shaye is returning as Elise Rainier, and the cast also includes newcomers Brandon Perea, Amelia Eve, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Sam Spruell, Island Austin, and Laura Gordon. It’s unclear if Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne will be in the film, and they aren’t currently listed among the cast, suggesting they won’t be returning.
Fans have also been hoping for a separate series, called Thread: An Insidious Tale, starring Kumail Nanjiani (from Eternals) and Mandy Moore (from This Is Us). It would be directed by Jeremy Slater, who wrote for Moon Knight, marking his first time directing a feature film. However, as of late 2025, the series is still being developed and doesn’t have a confirmed release date. You can currently watch Insidious on HBO Max.
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2025-12-03 05:52