How to Watch theInsidiousMovies In Order: A Guide to the Terrifying Journeys into the Further

Mar. 15, 2025

Danielle Bisutti Insidious - Chapter 2 - 2013; Stefanie Scott Insidious - Chapter 3 - 2015.Photo:Blumhouse Prods/Entertainment One/Filmdistrict/Im Global/Kobal/Shutterstock; Matt Kennedy/Automatik/Blumhouse Prods/Entertainment One/Sony International/Kobal/Shutterstock

Blumhouse Prods/Entertainment One/Filmdistrict/Im Global/Kobal/Shutterstock; Matt Kennedy/Automatik/Blumhouse Prods/Entertainment One/Sony International/Kobal/Shutterstock

Insidioushas been bringing spine-chilling nightmares to the screen for nearly two decades.

Since then, the franchise has grossed more than $730 million globally and expanded to include five films, with even more on the way.

In May 2024,Deadlineconfirmed that an untitled sixth film is currently in the works and is set to premiere in August 2025. Additionally, a spin-off film, titledThread: An Insidious Tale,is coming soon and will starMandy MooreandKumail Nanjiani. The offshoot marks writer and producer Jeremy Slater’s directorial debut, and it centers on a husband and wife who enlist the help of a spell to travel back in time and prevent the death of their daughter.

With new releases on the horizon, now is the perfect time to revisit theInsidiousfranchise or start from scratch if you’re new to the world of the Further. However, like many hit franchises, theInsidiousuniverse features sequels, prequels and everything in between, making the viewing order a bit confusing, to say the least.

Keeping that in mind, here’s how to watch theInsidiousmovies in both release and chronological order.

How to watch theInsidiousmovies in release order

How to watch theInsidiousmovies in chronological order

Insidious: Chapter 3(2015)

Stefanie Scott, Lin Shaye, Dermot Mulroney Insidious - Chapter 3 - 2015.Matt Kennedy/Automatik/Blumhouse Prods/Entertainment One/Sony International/Kobal/Shutterstock

Matt Kennedy/Automatik/Blumhouse Prods/Entertainment One/Sony International/Kobal/Shutterstock

Insidious: The Last Key(2018)

Insidious: The Last Key, another prequel, gives even more backstory to Elise, jumping between 1953 andthe present day of 2010to explore her traumatic childhood in a haunted home and its impact on her life and career.

Towards the end of the film, Elise receives a call from Lorraine Lambert (Barbara Hershey), the mother of Josh (Wilson) who now needs her help to confront the dark forces haunting her grandson, thus connecting the events of the prequels to the original film.

Insidious(2010)

Insidious, the 2010 movie that started it all, introduces viewers to the Lambert family, who unknowingly become entangled in the Further when one of their sons, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), falls into a mysterious coma.

As it turns out, both Josh and Dalton can astral project their consciousness, but Dalton becomes trapped in the Further, unable to find his way back to his body. What follows is a terrifying journey as the Lamberts, with the help of Elise and her crew, come up against malevolent spirits, uncover dark family secrets, and race against time to rescue Dalton.

The film ends with a shocking twist, making it an easy decision for Whannell and Wan to develop a sequel.

Insidious: Chapter 2(2013)

Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson Insidious - Chapter 2 - 2013.Blumhouse Prods/Entertainment One/Filmdistrict/Im Global/Kobal/Shutterstock

Blumhouse Prods/Entertainment One/Filmdistrict/Im Global/Kobal/Shutterstock

Insidious: Chapter 2picks up right where the first film left off, with the Lamberts struggling to return to normalcy after the traumatic events they endured.

They quickly learn that the Further is not finished with them just yet, and this time, an entity known as The Bride in Black, who has been tormenting Josh since childhood, possesses his body and becomes determined to kill his family.

Like with the otherInsidiousmovies,Chapter 2ends on a major cliffhanger; however, it was never resolved as the next movie that was released served as a prequel. Perhaps the upcoming sixth film will circle back to this storyline and provide the answers fans have been waiting for.

Insidious: The Red Door(2023)

Ty Simpkins in Screen Gems Insidious: The Red Door.Courtesy of Screen Gems

After 10 years away from the franchise, Wilson, Byrne and Simpkins returned to reprise their respective roles as Josh, Renai, and Dalton Lambert in 2023’sInsidious: The Red Door, which also served as Wilson’s directorial debut.

The film takes place in 2019, nine years after Josh’s harrowing possession, and a lot has changed for the family. Josh and Renai are divorced, Lorraine has recently passed away, and Dalton is all grown up and attending college, though he and Josh now have a strained relationship. Additionally, Josh and Dalton’s memories of the Further have been repressed, leaving them vulnerable to the darkness that begins to resurface.

While the ending to the movie felt pretty final, a post-credits scene suggested that the door to the Further may not be permanently closed, and knowing that a sixth film is on the way, fans are left wondering what new horrors await the Lambert family.

source: people.com