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{{About|the film|the Megadeth song|The Conjuring (song)|other uses|Conjuration (disambiguation)}}
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{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox film
| name           = The Conjuring
| image          = The Conjuring poster.jpg
| alt            = A tree with a noose hanging from it<!-- See WP:ALT -->
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[James Wan]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* Tony DeRosa-Grund
* [[Peter Safran]]
* [[Rob Cowan]]
}}
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Chad Hayes (writer)|Chad Hayes]]
* [[Carey W. Hayes]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Vera Farmiga]]
* [[Patrick Wilson]]
* [[Ron Livingston]]
* [[Lili Taylor]]
}}<!--- per poster billing block --->
| music          = [[Joseph Bishara]]
| cinematography = [[John R. Leonetti]]
| editing        = Kirk Morri
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
* [[New Line Cinema]]
* [[The Safran Company]]
* Evergreen Media Group
}}
| distributor    = [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]
| released       = {{Film date|2013|07|15|[[Cinerama Dome]]|2013|07|19|United States}}
| runtime        = 112 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 111:46--><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2013 |title=''The Conjuring'' (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-conjuring-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0znzgwmjc |access-date=March 4, 2014 |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $20{{nbsp}}million<ref name="BOM" /><ref name="numbers" />
| gross          = $319.5{{nbsp}}million<ref name="BOM">{{Cite web |title=The Conjuring (2013) |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=conjuring.htm |access-date=October 4, 2014 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref>
}}

'''''The Conjuring''''' is a 2013 American [[supernatural horror film]] directed by [[James Wan]] and written by [[Chad Hayes (writer)|Chad Hayes]] and [[Carey W. Hayes]]. It is the inaugural film in [[The Conjuring Universe|''The Conjuring'' Universe]] franchise.<ref name="EW" /> [[Patrick Wilson]] and [[Vera Farmiga]] star as [[Ed and Lorraine Warren]], [[Ghost hunting|paranormal investigators]] and authors associated with prominent cases of [[haunting]]. Their purportedly real-life reports inspired ''[[The Amityville Horror]]'' story and [[The Amityville Horror (film series)|the associated film franchise]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Bryan |date=July 22, 2013 |title=The 'true' story behind 'The Conjuring' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/07/22/conjuring-true-story-perron/2457209/ |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> The Warrens come to the assistance of the [[Ed and Lorraine Warren#Perron family|Perron family]], who experienced increasingly disturbing events in their newly occupied farmhouse in [[Rhode Island]] in 1971.

Development of the film began in January 2012 and reports confirmed Wan as the director of a film entitled ''The Warren Files'', later retitled ''The Conjuring.'' Production began in [[Wilmington, North Carolina]], in February 2012 and scenes were shot in chronological order. ''The Conjuring'' was released in the United States and Canada on July 19, 2013, by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]. It received positive reviews from critics and grossed over $319{{nbsp}}million worldwide against its $20{{nbsp}}million budget. A sequel, ''[[The Conjuring 2]]'', was released in 2016.

== Plot ==
In 1968, renowned [[demonologist]]s [[Ed and Lorraine Warren]] investigate the [[Annabelle (doll)|Annabelle]] case, in which friends Debbie and Camilla have a [[Spirit possession|possessed]] doll. They allowed a spirit, who claimed to be a seven-year-old girl named Annabelle Higgins, to possess the doll, and the hauntings became increasingly disturbing. The Warrens explain that the doll was never possessed; it was only a conduit for a [[demon]]ic spirit whose goal was to possess one of the friends.

Three years later, in 1971, Roger and Carolyn Perron move into a farmhouse in [[Harrisville, Rhode Island]], with their five daughters: Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy, and April. Their dog, Sadie, refuses to enter the house. The family discovers a boarded-up cellar in the house and paranormal events occur within the first few nights. Every clock in the house stops at 3:07&nbsp;a.m. Carolyn awakens with new bruises each morning, and Sadie is found dead in the yard. Carolyn and Christine both encounter a [[malevolent spirit]].

Carolyn contacts the Warrens, who conduct an initial investigation, during which Lorraine, a [[Clairvoyance|clairvoyant]], sees that a dark entity has latched on to the family so that even leaving the house will not free them. To gather evidence, they place cameras and bells around the house with the help of their assistant Drew Thomas and police officer Brad Hamilton. Research reveals that the house once belonged to an accused [[Witchcraft|witch]] and [[Satanist]] named Bathsheba Sherman (a relative of [[Mary Eastey|Mary Towne Eastey]]), who sacrificed her week-old baby to [[the devil]] and killed herself in 1863 at 3:07 in the morning after cursing all who take her land. There have since been reports of numerous murders and suicides through the years in the houses that were built on the land.

Bathsheba completely possesses Carolyn. In the cellar, Lorraine sees the spirit of a woman whom Bathsheba had possessed long ago and forced to kill her child, realizing she will force Carolyn to do the same. The Warrens conclude they have sufficient evidence to receive authorization from the [[Catholic Church]] to perform an [[exorcism]], but Father Gordon explains that approval would have to come directly from the [[Vatican City|Vatican]] because the Perron family are not members of the church.

The Warrens' daughter Judy is attacked by Bathsheba as a warning to the Warrens. The Perron family takes refuge at a motel, but Carolyn, possessed, takes Christine and April back to the house to kill them. Running out of time, Ed, Lorraine, and Brad tie Carolyn to a chair and Ed attempts the exorcism himself. Carolyn escapes and attempts to kill April; Lorraine is able to call to her by reminding her of a family memory, allowing Ed to complete the exorcism and condemn Bathsheba back to Hell.

Returning home, Ed adds the haunted [[music box]] from the Perron home to their room of cursed artifacts that they have collected from past cases.

== Cast ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Vera Farmiga]] as [[Ed and Lorraine Warren|Lorraine Warren]]
* [[Patrick Wilson]] as [[Ed and Lorraine Warren|Ed Warren]]
* [[Lili Taylor]] as Carolyn Perron
* [[Ron Livingston]] as Roger Perron
* [[Shanley Caswell]] as Andrea Perron
* [[Hayley McFarland]] as Nancy Perron
* [[Joey King]] as Christine Perron
* [[Mackenzie Foy]] as Cindy Perron
* Kyla Deaver as April Perron
* [[Shannon Kook]] as Drew 
* [[John Brotherton]] as Brad 
* [[Sterling Jerins]] as Judy Warren
* Marion Guyot as Georgiana 
* Morganna Bridgers as Debbie
* [[Amy Tipton]] as Camilla
* Zach Pappas as Rick
* [[Joseph Bishara]] as Bathsheba 
* Christof Veillon as Maurice 
* Steve Coulter as Father Gordon
* [[Ed and Lorraine Warren|Lorraine Warren]] as woman in audience (uncredited)
{{div col end}}

== Production ==

=== Development ===
Producer Tony DeRosa-Grund wrote the original treatment and titled the project ''The Conjuring''.<ref name="DL">{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=June 21, 2013 |title=What's In A Title? 'The Conjuring' Producer And New Line In Dispute Over TV Rights |url=https://deadline.com/2013/06/whats-in-a-title-the-conjuring-producer-new-line-head-to-arbitration-over-tv-rights-527167/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224105/https://deadline.com/2013/06/whats-in-a-title-the-conjuring-producer-new-line-head-to-arbitration-over-tv-rights-527167/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> For nearly 14 years, he tried to get the movie made without any success. He landed a deal to make the movie at [[Gold Circle Films]], the production company behind ''[[The Haunting in Connecticut]]'', but a contract could not be finalized and the deal was dropped.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Michael |date=July 20, 2013 |title=James Wan The Conjuring a Remake? |url=http://www.guardianlv.com/2013/07/james-wan-the-conjuring-a-remake/ |website=Guardian Liberty Voice |access-date=September 20, 2015 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074235/http://guardianlv.com/2013/07/james-wan-the-conjuring-a-remake/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

DeRosa-Grund allied with producer [[Peter Safran]]. Sibling writers [[Chad Hayes (writer)|Chad]] and [[Carey W. Hayes]] were brought on board to refine the script.<ref name="DL" /> Using DeRosa-Grund's treatment and the Ed Warren tape, the Hayes brothers changed the story's [[Narrative mode|point of view]] from the Perron family to the Warrens'. The brothers interviewed [[Ed and Lorraine Warren|Lorraine Warren]] many times over the phone to clarify details.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trumbore |first=Dave |date=June 29, 2013 |title=Screenwriters Chad and Carey Hayes Talk THE CONJURING, Finding the Film's Point of View, Real Life Paranormal Incidents and the Appeal of Horror |url=https://collider.com/chad-hayes-carey-hayes-the-conjuring-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702034837/http://collider.com/chad-hayes-carey-hayes-the-conjuring-interview/ |archive-date=July 2, 2013 |access-date=June 29, 2013 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref> By mid-2009, the property became the subject of a six-studio bidding war that landed the film at [[Summit Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Michael |date=June 16, 2009 |title=Summit possesses 'The Conjuring' |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/summit-possesses-the-conjuring-1118005039/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922172104/http://variety.com/2009/film/news/summit-possesses-the-conjuring-1118005039/ |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> However, DeRosa-Grund and Summit could not conclude the transaction and the film went into [[Turnaround (filmmaking)|turnaround]]. DeRosa-Grund reconnected with [[New Line Cinema]], who had lost in the original bidding war but who ultimately picked up the film. On November 11, 2009, a deal was made between New Line and DeRosa-Grund's Evergreen Media Group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Eriq |date=June 25, 2013 |title=New Line Claims 'Conjuring' Partner Committed Trademark Fraud |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/new-line-claims-conjuring-partner-574065 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224125/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/game-thrones-tops-list-pirated-573678 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 25, 2013 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

=== Pre-production ===
{{quote box|quote="When ''[[Insidious (film)|Insidious]]'' came out and was successful, the story about the Warrens came to me and I was like, "Oh, my gosh, this is really cool." [...] But I didn't just want to make another ghost story or another supernatural film. One thing I had never explored was the chance to tell a story that's based on real-life characters, real-life people. So those were the things that led me to ''The Conjuring''."|source=– [[James Wan]], explaining his reason for directing ''The Conjuring''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Collis |first=Clark |date=June 20, 2013 |title=Director James Wan talks 'The Conjuring' and 'Insidious 2' and confirms we'll be seeing more of [spoiler] in 'Fast & Furious 7' |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/06/20/fast-and-furious-7-conjuring-insidious-2-james-wan/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224107/https://ew.com/article/2013/06/20/fast-and-furious-7-conjuring-insidious-2-james-wan/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2013}}</ref>|width=35%|align=right}}

Pre-production began in early 2011, with reports surfacing in early June that [[James Wan]] was in talks to direct the film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Wan Could Perform the Conjuring |url=https://dreadcentral.com/news/45175/james-wan-could-perform-conjuring |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224109/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/45175/roland-emmerich-to-direct-his-way-through-an-alien-emergence/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |website=Dread Central}}</ref> This was later confirmed by [[Warner Bros.]], which also stated that the film would be loosely based on real-life events surrounding Ed and Lorraine Warren. In January 2012, [[Vera Farmiga]] and [[Patrick Wilson (American actor)|Patrick Wilson]] were cast to star in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Farmiga, Wilson called to 'Conjuring' |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/farmiga-wilson-called-to-conjuring-1118048955/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415012218/https://variety.com/2012/film/news/farmiga-wilson-called-to-conjuring-1118048955/ |archive-date=April 15, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> That month, [[Ron Livingston]] and [[Lili Taylor]] were also confirmed for roles in the film, which at that time was developing under the working title of ''The Untitled Warren Files Project''.<ref name="CB1">{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2012 |title=Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor Scare Up Roles In James Wan's The Conjuring |url=https://cinemablend.com/new/Ron-Livingston-Lili-Taylor-Scare-Up-Roles-James-Wan-Conjuring-29025.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223557/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Ron-Livingston-Lili-Taylor-Scare-Up-Roles-James-Wan-Conjuring-29025.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |website=Cinema Blend}}</ref> The film's title was temporarily changed to ''The Warren Files'' based on a suggestion by Wan but was later reverted to ''The Conjuring'' prior to the start of the film's marketing campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 7, 2012 |title=James Wan's 'Conjuring' Retitled To 'The Warren Files' |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/28251/james-wans-conjuring-retitled-to-the-warren-files/ |access-date=March 10, 2013 |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Turek |first=Ryan |date=March 31, 2013 |title=WonderCon Interview: We Talk to James Wan About The Conjuring |url=http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/173183-wondercon-interview-talking-to-james-wan-about-the-conjuring |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922120117/http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/173183-wondercon-interview-talking-to-james-wan-about-the-conjuring |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |website=Shock Till You Drop}}</ref>

In preparation for their roles, Farmiga and Wilson traveled to Connecticut to spend time with [[Ed and Lorraine Warren|Lorraine Warren]],<ref name="collider1">{{Cite web |last=Trumbore |first=Dave |date=June 26, 2013 |title=30 Things to Know from Our Set Visit to James Wan's THE CONJURING, Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor |url=https://collider.com/the-conjuring-set-visit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830114313/http://collider.com/the-conjuring-set-visit/ |archive-date=August 30, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2013 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref> who also visited the set during production.<ref name="HC">{{Cite web |last=Kevin Day |first=Patrick |date=April 3, 2013 |title='The Conjuring': Director James Wan channels real-life scares |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/the-conjuring-director-james-wan-channels-real-life-scares/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819161311/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/the-conjuring-director-james-wan-channels-real-life-scares/ |archive-date=August 19, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2013 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Over the course of spending three days at the Warren home, both actors took in information that could not otherwise be achieved from secondary research. "I just wanted to absorb her essence. I wanted to see the details, she has such mad style. I just wanted to see – the way she communicates with her hands, these gestures, her smile, how she moves through space," said Farmiga on her observations of Warren.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |date=July 17, 2013 |title=Vera Farmiga and Paranormal Investigator Lorraine Warren Talk THE CONJURING, the Nature of Evil, Their Relationship, and More |url=https://collider.com/vera-farmiga-lorraine-warren-the-conjuring-interview/ |access-date=July 17, 2013 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref>

=== Filming ===
[[Principal photography]] began in late February 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foss |first=Cassie |title='The Warren Files' to start filming |url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20120221/ENT/120229926 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922183233/http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20120221/ENT/120229926 |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |website=[[Star-News]]}}</ref> Lasting for 38 days,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nemiroff |first=Perri |date=June 26, 2013 |title=From the Set: The Conjuring Interview Highlights |url=http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/174635-from-the-set-of-the-conjuring-interview-highlights |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802121136/http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/174635-from-the-set-of-the-conjuring-interview-highlights |archive-date=August 2, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2013 |website=Shock Till Your Drop}}</ref> shooting took place primarily at [[EUE/Screen Gems]] Studios as well as other locations in and around [[Wilmington, North Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2012 |title=Major New Line Cinema feature film 'The Conjuring' auditions in North Carolina |url=http://www.featurefilmauditions.com/2012/01/major-new-line-cinema-feature-film.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922114336/http://www.featurefilmauditions.com/2012/01/major-new-line-cinema-feature-film.html |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |website=Feature Film Auditions}}</ref> Filming also took place at the [[University of North Carolina Wilmington]] in March 2012 while the campus was on its spring break.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tucker |first=Brian |date=March 19, 2012 |title='The Warren Files' takes UNCW campus back in time |url=http://wilmonfilm.blogs.starnewsonline.com/10038/%E2%80%9Cthe-conjuring%E2%80%9D-takes-uncw-campus-back-in-time/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922181053/http://wilmonfilm.blogs.starnewsonline.com/10038/%E2%80%9Cthe-conjuring%E2%80%9D-takes-uncw-campus-back-in-time/ |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2013 |website=[[Star-News]]}}</ref> [[Diana Walsh Pasulka]], professor of Religious Studies at UNC-Wilmington, was the chief religious consultant for the project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foss |first=Cassie |date=October 10, 2012 |title=Plan Would be to Keep Local Film Crews Busy, Year Round |url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20121010/ARTICLES/121019958?p=2&tc=pg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224109/https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20121010/ARTICLES/121019958/WM?p=2&tc=pg%2F |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=August 6, 2013 |website=[[Star-News]]}}</ref> Lorraine Warren spent some time observing the shoot and later recalled that she had expressed no qualms to the filmmakers with how her story was adapted.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpqmWOa299c |title=Lorraine Warren & James Wan Interview – The Conjuring (JoBlo.com) |date=July 17, 2013 |last=JoBlo Movie Trailers |publisher=[[Google]], LLC |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> After wrapping up in Wilmington on April 20, the film concluded its principal photography on April 26, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foss |first=Cassie |date=April 2012 |title='The Warren Files' cast and crew shoots in Wilmington area |url=http://www.storify.com/WilmOnFilm/updates-from-the-warren-files-cast-and-crew |access-date=June 23, 2013 |website=[[Star-News]]. [[Storify]] |archive-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923045156/http://storify.com/WilmOnFilm/updates-from-the-warren-files-cast-and-crew |url-status=dead }}</ref> All scenes were shot in chronological order.<ref name="collider1" />

=== Post-production ===
The film was in post-production in August 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2012 |title=Yet Another Perspective On 'The Amityville Horror' To Be Explored |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3158447/yet-another-perspective-on-the-amityville-horror/ |access-date=March 10, 2013 |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]}}</ref> Around 20 to 30 minutes of footage was removed from the first cut of the film, which initially ran at about two hours in duration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |date=July 18, 2013 |title=Director James Wan Talks THE CONJURING, Deleted Scenes, Test Screenings, FAST AND FURIOUS 7, and INSIDIOUS 2 |url=https://collider.com/james-wan-the-conjuring-fast-and-furious-7/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921201616/http://collider.com/james-wan-the-conjuring-fast-and-furious-7/ |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=July 18, 2013 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref> After positive test screenings, the final edit of the film was locked in December 2012 and awaited its summer release.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Tommy |date=April 6, 2013 |title=Executive Producer Walter Hamada and Andrea Perron Talk THE CONJURING |url=https://collider.com/walter-hamada-andrea-perron-the-conjuring-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922063231/http://collider.com/walter-hamada-andrea-perron-the-conjuring-interview/ |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2013 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|The Conjuring (soundtrack)}}
The [[Film score|musical score]] for ''The Conjuring'' was composed by [[Joseph Bishara]], who previously collaborated with director Wan on ''[[Insidious (film)|Insidious]]'' (2011). "James asked me early on about [''The Conjuring''] while the film was still coming together", explained Bishara on his involvement. "The studio and producers were very supportive in allowing him to bring along who he wanted, with many of his longtime crew from ''Insidious'' and even earlier returning."<ref name="ASCAP">{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Mike |date=July 19, 2013 |title=Film Music Friday: Joseph Bishara on The Conjuring |url=http://www.ascap.com/playback/2013/07/wecreatemusic/fmf-joseph-bishara-on-the-conjuring.aspx |access-date=July 22, 2013 |website=[[ASCAP]] |archive-date=August 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806200121/http://www.ascap.com/playback/2013/07/wecreatemusic/fmf-joseph-bishara-on-the-conjuring.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Further into the development process, Wan offered Bishara the chance to act in the film, which he had previously done in ''Insidious''. "We talked about music first and then James had mentioned that he might want me to play one of the entities in this. After reading the script it turned out it was Bathsheba," said Bishara.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Ken |date=July 18, 2013 |title=Interview With THE CONJURING's Jack-Of-All-Trades Joseph Bishara -Part 1 |url=http://www.geekroom.com/horror/interview-with-the-conjurings-jack-of-all-trades-joseph-bishara-part-1/#.Ue2mBVOvxIt |access-date=July 22, 2013 |website=Geek Room}}</ref> Because of his early involvement, Bishara was given more time to work out the musical palette of the film. "For whatever reason I was hearing brass clustering as an early response to the material, a quiet shimmering flutter tongue effect, and it grew from there", said Bishara on his creative process.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2013 |title=Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to THE CONJURING Out 7/16 |url=http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Original-Motion-Picture-Sountrack-to-THE-CONJURING-Out-716-20130711 |access-date=July 14, 2013 |website=Broadway World}}</ref>

A soundtrack album was released by La-La Land Records and [[WaterTower Music]] on July 16, 2013. In addition to Bishara's themes, the soundtrack also includes a track titled "Family Theme" by composer [[Mark Isham]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2013 |title='The Conjuring' Soundtrack Details |url=http://www.filmmusicreporter.com/2013/06/19/the-conjuring-soundtrack-details/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224125/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/06/19/the-conjuring-soundtrack-details/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |website=Film Music Reporter}}</ref> [[Avant-garde]] musician [[Diamanda Galás]] also contributed to Bishara's score,<ref name="HR">{{Cite web |last=Linden |first=Sheri |date=June 22, 2013 |title=The Conjuring: LAFF Review |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/movie/conjuring/review/573656 |access-date=June 23, 2013 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> performing raw vocal improvisation on top of the previously recorded brass instrumentation.<ref name="ASCAP" /> Other songs featured in the film include: "In the Room Where you Sleep" by [[Dead Man's Bones]], "[[Sleep Walk]]" by Betsy Brye and "[[Time of the Season]]" by [[The Zombies]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Conjuring – Song Credits |url=http://www.soundtrack.net/movie/the-conjuring/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223618/https://www.soundtrack.net/movie/the-conjuring/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2013 |website=[[Soundtrack.net]]}}</ref>

== Release ==

=== Marketing ===
The first promotional images were released in November 2012, introducing Farmiga and Wilson as Ed and Lorraine Warren.<ref name="EW">{{Cite magazine |last=Collis |first=Clark |date=November 16, 2012 |title='The Conjuring': First look at 'Insidious' director James Wan's new horror movie |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/11/16/the-conjuring-first-look-exclusive/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202235359/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/11/16/the-conjuring-first-look-exclusive/ |archive-date=December 2, 2012 |access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref> A teaser trailer, previously shown at the 2012 [[New York Comic Con]], kicked off the film's marketing campaign in February 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Billy |date=February 27, 2013 |title=Put Your Hands Together For THE CONJURING's First Teaser Trailer!! |url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/61183 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224135/http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/61183 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 24, 2013 |website=[[Ain't It Cool News]]}}</ref> Throughout the campaign, the film was promoted heavily as "based on a true story." In the weeks leading up to the film's release, [[Trailer (promotion)|trailers]] and [[TV spots]] began to feature the real-life Perron family.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Russ |date=June 27, 2013 |title=New 'The Conjuring' Trailer: The Real Family Speaks |url=http://www.slashfilm.com/new-the-conjuring-trailer-the-real-family-speaks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224137/https://www.slashfilm.com/new-the-conjuring-trailer-the-real-family-speaks/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 24, 2013 |website=[[/Film]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaw-Williams |first=H. |date=July 2013 |title='The Conjuring' Trailer #3: The Real Perron Family Tell Their Story |url=https://screenrant.com/the-conjuring-trailer-3/ |access-date=July 24, 2013 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref> This was followed by a featurette titled ''The Devil's Hour'' in which Lorraine Warren and other paranormal investigators explain some of the supernatural occurrences seen in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2013 |title=The Devil's Hour Focus Of New 'The Conjuring' Featurette; Scare Prank Viral |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3243695/the-devils-hour-focus-of-new-the-conjuring-featurette-scare-prank-viral/ |access-date=July 24, 2013 |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]}}</ref>

=== Theatrical run ===
Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema initially intended to release ''The Conjuring'' in early 2013 but decided on a summer release date after gaining a positive reception from test audiences.<ref name="BD1">{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2012 |title=James Wan's SUMMER Blockbuster 'The Conjuring' Testing Through The Roof! |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3197884/james-wans-summer-blockbuster-the-conjuring-testing-through-the-roof/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223657/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3197884/james-wans-summer-blockbuster-the-conjuring-testing-through-the-roof/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]}}</ref> The film was ultimately released on July 19 in North America, and in the United Kingdom and in India on August 2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2013 |title=Conjuring cast reveal spooky set |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/conjuring-cast-reveal-spooky-set-29424352.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223629/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/conjuring-cast-reveal-spooky-set-29424352.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2013 |website=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Serena |date=July 30, 2013 |title=I'm afraid of scary movies: James Wan |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Hollywood/I-m-afraid-of-scary-movies-James-Wan/Article1-1100684.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224142/https://www.hindustantimes.com/archive-news/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 31, 2013 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |location=Mumbai, India}}</ref> Because of this, it is one of the first horror films to receive a wide release in the United States during the months of June or July since 2006's ''[[The Omen (2006 film)|The Omen]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graser |first=Marc |date=October 14, 2012 |title='Conjuring' test screenings scare up B.O. potential |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/conjuring-test-screenings-scare-up-b-o-potential-1118060717/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223619/https://variety.com/2012/film/news/conjuring-test-screenings-scare-up-b-o-potential-1118060717/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> A trailer and a clip from the film were shown at the 2012 [[New York Comic Con]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2012 |title=The Conjuring Reveals Spooky Trailer and Scene, And James Wan Talks Horror As Therapy |url=https://cinemablend.com/new/Conjuring-Reveals-Spooky-Trailer-Scene-James-Wan-Talks-Horror-Therapy-33558.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223625/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Conjuring-Reveals-Spooky-Trailer-Scene-James-Wan-Talks-Horror-Therapy-33558.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |website=Cinema Blend}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stahler |first=Kelsea |date=October 15, 2013 |title=Why 'The Conjuring' Could Be James Wan's Scariest Movie Yet |url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/42217565/why-the-conjuring-could-be-james-wan-s-scariest-movie-yet?page=all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223629/https://www.hollywood.com/movies/why-the-conjuring-could-be-james-wan-s-scariest-movie-yet-59093012/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2013 |website=[[Hollywood.com]]}}</ref> In March 2013, the film was given an R-rating by the [[Motion Picture Association of America|MPAA]] for being what Wan described as "too adult."<ref name="HC" /> "When we sent it [to the MPAA], they gave us the R-rating," said executive producer [[Walter Hamada]]. "When we asked them why, they basically said, 'It's just so scary. [There are] no specific scenes or tone you could take out to get it PG-13.'"<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2013 |title=MPAA Says "The Conjuring" is Too Scary |url=http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=27921 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223718/http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=27921 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2013 |website=Worst Previews}}</ref> The film is rated 15 by the [[BBFC]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Conjuring |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-conjuring-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtodu4nzuz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104019/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-conjuring-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtodu4nzuz|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref>

The world premiere took place at the closing night of the first edition of Nocturna: Madrid International Fantastic Film Festival on June 8, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Conjuring – Nocturna |url=http://www.nocturnafilmfestival.com/index.php/en/2013-01-16-16-35-25/136-closing-night/311-the-conjuring-en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413233401/http://www.nocturnafilmfestival.com/index.php/en/2013-01-16-16-35-25/136-closing-night/311-the-conjuring-en |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=Nocturna Film Festival}}</ref> This was followed by two screenings of the film at the [[Los Angeles Film Festival]] on June 21 that also featured a Q&A segment with director [[James Wan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=June 10, 2013 |title=James Wan's 'Conjuring' to Debut at L.A. Film Festival |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/james-wans-conjuring-to-debut-at-l-a-film-festival-1200494753/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223731/https://variety.com/2013/film/news/james-wans-conjuring-to-debut-at-l-a-film-festival-1200494753/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> A red carpet premiere was then held for the film at [[Cinerama Dome]] in Los Angeles on July 15, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2013 |title=REMINDER/ Save the Date: Premiere of THE CONJURING Monday, July 15 |url=https://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130715-903369.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922180608/http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130715-903369.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=July 17, 2013 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=July 16, 2013 |title=James Wan Takes a Break from 'Fast 7' to Attend 'The Conjuring' Premiere |url=https://variety.com/2013/scene/vpage/james-wan-takes-a-break-from-fast-7-to-attend-the-conjuring-premiere-1200563477/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223647/https://variety.com/2013/scene/vpage/james-wan-takes-a-break-from-fast-7-to-attend-the-conjuring-premiere-1200563477/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2013 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

=== Home media ===
''The Conjuring'' was released in [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] formats by [[Warner Home Video]] on October 22, 2013.<ref name="numbers">{{Cite web |title=The Conjuring (2013) |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Conjuring-The#tab=summary |website=The Numbers}}</ref> On May 31, 2022, it was released alongside other [[The Conjuring Universe|''The Conjuring'' Universe]] films in Blu-ray format.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Conjuring Universe 7-Film Collection Blu-ray (The Nun / Annabelle: Creation / Annabelle / The Conjuring / Annabelle Comes Home / The Conjuring 2 / The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Conjuring-Universe-7-Film-Collection-Blu-ray/314986/ |access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Box office ===
''The Conjuring'' grossed $137.4{{nbsp}}million in North America and $182.1{{nbsp}}million in other territories for a worldwide total of $319.5{{nbsp}}million, against a budget of $20{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="BOM" />

In North America, the film opened on July 19, 2013, alongside ''[[Red 2 (film)|Red 2]]'', ''[[Turbo (2013 film)|Turbo]]'' and ''[[R.I.P.D.]]'', and was projected to gross $30–$35{{nbsp}}million from 2,903 theaters in its opening weekend.<ref name="LA">{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Amy |date=July 18, 2013 |title='The Conjuring' to scare off pricey 'R.I.P.D.' on crowded weekend |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-box-office-conjuring-ripd-red-turbo-20130718,0,7659887.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025142123/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-box-office-conjuring-ripd-red-turbo-20130718,0,7659887.story |archive-date=October 25, 2013 |access-date=July 24, 2013 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Subers |first=Ray |date=July 18, 2013 |title=Forecast: 'Conjuring' Should Scare Off 'Turbo,' 'Red 2,' 'R.I.P.D.' |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3703&p=.htm |access-date=July 19, 2013 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Grady |date=July 18, 2013 |title=INSIDE MOVIES Box office preview: 'The Conjuring' could race past 'Turbo' this weekend |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/07/18/box-office-preview-conjuring-turbo-red-2/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=July 19, 2013}}</ref> The film earned $3.3{{nbsp}}million from its Thursday night showings<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=July 19, 2013 |title=Box Office Report: 'The Conjuring' Scares Up $3.3{{nbsp}}Million Thursday Night |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-conjuring-scares-589222 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224148/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-conjuring-scares-589222 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2013 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> and $17{{nbsp}}million on its first day (including Thursday previews), doing slightly better than ''[[The Purge]]'' a month earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |date=July 20, 2013 |title=Friday Box Office: 'The Conjuring' Scares Up Huge $17{{nbsp}}Million |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/07/20/friday-box-office-the-conjuring-scares-up-huge-17-million/ |access-date=July 20, 2013 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> The film went on to gross $41.9{{nbsp}}million in its opening weekend, landing in first place and breaking ''The Purge''{{'}}s record as the biggest opening for an original R-rated horror film.<ref name="BOM Record Opening">{{Cite web |last=Subers |first=Ray |date=July 21, 2013 |title=Weekend Report: 'Conjuring' Haunts First With Record Opening |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3704&p=.htm |access-date=July 22, 2013 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> For [[Warner Bros.]], ''The Conjuring'' surpassed the debut weekend of the distributor's big-budget film ''[[Pacific Rim (film)|Pacific Rim]]'', which had opened to $37.3{{nbsp}}million the weekend prior.<ref name="BOM Record Opening" /> While horror films usually drop at least 50% in their second weekend, ''The Conjuring'' only dropped 47%, taking in $22.2{{nbsp}}million and placing in second behind new release ''[[The Wolverine (film)|The Wolverine]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Subers |first=Ray |date=July 28, 2013 |title=Weekend Report: 'Wolverine' Bleeds, But Still Easily Leads |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3706&p=.htm |access-date=July 30, 2013 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> After its run in theaters, the film was officially named a box office hit, grossing over fifteen times its production budget with a worldwide total of $318{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="BOM" /> Calculating in all production and promotional expenses, ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' estimated that the film made a total profit of $161.7{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=March 21, 2014 |title=2013 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament Tip-Off – #1 'Iron Man 3' Vs. #16 'The Conjuring'; #8 'Gravity' Vs. #9 'Man Of Steel' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/iron-man-3-gravity-man-of-steel-profit-most-profitable-movies-2013-701662/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304130121/http://deadline.com/2014/03/iron-man-3-gravity-man-of-steel-profit-most-profitable-movies-2013-701662/ |archive-date=March 4, 2015 |access-date=March 22, 2015 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

Outside North America, the film had a total gross of $180.6{{nbsp}}million from all its international markets.<ref name="BOM" /> In Australia, it grossed $1.8{{nbsp}}million in its debut weekend, placing third at the box office behind ''[[The Heat (film)|The Heat]]'' and ''[[This Is the End]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Jamie |date=July 23, 2013 |title='The Heat' holds Australian box office top slot – Top ten in full |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/australian-box-office-charts/news/a500368/the-heat-holds-australian-box-office-top-slot-top-ten-in-full/ |access-date=June 22, 2016 |website=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> Its total gross in Australia was $8.2{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="BOM Intl">{{Cite web |title=The Conjuring (2013) – International Box Office Results |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=conjuring.htm |access-date=June 22, 2016 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the film opened on August 6 alongside ''[[The Smurfs 2]]'', making £2.6{{nbsp}}million ($3.3{{nbsp}}million) in its opening weekend,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gant |first=Charles |date=August 7, 2013 |title=The Smurfs 2 struggles to resist the power of The Conjuring |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2013/aug/07/smurfs-2-conjuring-uk-box-office |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223758/https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2013/aug/07/smurfs-2-conjuring-uk-box-office |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2016 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and grossing $16.2{{nbsp}}million in total there.<ref name="BOM Intl" /> It had its biggest international gross in Mexico, opening in first place on August 23, where the film made $18.9{{nbsp}}million overall.<ref name="BOM Intl" />

=== Critical response ===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|86|7.2|228|Well-crafted and gleefully creepy, ''The Conjuring'' ratchets up dread through a series of effective old-school scares.|access-date=September 19, 2024|ref=y}}{{cbignore}} {{Metacritic film prose|68|35|ref=yes|access-date=September 19, 2024}}{{cbignore}} [[CinemaScore]] reported that audiences gave ''The Conjuring'' an "A−" grade on a scale of A to F;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finke |first=Nikki |date=July 19, 2013 |title=#1 'The Conjuring' Scares Up $40M Weekend & Rare 'A' CinemaScore, Other New Films Soft Or Sinking: 'Red 2', 'Turbo', 'R.I.P.D.' |url=https://deadline.com/2013/07/the-conjuring-big-1-with-a-cinemascore-but-every-other-new-film-soft-or-sinking-545448/ |access-date=July 20, 2013 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> it was the first horror film to receive an A grade from the company.<ref name="lincoln20170920">{{Cite news |last=Lincoln |first=Kevin |date=September 20, 2017 |title=What the 19 Movies to Ever Receive an 'F' CinemaScore Have in Common |work=[[New York (magazine)#Digital expansion and destination sites|Vulture]] |url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/09/here-are-the-only-19-movies-to-ever-receive-an-f-cinemascore.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924050456/http://www.vulture.com/2017/09/here-are-the-only-19-movies-to-ever-receive-an-f-cinemascore.html |archive-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref>

In her review following the [[Los Angeles Film Festival]], Sheri Linden of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said, "With its minimal use of digital effects, its strong, sympathetic performances and ace design work, the pic harks back in themes and methods to ''[[The Exorcist]]'' and ''[[The Amityville Horror (1979 film)|The Amityville Horror]]'', not quite attaining the poignancy and depth of the former but far exceeding the latter in sheer cinematic beauty."<ref name="HR" /> Justin Chang of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' gave the film a positive review, calling the film "a sensationally entertaining old-school freakout and one of the smartest, most viscerally effective thrillers in recent memory."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=June 22, 2013 |title=Film Review: 'The Conjuring' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-the-conjuring-1200500864/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223646/https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-the-conjuring-1200500864/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 1, 2013 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>  [[Alonso Duralde]] of [[TheWrap]] also praised the effectiveness of the film, explaining that it "doesn't try to reinvent the tropes of horror movies, whether it's ghosts or demons or exorcisms, but [[Fred Astaire]] didn't invent tap-dancing, either."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duralde |first=Alonso |date=June 22, 2013 |title='The Conjuring' Review: No, Seriously, Do NOT Go in the Basement |url=https://thewrap.com/movies/column-post/conjuring-review-no-seriously-do-not-go-basement-99116 |access-date=July 1, 2013 |website=[[TheWrap]] |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223805/https://www.thewrap.com/conjuring-review-no-seriously-do-not-go-basement-99116/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Chris Nashawaty of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave the film an A−, citing the effectiveness of "mood and sound effects for shocks that never feel cheap."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Nashawaty |first=Chris |date=July 17, 2013 |title=The Conjuring Movie Review |url=https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,20483133_20687817,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223752/https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,20483133_20687817,00.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 18, 2013}}</ref>

Some critics reacted negatively to the film's similarities with films such as ''[[The Exorcist]]'' and ''[[Poltergeist (1982 film)|Poltergeist]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pais |first=Matt |date=July 15, 2013 |title='The Conjuring' review: Takes the super out of supernatural |url=http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/movies/redeye-the-conjuring-review-20130715,0,2541051.column |access-date=July 18, 2013 |website=[[RedEye]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Neumaier |first=Joe |date=July 17, 2013 |title='The Conjuring,' movie review |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/conjuring-movie-review-article-1.1401260 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223717/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/conjuring-movie-review-article-1.1401260 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 18, 2013 |website=[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]}}</ref> [[Indiewire]]'s Eric Kohn explained that, "The Warrens may know how to handle demonic possessions, but ''The Conjuring'' suffers from a different invading force: the ghosts of familiarity."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kohn |first=Eric |date=July 17, 2013 |title=Review: James Wan's 'The Conjuring' Is Filled With Scares, But What's the Point? |url=https://indiewire.com/article/review-james-wans-the-conjuring-is-filled-with-scares-but-whats-the-point |access-date=July 18, 2013 |website=[[Indiewire]]}}</ref> Andrew O'Hehir of ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' said the film provided "all the scream-inducing shocks you could want, right on schedule", but thought the central concept – that the innocent women accused and executed in the [[Salem witch trials]] "actually ''were'' witches, who slaughtered children and pledged their love to Satan and everything!" – was "reprehensible and inexcusable bullshit".<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2013 |title="The Conjuring": Right-wing, woman-hating and really scary |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/07/18/the_conjuring_right_wing_woman_hating_and_really_scary/ |access-date=July 30, 2013 |website=[[Salon (website)|Salon]]}}</ref>

In July 2025, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' ranked the film at number nine on its list of the "25 Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century".<ref>{{cite web |date=July 23, 2025 |title=25 Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century, Ranked|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/25-best-horror-movies-of-the-21st-century-ranked/the-conjuring-2013/ |access-date=2025-08-02}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Recipients
! Result
! class="unsortable" | {{Abbreviation|Ref.|References}}
|-
|[[19th Critics' Choice Awards|Critics' Choice Movie Awards]]
|[[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie|Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie]]
| data-sort-value="Conjuring, The" |''The Conjuring''
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gicas |first=Peter |date=December 16, 2013 |title=Critics' Choice Awards 2014: Complete List of Nominations |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/491238/critics-choice-awards-2014-complete-list-of-nominations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217014220/http://www.eonline.com/news/491238/critics-choice-awards-2014-complete-list-of-nominations |archive-date=December 17, 2013 |access-date=June 22, 2016 |website=[[E! News]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[Empire Awards]]
| [[Empire Award for Best Horror|Best Horror]]
| data-sort-value="Conjuring, The" | ''The Conjuring''
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=James |date=March 31, 2014 |title=Jameson Empire Awards 2014: The Winners |url=https://empireonline.com/movies/news/jameson-empire-awards-2014-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223719/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/jameson-empire-awards-2014-winners/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2019 |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |''[[Fangoria]]'' Chainsaw Awards
| Best Supporting Actress
| data-sort-value="Taylor, Lili" |[[Lili Taylor]]
| {{won}}
|
|-
| Best Wide Release Film
| data-sort-value="Conjuring, The" |''The Conjuring''
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gingold |first=Michael |date=May 29, 2014 |title=The 2014 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards Results! |url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/the-2014-fangoria-chainsaw-awards-results/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924052525/http://www.fangoria.com/new/the-2014-fangoria-chainsaw-awards-results/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=June 22, 2016 |website=[[Fangoria]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[JoBlo.com|Golden Schmoes Awards]]
|Best Horror Movie of the Year
|''The Conjuring''
| {{won}}
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Golden Schmoes Winners and Nominees (2013) |url=https://joblo.com/goldenschmoes/results/golden-schmoes-winners-and-nominees-2013/ |access-date=June 22, 2016 |website=[[JoBlo.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Biggest Surprise of the Year
|''The Conjuring''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Golden Trailer Awards]]
|Best Horror
|''The Conjuring''
| {{won}}
| rowspan="3" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2014 |title=Warner Bros. and Universal Lead Nominees for Golden Trailer Awards |url=https://thewrap.com/warner-bros-universal-lead-nominees-golden-trailer-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223807/https://www.thewrap.com/warner-bros-universal-lead-nominees-golden-trailer-awards/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2019 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>
|-
|Best Horror TV Spot
|''The Conjuring''
| {{won}}
|-
|Best Voice Over TV Spot
|''The Conjuring''
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Hollywood Film Festival]]
| Hollywood Movie Award
| data-sort-value="Conjuring, The" |''The Conjuring''
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feinberg |first=Scott |date=October 11, 2013 |title=12 Blockbusters to Compete for Fan Vote at Hollywood Film Awards (Exclusive) |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/race/12-blockbusters-compete-fan-vote-647351 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[IGN]] Summer Movie Awards
| Best Horror Movie
| data-sort-value="Conjuring, The" |''The Conjuring''
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Horror Movie – IGN's Best of 2013 |url=https://uk.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2013/Best_Horror_Movie |access-date=June 22, 2016 |website=[[IGN]]|date=December 15, 2013 }}</ref>
|-
|[[MTV Movie Awards]]
|[[MTV Movie Award for Best Scared-As-Shit Performance|Best Scared-As-Shit Performance]]
| data-sort-value="Farmiga, Vera" |[[Vera Farmiga]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ng |first=Philiana |date=March 6, 2014 |title=MTV Movie Awards Nominations Revealed |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/mtv-movie-awards-nominees-2014-686382 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223819/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mtv-movie-awards-nominees-2014-686382 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[People's Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Thriller Movie
| data-sort-value="Conjuring, The" |''The Conjuring''
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moraski |first=Lauren |date=November 6, 2013 |title=People's Choice Awards 2014 nominees announced |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/peoples-choice-awards-2014-nominees-announced/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223821/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/peoples-choice-awards-2014-nominees-announced/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2016 |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[Saturn Award]]s
| [[Saturn Award for Best Horror Film|Best Horror Film]]
| data-sort-value="Conjuring, The" | ''The Conjuring''
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hennon |first=Blake |date=June 27, 2014 |title=Saturn Awards: 'Gravity,' 'Iron Man 3,' 'Her,' 'Walking Dead' win big |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/saturn-awards-winners-list/#/0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629003240/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/saturn-awards-winners-list/#/0 |archive-date=June 29, 2014 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
|}

== Legal disputes ==
Norma Sutcliffe and Gerald Helfrich, the previous owners of the house on which the film was based, sued James Wan, Warner Bros. and other producers in 2015, on the ground that their property was being vandalized constantly as a consequence of the film. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' obtained documents in which the owners affirmed various invasions and ratified that they had found numerous objects affiliated with satanic cults. The lawsuit also revealed that the previous owners bought the house in 1987 and lived "in peace" until 2012. Both owners were seeking unspecified damages. When questioned, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. declined to comment on the issue; the case was dismissed in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gettell |first=Oliver |date=October 5, 2015 |title=Owners of The Conjuring house sue Warner Bros. over trespassing fans |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/10/05/the-conjuring-house-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223640/https://ew.com/article/2015/10/05/the-conjuring-house-lawsuit/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Melissa |date=September 30, 2021 |title=Here Is Everything We Know About 'The Conjuring' House That's Now On Sale For $1.2 Million |url=https://www.thethings.com/everything-we-know-about-conjuring-house-now-on-sale-for-12-million-dollars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208192226/https://www.thethings.com/everything-we-know-about-conjuring-house-now-on-sale-for-12-million-dollars/ |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |access-date=September 14, 2023}}</ref>

Gerald Brittle, the author of the 1980 book ''The Demonologist'' about Ed and Lorraine Warren, filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros., New Line Productions and director James Wan regarding the film. Brittle claimed the film, alongside the subsequent sequel and spin-offs, infringed upon an exclusive contract he had with the Warrens to make any works based on the subject of his book. The film rights were briefly with the original publisher Prentice Hall before reverting to Brittle. Warner Bros. refused to comment on the case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cullins |first=Ashley |date=March 31, 2017 |title=Warner Bros. Facing $900{{nbsp}}Million Lawsuit Over 'The Conjuring' Franchise |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/warner-bros-facing-900-million-lawsuit-conjuring-franchise-990107 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Warner Bros. settled the case with Brittle in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cullins |first=Ashley |date=December 17, 2017 |title=Warner Bros. Settles $900M Lawsuit Over 'The Conjuring' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/warner-bros-settles-900m-lawsuit-conjuring-1067445 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

== Legacy ==

=== ''The Conjuring 2'' ===
{{Main|The Conjuring 2}}
In June 2013, it was reported that [[New Line Cinema]] was already developing a [[sequel]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2013 |title=New Line Already Developing Sequel to James Wan's ''The Conjuring'' |url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/new-line-already-developing-sequel-to-james-wans-the-conjuring/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722213219/http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/new-line-already-developing-sequel-to-james-wans-the-conjuring/ |archive-date=July 22, 2013 |access-date=July 17, 2013 |website=FirstShowing.net}}</ref> Both Farmiga and Wilson were signed on to reprise their roles for an additional film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2013 |title=[Comic-Con '13] Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson Already Signed For 'The Conjuring' Sequel! #SDCC |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3244276/comic-con-13-vera-farmiga-and-patrick-wilson-already-signed-for-the-conjuring-sequel-sdcc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223715/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3244276/comic-con-13-vera-farmiga-and-patrick-wilson-already-signed-for-the-conjuring-sequel-sdcc/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]}}</ref> ''[[The Conjuring 2]]'' was scheduled to be released on October 23, 2015,<ref name="Auto">{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2014 |title=Warner Bros Scheduling Spree Continues With 'The Conjuring 2', 'Mean Moms', 2 Others |url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/warner-bros-scheduling-spree-continues-with-the-conjuring-2-mean-moms-2-others-689507/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224149/https://deadline.com/2014/02/warner-bros-scheduling-spree-continues-with-the-conjuring-2-mean-moms-2-others-689507/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=February 26, 2014 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> but in October 2014, Warner Bros. moved the film's release date to an unspecified 2016 release date.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2014 |title=The Conjuring 2 Moves to 2016 |url=https://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=124229#/slide/33 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101224152/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/124229-the-conjuring-2-moves-to-2016#/slide/33 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=October 21, 2014 |website=ComingSoon.net}}</ref> On October 21, it was announced that James Wan would return to direct the sequel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=October 21, 2014 |title=James Wan Back At New Line For 'The Conjuring 2' And Overall Producing Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2014/10/the-conjuring-sequel-james-wan-director-new-line-annabelle-856896/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223825/https://deadline.com/2014/10/the-conjuring-sequel-james-wan-director-new-line-annabelle-856896/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=October 21, 2014 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> On November 11, 2014, the film was set for a June 10, 2016, release.<ref name="Conjuring2Release">{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2014 |title=The Conjuring 2 Set for June 10, 2016 |url=https://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=125042 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223742/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/125042-the-conjuring-2-set-for-june-10-2016 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2014 |website=ComingSoon.net}}</ref> The sequel was later re-written by [[David Leslie Johnson]], with a script from [[Chad Hayes (writer)|Chad]] and [[Carey W. Hayes]] and Wan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2014 |title=Wan's "CONJURING 2" Scares Up Yet Another Scribe |url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/wans-conjuring-2-scares-up-yet-another-scribe/ |access-date=November 12, 2014 |website=[[Fangoria]] |archive-date=January 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108044816/http://www.fangoria.com/new/wans-conjuring-2-scares-up-yet-another-scribe/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film deals with the [[Enfield poltergeist]] case, which occurred in [[London]] from 1977 to 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haynes |first=Britt |date=January 6, 2015 |title='The Conjuring 2' Getting a Rewrite From 'The Walking Dead' and 'Orphan' Scribe |url=https://screencrush.com/the-conjuring-2-rewrite/ |access-date=January 23, 2015 |website=ScreenCrush}}</ref> It also depicts the Warrens' investigation of the [[The Amityville Horror|Amityville haunting]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Tommy |date=March 26, 2016 |title=''The Conjuring 2'': James Wan Reveals the Sequel's Amityville Connection at WonderCon |url=https://collider.com/the-conjuring-2-james-wan-wondercon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223846/https://collider.com/the-conjuring-2-james-wan-wondercon/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=April 15, 2016 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref> Principal photography began in September 2015 in Los Angeles, and concluded in December 2015 in London.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2015 |title=The Conjuring 2 Filming Begins! |url=https://comingsoon.net/movies/news/615471-the-conjuring-2-filming-begins |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101223845/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/615471-the-conjuring-2-filming-begins |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=September 22, 2015 |website=ComingSoon.net}}</ref>

=== Franchise ===
{{Main|The Conjuring Universe}}
The success of ''The Conjuring'' has spawned several related films and sequels. Along with the original film, there is ''[[The Conjuring 2]]'' (2016), ''[[The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It]]'' (2021) and ''[[The Conjuring: Last Rites]]'' (2025). Three films about the Annabelle doll have been made: 2014's ''[[Annabelle (film)|Annabelle]]'', its prequel ''[[Annabelle: Creation]]'' from 2017, and a sequel to both films ''[[Annabelle Comes Home]]'' from 2019. Two films featuring [[Valac|Valak]], the demon nun, have been made: ''[[The Nun (2018 film)|The Nun]]'', released in 2018, and its sequel ''[[The Nun II]]'', released in 2023.

== See also ==
* [[List of horror films]]
* [[List of horror films of 2013]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Metacritic film}}
* {{Mojo title|conjuring}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|the_conjuring}}

{{The Conjuring}}
{{James Wan}}
{{Empire Award for Best Horror}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Horror Film}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Conjuring, The}}
[[Category:The Conjuring Universe|Conjuring 1]]
[[Category:2013 American films]]
[[Category:2010s English-language films|Conjuring 1]]
[[Category:2013 films]]
[[Category:2010s ghost films]]
[[Category:2013 horror thriller films]]
[[Category:2010s supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:American ghost films]]
[[Category:American haunted house films]]
[[Category:American horror thriller films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Films about filicide]]
[[Category:Films about curses]]
[[Category:Films about exorcism]]
[[Category:Films about Satanism]]
[[Category:Films about sleep disorders]]
[[Category:Films about spirit possession]]
[[Category:Films about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Films directed by James Wan]]
[[Category:Films produced by Peter Safran]]
[[Category:Films scored by Joseph Bishara]]
[[Category:Films set in 1968]]
[[Category:Films set in 1971]]
[[Category:Films set in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Films set in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Films set in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Films shot in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Films shot in Wilmington, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes]]
[[Category:Horror films based on actual events]]
[[Category:New Line Cinema films]]
[[Category:American religious horror films]]
[[Category:Salem witch trials in fiction]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Films shot in chronological order]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Ed and Lorraine Warren]]
[[Category:English-language horror thriller films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=The Conjuring|access_date=2026-02-23}}