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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

The Conjuring

The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan and written by Chad Hayes and Carey W.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan. It launched The Conjuring Universe franchise, one of the highest-grossing horror series.

What it is

The film stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The plot follows the Warrens helping the Perron family, who believe their Rhode Island farmhouse is haunted. The story is loosely based on the Perron family’s reported experiences in 1971, though most of the screenplay is fictionalized.

Why it matters

The Conjuring was the first entry in The Conjuring Universe, which includes sequels and spin-off films like Annabelle. The franchise became a major commercial success and is widely discussed for its claim of being based on true events, a point that has been debated by sources including Canadian outlet Global News.

Key details

Directed by James Wan and written by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes, the film was released in 2013. The main Conjuring series includes four films as of 2026: The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and The Conjuring: Last Rites.

In short

  • Released in 2013, launched The Conjuring Universe franchise.
  • Stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren.
  • Loosely based on the Perron family case, but mostly fictionalized.
  • One of the highest-grossing horror franchises.
Canadian angle

The first film’s reported claim of being based on true events was discussed by Canadian outlet Global News in a 2021 interview quoted in People, and the franchise has had broad popularity with Canadian horror audiences.

Quick questions

Is The Conjuring based on a true story?
It is loosely based on the Perron family’s reported experiences and Warren case files, but most of the film is fictionalized.
Who are the Warrens in The Conjuring?
Ed and Lorraine Warren were real-life paranormal investigators and authors. In the film, they are portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
How many Conjuring movies are there?
As of 2026, there are four main Conjuring films: The Conjuring (2013), The Conjuring 2 (2016), The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), and The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025).

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conjuring
    Supports: 2013 release, director, writers, cast, franchise status, plot premise, and sequel information.
  2. People — https://people.com/the-conjuring-true-story-8645388
    Supports: The film is loosely based on the Perron family case and is largely fictionalized; quotes Andrea Perron on the film being mostly fiction.
  3. The Week — https://theweek.com/articles/461862/real-story-behind-conjuring-four-other-horror-movies-based-true-story
    Supports: Ed and Lorraine Warren as real paranormal investigators and founders of the New England Society for Psychic Research in 1952.
  4. The Sun — https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/film/19251170/is-the-conjuring-a-true-story/
    Supports: States the release years of the main Conjuring films and identifies the series as based on the Warrens' real-life events.
  5. History vs. Hollywood — https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/conjuring.php
    Supports: Andrea Perron quotation about liberties taken and the film being based on a true story.
  6. The Hollywood Reporter — https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/the-conjuring-movies-true-stories/
    Supports: Franchise context, box office scale, and later-film continuation in the series.